Sheriff William Edgar Robinson, Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

Sheriff William Edgar Robinson

Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

End of Watch Sunday, November 15, 1908

William Edgar Robinson

Sheriff Robinson, Assistant Chief Henry Klaber, and Special Officer Felix Chapman, of the Okmulgee Police Department, were shot and killed after responding to man's shack regarding complaints of the day's fishing catch. Assistant Chief Klaber was the first officer to arrive and was shot and killed. Special Officer Chapman, who had been deputized by Assistant Chief Klaber, picked up Assistant Chief Klaber's weapon and fired at the suspect. The suspect returned fire and killed Officer Chapman and Officer Chapman's brother, who was accompany the officers.

Sheriff Robinson was then shot and killed when he arrived as well. Over a 500 shots were fired in the exchange. Two other law enforcement officers and three civilians were wounded. The suspect was finally killed when the house next door to his house was set on fire. The fire spread to his house and he was burned to death.

Sheriff Robinson had been with the agency for one year and was survived by his wife and two children.

Bio

Age Not available
Tour 1 year
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Not available

Most Recent Reflection

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My great grandfather George L. Mann worked for the Sheriff and was with Sheriff Robinson when he was killed. I just finished reading my great grandfathers account. He was interviewed by Grace Kelley in Sept 1937 for the Oklahoma pioneer history.

"Dick Farr was sent to arrest a negro for having a pint of whiskey. This negro went into the house and told Dick not to come in. Dick tried to bump the door open with his shoulder. The negro shot through the door and hit him in the arm, so Dick went back to the Sheriff's office in the council house. Sheriff Edgar Robertson got a saddle gun, put his hat on and started up the street. We knew where he was going. I asked him if he wanted any company. We went to the negro's house where we saw a curtain shake. The sheriff shot through the curtain but didn't kill the negro. The next shot was by the negro and it hit Edgar in the center of the forehead. He went down like a hog, never knowing what hit him. That turned Okmulgee upside down."

Colonel Gary Mann
U.S. Army

October 4, 2016