John Billee
1888- Oklahoma Territory- John Billee and Thomas Willis robbed and murdered W.P. Williams and buried his body in a ravine in the Kiamichi Mountains on this date. John Billee and Thomas Willis were later apprehended by three deputies, Will Ayers, James Wilkerson, and Perry DuVall. While en route back to Fort Smith for trial, the three lawmen and the two prisoners bedded down in a deserted cabin near Muskogee, Oklahoma.
During the night, Billee managed to free one hand from the handcuffs which bound him to one of the deputies and reached for the deputy's gun. He shot Ayers, DuVall, and Wilkerson, wounding them, but Wilkerson managed to wound the outlaw before Billee made good his escape. All three wounded deputies, embarrassed at being jumped, were publicly denounced when they delivered their prisoners to Fort Smith. Billee and Willis were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. After several legal delays, they were both hanged at Fort Smith on Jan. 16, 1890.