Deadly Hero: The High Society Murder that Created Hysteria in the Heartland (34 page)

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DURING THE 1930S, EDITORS
OF Tulsa’s dailies had a unique style when it came to laying out the front pages
of their newspapers. On many occasions, especially as the Gorrell-Kennamer
story began to unfold, they would trumpet a two to six column headline in large
type, and then beneath that singular headline, they would run two or three
separate news stories related to the case, but each one covering different
angles. Above each of these stories would be three to five sensationalistic
teasers or sub-headlines that were meant to pull the reader in. Since I could
not consider those teasers to be actual headlines, I was forced to use the main
one, although it was for two or three different stories. Therefore, when you
consider the headlines below, please keep in mind that many of those that began
on “page 1,” could represent more than one story.

TDO
=
The Daily Oklahoman
, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma

MDNR = Miami Daily News Record, Miami, Oklahoma

TAEN = The Ada Evening News, Ada, Oklahoma

TDA
  =
The Daily Ardmoreite
,
Ardmore, Oklahoma

TT
=
Tulsa Tribune,
Afternoon
Newspaper, Tulsa, Oklahoma

TDW
=
Tulsa Daily World,
Morning
Newspaper, Tulsa, Oklahoma

CHAPTERS 1-5

“Mystery Slaying Hinted in Death of John Gorrell,”
TDW
,
November 30, 1934, page 1.

“Murder Seen by Police in Death of Dental Student,”
TT
,
November 30, 1934, pages 1 and 16.

“Startling Mystery Unfolds in Inquiry of Gorrell Murder,”
TDW
,
December 1, 1934, pages 1 and 4.

“Phil Kennamer, Son of US Judge, Surrenders, Admits Shooting
of Young Gorrell,”
TT
, December 1, 1934, pages 1 and 4.

“Phillip Kennamer, 19, Son of Judge Kennamer, Confesses
Slaying of John Gorrell Jr., Café Owner Held as Police Delve into Extortion
Note,”
TDW
, December 2, 1934, pages 1, 12, and 13.

“Kennamer, ‘Crazy with Worry,’ Delayed Making a Confession,”
TDW
,
December 2, 1934, pages 1 and 12.

“Funeral for Murder Victim Conducted from Tulsa Church,”
TDW
,
December 2, 1934, page 13.

“Youth’s Confession That He Shot Student Starts Quiz into Wide
Extortion Plot,”
TT
, December 2, 1934, pages 1, 4, and 5.

“Youth Denies Any Accomplices in Gorrell Killing,
TT
,
December 2, 1934, page 5.

“Faced by Gorrell Fiancée, Kennamer Maintains Poise,
Self-Defense Claim Belied,”
TDW
, December 3, 1934, pages 1 and 3.

“What Price Civilization?,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 3,
1934.

“US into Probe as Kennamer is Arraigned and Returned to Jail,”
TT
, December 3, 1934, pages 1 and 4.

“Kennamer Tells Friend of Slaying: Federal Jurist’s Son
Offered to Show Gorrell’s Body to Substantiate Story,”
TDW
, December 4,
1934, pages 1 and 8.

“U.S. into Probe as Kennamer is Arraigned and Returned to
Jail,”
TT
, December 4, 1934, pages 1 and
4.

“Boy Confident as He Waits in Jail,”
TT
, December 4,
1934, page 4.

“Gorrell Shot by Surprise Officers Say after Study of
Photograph,”
TT
, December 4, 1934, page 4.

“Doris Rogers’ Mother Denies Daughter Knew about Slaying,”
TDW
,
December 4, 1934, page 8.

“The Truth About Tulsa’s Kennamer-Gorrell Case,” Part One, by
Chief of Detectives Thomas J. Higgins as told to C.F. Waers,”
The Master
Detective
, June 1935.

“The Truth About Tulsa’s Kennamer-Gorrell Case,” Part Two, by
Chief of Detectives Thomas J. Higgins as told to C.F. Waers,”
The Master
Detective
, July 1935.

CHAPTERS 6-8

“Coolidge and Daugherty Agree on Kennamer as U.S. Judge; Long
Wrangle over G.O.P. Pie Put to End,” Associated Press,
TDO
, January 25,
1924, page 1.

“Who is Frank Kennamer? His Wife Knows,”
TDO
, January
26, 1924, page 5.

“State is Prepared to Try Kennamer, Anderson Claims,”
TDW
,
December 5, 1934, pages 1 and 2.

“Wilcox Hints ‘Master Mind’ Lured Youths,”
TDW
,
December 5, 1934, page 1.

“Sheriff’s Office Personnel Ready,”
TDW
, December 5,
1934, page 1.

“Chronology of Salient Events in Kennamer-Gorrell Case,”
TDW
,
December 5, 1934, page 2.

“An Engrossing Case,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 5, 1934.

“Girl Companions Account for Wilcox Boy’s Time,”
TT
,
December 5, 1934, pages 1 and 4.

“Third Man in Gorrell Case in Missouri Jail,”
TT
,
December 5, 1934, pages 1 and 4.

“Maddux Forecasts Another Arrest in Gorrell Killing;
Attorney-General in Case,”
TDW
, December 6, 1934, pages 1 and 7.

“Fantastic Story in Magazine Parallels Threat on Gorrell,”
TDW
,
December 6, 1934, page 7.

“Kennamer Named as Bandit by Wagoner County Couple,”
TT
,
December 6, 1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Wilcox Extortion Note Not Written by Phil Kennamer,”
TDW
,
December 7, 1934, pages 1 and 12.

“Anderson ‘Thrown’ Curve in Kennamer Phone Till,”
TDW
,
December 7, 1934, page 1.

“Anderson Ends Death Quiz with New Motive Discovery,”
TT
,
December 7, 1934, pages 1 and 10.

“No Development in Gorrell Death,”
TDW
, December 8,
1934, pages 1and 14.

“Young Friend of Kennamer Took His Knife,”
TT
, December
8, 1934, pages 1 and 12.

“New Death Quiz Conference as Police Raid Sunset Bar,”
TT
,
December 9, 1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Kennamer’s IQ is 120 but His Success Rate is Low,”
TT
,
December 21, 1934, page 2.

“The Truth About Tulsa’s Kennamer-Gorrell Case,” Part Three,
by Chief of Detectives Thomas J. Higgins as told to C.F. Waers,”
The Master
Detective
, August 1935.

CHAPTER 9

“Suicide Stills Murder Witness: Death of Sidney Born Jr.
Brings Sharp Criticism of Officials in Charge of Kennamer’s Custody,”
TDW
,
December 10, 1934, pages 1 and 2.

“Death of Born Brings Newshawks Back on Job,”
TDW
,
December 11, 1934, page 2.

“Figures in Kennamer Case take Steps for Own Safety,”
TT
,
December 12, 1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Reign of Terror in Slaying Wake,”
TDW
, December 12,
1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Youth’s Suicide Brings Series of Wild and Unfounded Rumors,”
TDW
,
December 10, 1934, page 2.

“Death of Thomas Only a Rumor,”
TDW
, December 10, 1934,
page 1.

“Pranksters Active,”
TDW
, December 14, 1934, page 1.

“The Truth About Tulsa’s Kennamer-Gorrell Case,” Part Three,
by Chief of Detectives Thomas J. Higgins as told to C.F. Waers,”
The Master
Detective
, August 1935.

“Police Call Born Death Suicide, File Charge for Wilcox Jr.,”
TT
,
December 11, 1934, pages 1 and 4.

“Inquiry into Death of Born May Take a ‘Surprise Turn’ Today,
Authorities Indicate,”
TDW
, December 11, 1934, pages 1 and 7.

“Scenes Connected with Tragic Death of Sidney Born in Travis
Park,”
TDW
, December 12, 1934, page 3.

“Small Area Covers Points in Tragic Deaths,”
TDW
,
December 12, 1934, pages 1.

“Kennamer’s Attorney Names Author of Extortion Plot, John
Gorrell Jr., Hatched Scheme,”
TDW
, December 12, 1934, page 8.

“Quiet Prevails on Crime Front,”
TDW
, December 13,
1934, page 1 and 3.

“Thomas Freed of Liquor Charge in Kennamer’s Court Last
March,”
TDW
, December 13, 1934, page 10.

“Price Advances New Murder Theory that Moss Explodes,”
TT
,
December 13, 1934, pages 1 and 10.

“New Murder Charges May Be Filed in Gorrell Slaying; Sheriff
Seeks New Witness,”
TDW
, December 14, 1934, pages 1 and 11.

“Kennamer Names Others as Gorrell Plot Witnesses,”
TT
,
December 14, 1934, pages 1 and 12.

“Witness Found in Born Case; Sweeney Will Ask Grand Jury to
Delve into Gorrell Killing,”
TDW
, December 15, 1934, pages 1 and 9.

“Sheriff Sounds Plea for Facts in Slaying Quiz,”
TDW
,
December 16, page 1.

“Worry Over Escapades with Phil Kennamer Led Born to Kill
Himself, Police Say; Auto Wreck and Drinking Party Revealed,
TDW
,
December 12, 1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Theory in Born Case Exploded,”
TDW
, December 25, 1934,
page 1.

“Wilcox Boy Fined $75 and Second Youth is Arrested: Judge
Lectures Young Man for Shooting Out Lights at Scene of Gorrell Slaying but Two
Hours Earlier,”
TT
, December 12, 1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Shooting Out Lights,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 14,
1934.

“Marble Machines are Object of New Move by Authorities,”
TDW
,
December 11, 1934, page 2.

“PTA Council Asks for Drastic Action,”
TT
, December 12,
1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Pastors Open Campaign to Build Civic Righteousness,”
TT
,
December 13, 1934, pages 1 and 14.

“Improved Social, Recreational Opportunity for Tulsa Youth,
High School P.T.A. Plan,”
TT
, December 14, 1934, page 14.

“Midnight Parties,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 19, 1934.

“A Season of Trouble,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 21,
1934.

CHAPTER 10

“Kennamer Explains His Role in Plot Leading to Killing of
Gorrell,”
TDW
, December 13, 1934, pages 1 and 10.

“The Truth About Tulsa’s Kennamer-Gorrell Case,” Part Three,
by Chief of Detectives Thomas J. Higgins as told to C.F. Waers,”
The Master
Detective
, August 1935.

CHAPTER 11

“Kennamer Denied Visitors at Request of His Father,”
TT
,
December 14, 1934, page 1.

“King Here Monday to Take Part in Kennamer Hearing,”
TT
,
December 15, 1934, pages 1 and 8.

“King Will Stay in Kennamer Case as Special Prosecutor; Admits
Hearing Bribe Effort,”
TDW
, December 16, 1934, pages 1 and 21.

“Public Duty Stressed by Attorney-General,”
TDW
,
December 16, 1934, page 1.

“Kennamer to Court Monday, Grand Jury Probably Later,” by
Harmon Phillips,
TT
, December 16, 1934, pages 1 and 16.

“Officials, Investigators, Reporters Disagree on What May
Develop,”
TT
, by Ruth Sheldon, December 16, 1934, pages 1 and 4.

“Phil Kennamer Preliminary Opens Today; Death of Born is
Handicap to Prosecution,”
TDW
, December 17, pages 1 and 3.

“Throngs to Hear Kennamer Case,”
TDW
, December 17,
1934, page 1.

“48 Names on ‘Who’s Who’ List in Kennamer-Gorrell Slaying,”
TDW
,
December 17, 1934, page 3.

“Kennamer into Court Today to Answer Murder Charge,”
TT
,
December 17, 1934, page 1.

“Kennamer Held on First Degree Murder Charge; Floyd Huff,
Flier, Tells Sensational Story for State,” Associated Press,
TDA
,
December 17, 1935, pages 1 and 8.

“King Promises Investigation of Entire Gorrell Case as
Kennamer is Held for Trial,”
TDW
, December 18, 1934, pages 1, 9, and 10.

“Hundreds Turned Away from Kennamer Hearing,” Photo Headline,
TDW
,
December 18, 1934, page 2.

“Kennamer Back to Jail after Short, Sharp Hearing,”
TT
,
December 18, 1934, pages 1, 4, and 8.

“Gorrell Says He is Pleased,”
TT
, December 18, 1934,
page 8.

“Ready for Trial, Says Flint Moss,”
TDW
, December 19,
1934, page 1.

CHAPTER 12

“Tulsa,” by Carl E. Gregory,
Encyclopedia of Oklahoma
History and Culture
, Oklahoma Historical Society website URL: http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TU003

“Tulsa County,” by Larry O'Dell,
Encyclopedia of Oklahoma
History and Culture
, Oklahoma Historical Society website URL: http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TU008

“Tulsa: From Creek Town to Oil Capital,” by Angie Debo,
University of Oklahoma Press, 1943.

“Tulsa History 1880 – 1941,”
Tulsa Preservation Commission,
(Website), URL: http://www.tulsapreservationcommission.org/history/education/

"Louisiana Territory," by S. Charles Bolton,
Encyclopedia
of Oklahoma History and Culture
, Oklahoma Historical Society website URL:
http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=LO019

“Oklahoma: The Land and Its People,” by Kenny Franks,
University of Oklahoma Press, 1997.

"The Glenn Pool Oil Field, The discovery that made
Oklahoma," by Norman Hyne,
Shale Shaker, The Journal of the Oklahoma
City Geological Society
, November/December 2008, pages 93-97. 

“The Burning: Massacre, Destruction, and the Tulsa Race Riot
of 1921,” by Tim Madigan, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2003.

“Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921,”by
Scott Ellsworth, Louisiana State University Press, 1992.

"Tulsa Race Riot," by Scott Ellsworth,
Encyclopedia
of Oklahoma History and Culture
, Oklahoma Historical Society website URL: http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TU013

“County Attorney Charges Sheriff with Dereliction of Duty at
Tulsa,”
TDA
, August 30, 1920, pages 1 and 2.

Biscup, Walter. Interview by Dana Sue Walker, November 12,
1979, Junior League of Tulsa Oral History Project, Tulsa Public Library
Website, URL:
http://cdm15020.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15020coll10/id/87

Foreman, Bob. Interview by Dana Sue Walker, November 7, 1979,
Junior League of Tulsa Oral History Project, Tulsa Public Library Website, URL:
http://cdm15020.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15020coll10/id/170

“1935’s Call to Arms,” Editorial,
TT
, January 1, 1935.

“Thrill-Seeking Tulsa Youth Blamed for Marijuana Evils,”
TDW
,
December 14, 1934, pages 1, 10, and 11.

“Christian Endeavor Covenant Aimed at Tulsa’s Lax Morals,”
TDW
,
December 15, 1934, page 9.

“School Crusade Scheduled Here,”
TDW
, December 16,
1934, pages 1 and 21.

“Toy Guns Blamed by National P.T.A,” Associated Press,
TDW
,
December 16, 1934, page 21.

“Sunset Café Beer License Delayed Another Day,”
TT
,
December 11, 1934, page 4.

“Bloody Swath Cut Here by 7 Violent Deaths in 3 Weeks,”
TDW
,
December 20, 1934, page 1.

“Tulsa Youth Fatally Shot in Juvenile Gun Play; His Four
Companions Held,”
TT
, December 20, 1934, page 1.

“Boy, 17, Kills Companion, 16, at Play,”
TDW
, December
20, 1934, pages 1 and 10.

“Ex-Convict Confesses Beating Rich Rancher to Death Following
Robbery,”
TDW
, December 20, 1934, pages 1 and 10.

“A Season of Trouble,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 21,
1934.

“Mysterious Death of Tulsan Brings Official Inquiry,”
TDW
,
December 18, 1934, page 1.

“Mystery Marks Tulsan’s Death,”
TT
, December 19, 1934,
page 3.

“Auto Reported near Death Pit,”
TT
, December 21, 1934,
page 2.

“New Death Quiz Conference as Police Raid Sunset Bar,”
TT
,
December 9, 1934, pages 1 and 8.

“Hoop Increases Detective Force,”
TDW
, December 21,
1934, page 7.

“Hoop Outlines Juvenile Crime Curb Measure,”
TT
,
December 21, 1934, page 1.

“Hoop Anticrime Move Hits Snag,”
TDW
, January 12, 1935,
page 9.

“Students Dance at Central High School after 14 Years,”
TT
,
December 20, 1934, page 6.

“The Rambler,” Column,
TT
, December 21, 1934.

“Tulsa Church Widens Scope of Entertainment for Its Youth,”
TT
,
February 1, 1935, page 16.

“Denouncing Tulsa,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 17, 1934.

“Tulsa Youth,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 28, 1934.

“Rumors,” Editorial,
TDW
, December 28, 1934.

“The Rambler,” Column,
TT
, January 1, 1935.

“The Rambler,” Column,
TT
, January 25, 1935.

1935

CHAPTER 13

“Kennamer Penned Notes in Secret Codes to Friend,”
TDW
,
January 3, 1935, pages 1 and 2.

“Kennamer Code Notes ‘Innocuous,’” Associated Press,
MDNR
,
January 3, 1935, page 1.

“Intrigue Between Kennamer, Friend Bared by Code Notes,”
TDW
,
February 10, 1935, page 1 and 12.

“The Truth About Tulsa’s Kennamer-Gorrell Case,” Part Three,
by Chief of Detectives Thomas J. Higgins as told to C.F. Waers,”
The Master
Detective
, August 1935.

“Phil Kennamer in Court Today,”
TDW
, January 4, 1935,
page 1.

“Kennamer Goes to Court Again to Enter Plea,”
TT
,
January 4, 1935, page 1 and 10.

“Phil Kennamer Denies Charge,”
TDW
, January 5, 1935, pages
1 and 4.

“Kennamer Now Set for Trial,”
TT
, January 5, 1935, page
8.

“The Rambler,” Column,
TT
, January 5, 1935.

“Kennamer’s Trial Set for Jan. 28,”
TDW
, January 6,
1935, page 6.

“Five Homicide Trials are Set,”
TT
, January 9, 1935,
page 9.

“Kennamer Flu Victim,”
TT
, January 11, 1935, page 1.

“Mrs. Clara Maddux Kills Woman Friend of Husband’s in Front of
Nave Hotel in Childress Sunday,”
Wichita Daily Times
, Wichita Falls,
Texas, September 8, 1924, page 1.

“Woman Freed of Killing Another,”
The Mexia Daily News
,
Mexia, Texas, January 23, 1925, page 7.

“Kennamer Trial Not First of Knotty Cases for Judge Hurst,” by
William P. Steven,
TT
, January 15, 1935, page 4.

CHAPTER 14

“When Flaming Youth in an Oil Town Brought in a Gusher of
Crime,” King Features Syndicate, April 7, 1935.

“Kennamer Case Splits Tulsa,” by William Voigt, Associated
Press,
TDA
, January 12, 1935, pages 1 and 5.

“Kennamer Case is Given Study,” by William Voigt, Associated
Press,
MDNR
, January 16, 1935, page 3.

“Roadhouse Row is Closed as Deputies Deliver Warnings,” by
Harmon Phillips,
TT
, January 8, 1935, page 3.

“Police Nab 30 in Gambling Raids,”
TDW
, January 18,
1935, page 20.

“Kennamer Defense Finds Young Set Wary of Testifying,”
Associated Press,
MDNR
, January 17, 1935, page 1.

“Alienists See Kennamer at County Jail,”
TT
, January
14, 1935, page 1 and 10.

“Alienists, Delay, Twin Hopes for Phil Kennamer,” by Harmon
Phillips,
TT
, January 15, 1935, pages 1 and 10.

“Kennamer Insane, Alienists Claim,” Associated Press,
TAEN
,
January 15, 1935, page 1.

“Murray Grants 13 Clemencies,”
TDW
, December 15, 1934, page
13.

“Murray Grants 12 Clemencies,”
TDW
, December 18, 1934,
page 4.

“Governor Turns Six More Loose,”
TDW
, December 28,
1934, page 1.

“Witness ‘Tampering’ Assailed by State as Defense Claims Phil
Kennamer Mentally Ill,”
TDW
, January 16, 1935, pages 1 and 7.

“Experts,” Editorial,
TDW
, January 16, 1935.

“Names Given in Kennamer Case Tamper Case,”
TT
, January
16, 1935, page 7.