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 Dallas Morning News

August 31, 1893

The Key Durant Killing

The Captain of Gov. Jones’ Militia Shot at Caddo, I.T.

By United States Deputy Marshal Tandy Folsom- Smuggling

Whisky the Cause of the Trouble

Caddo, I.T., Aug. 20-About 2 o’clock this morning United States Deputy Marshal and Indian Police Tandy Folsom shot and killed Capt. Key Durant of Gov. Jones’ militia. Deputy Folsom went to the depot to meet the north bound passenger train due here at 1:30 to see that no whisky was introduced. Capt. Durant and a woman named Lou Bowers came up on the train from Denison. The woman had a valise in one hand and a pistol in the other. Folsom took hold of the valise and asked her what was in it. She remarked that it was none of his d—d business. They both held on to the valise for about five minutes, when Capt. Durant told her to let him have it. Deputy Folsom took it to the ticket window in the depot and opened it, finding two quarts of whisky; someone asked Folsom what was in it. He remarked whisky, he thought. She replied that he was a liar. Folsom told her that as she was a woman she could talk that way. Capt. Durant remarked that he was the man and would take her part, at the same time drawing his pistol and firing at Folsom. By that time Folsom drew his gun and fired, the ball taking effect in the head. Durant staggered as if he was blind and ran against Folsom. Folsom then struck him over the head with his pistol, knocking him down.

Folsom gave himself up to Deputy Fryer and said he wanted to be tried. Durant was drinking. They had been the best of friends up to the time of the killing.

The woman was arrested for introducing whisky and was taken to Atoka today for trial. The depot was crowded when the shooting was going on.

Both parties are Choctaws, but as Folsom was a United States officer the case goes to federal court. Both Folsom and Durant are strong, heavy-set men, about 30 years old and neither was afraid of anything. Capt. Durant was the officer who led the force last spring in the Antlers war when Locke played an important part in it.

The woman is of rather dark complexion and is about 26 years old. She is a white woman.

Had Been to Denison

Paris, Tex., Aug. 20- Deputy Marshals who arrived here tonight bring news of the killing of Key Durant at Caddo, I.T. as 4 o’clock this morning by Deputy Marshal Tandy Folsom. Durant went from Denison to Caddo in company with a woman. The woman had whisky which Folsom took from her. She also had a pistol which Folsom took. This made the woman angry and she abused Folsom until he told her if she were a man he would not take it from her. Durant spoke up and told Folsom that he would represent her. Both men drew their pistols and opened fire. In the duel Folsom received a scalp wound on the right side of the head and a flesh wound in the left arm. Durant was shot in the breast and forehead and killed. Durant was captain of the Choctaw militia that figured in the Locke-Jones war. He was a deputy marshal for this court until a few months ago.

Made Purchases in Denison

Denison, Tex., Aug. 30- Capt. Key Durant, who was shot and killed at Caddo last night by Deputy United States Marshal Tandy Folsom, spent yesterday in Denison. He was accompanied by a woman, Lou Bowers, and while here the two made extensive purchases in the various stores of the city. They left Denison on the midnight train, which arrives at Caddo at 1:30 a.m.

Dr. Folsom of Ardmore, I. T., came in this evening at 5:40 from Gainesville and will go to Caddo tonight. He is a brother of the officer who did the shooting early this morning.

Capt. Key Durant, the victim of Folsom’s six-shooter, was the leader of the Jones faction that made the charge on V. M. Locke’s men and residence at Antlers, I.T. a few months since.

Another Account

Caddo, I.T., Aug. 30- Lou Bowers, a female whisky seller, got off the train here this morning. Tandy Folsom, deputy marshal, tried to seize her valise containing the whisky and Capt. K. Durant of the Jones militia tried to protect her. A quarrel followed and Durant shot at Folsom twice and missed him. The fire was returned and Durant was killed.

Durant’s Wounds

Sherman, Tex., Aug. 30- there were eight shots fired in all, and at the termination of the shooting Durant staggered out to the platform on the west side of the depot and expired in a minute, never speaking. Two shots took effect in his abdomen, one in the left breast, another grazed his neck, and a fourth penetrated the left side of the head near the ear.

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