Wiley Lynn - Prohibition Agent, Cromwell, Oklahoma

Prohibition Agent, Cromwell, Oklahoma

In 1924, Cromwell was a seedy and extremely dangerous town, which thrived on the many brothels and saloons that were located there. The town was out of control by that time, with no law in force. Wiley Lynn, the prohibition agent assigned to the area, was a big part of the problem. For a number of years, Lynn worked deals with bootleggers and other illegal factions, keeping them out of jail in exchange for money paid to him.

Bill Tilghman, a former Deputy US Marshal, was retired from law enforcement by 1910, and was 70 years old in 1924. However, he had a stellar reputation, and was a legend for his part in bringing down the Doolin Dalton Gang in the 1890s. Tilghman had been elected to the Oklahoma Senate. He also accepted the position of police chief of Oklahoma City in 1911. In 1915, he co-wrote, directed, and starred in the movie The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws, which dramatized the law enforcement activities of Tilghman and the other members of the Three Guardsmen, which included Heck Thomas and Chris Madsen. The film is noted as an early attempt to de-glamorize the image of outlaws. In 1924, Tilghman accepted a position as marshal of Cromwell, Oklahoma, to "clean up the town".

From early on in the job, he and Lynn were clearly rivals. Tilghman made several arrests for prohibition violations, only to have Lynn step in and set his prisoners free. Despite Tilghman suspecting Lynn, he had no definite proof with which to expose Lynn. Tilghman had been welcomed in by the towns non-criminal element, but was not popular with the brothel and saloon owners or patrons.

On November 1, 1924, Tilghman was seated inside Murphy's Cafe with a friend and his Deputy Marshal, Hugh Sawyer. Wiley Lynn pulled up outside in a vehicle along with prostitute Eva Caton and her companion, a US Army sergeant named Thompson, as well as prostitute Rose Lutke. Lynn exited the vehicle, and discharged his pistol into the street. He was obviously intoxicated, and Tilghman immediately responded. Tilghman grabbed Lynn, and along with Sawyer disarmed him. However, Lynn had a second pistol which he quickly drew and shot Tilghman twice in the stomach and chest at point blank range. Tilghman slumped, then fell into the street. Wiley Lynn then fled the scene, turning himself in at the Federal District Headquarters in Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleading self defense.

Deputy Hugh Sawyer never fired a shot. If Sawyer had been a more experienced deputy, Lynn would have likely been killed on the spot. However, Deputy Marshal Sawyer was inexperienced, and froze when the shot was fired, watching Lynn as he fled, then going to Tilghman's aid. He also later testified that he could not see clearly exactly what happened.

Remarkably, Lynn was acquitted after a trial. One key eyewitness failed to appear in court for the trial, having fled to Florida after having been threatened and in fear of his life if he testified. The witness did write a letter to former U.S. Marshal Evett Dumas Nix, in Guthrie, Oklahoma, in which he stated there was no doubt what he saw, and that there was no doubt that Wiley Lynn murdered Tilghman. However, a letter would not suffice. Also, eyewitness Rose Lutke had disappeared, and never resurfaced. To make matters worse for the prosecution, Deputy Marshal Hugh Sawyer, whether he was coerced or incompetent, testified that he could not see clearly as to what actually happened.

One month after the murder, the town of Cromwell was burned to the ground, with every brothel and saloon being torched. There was no investigation into the arson, and no arrests were made. It was always suspected that lawmen who were friends to Tilghman torched the town. Cromwell never recovered, dwindling to just over 300 residents.