In Memoriam

Undersheriff Ira E. Wofford

12/04/1953

Undersheriff Ira Wofford was killed in an automobile accident in Arapahoe County, Colorado, while transporting a prisoner back to Sequoyah County.

The was wanted in connection with a burglary of a service station and had been arrested in Denver, Colorado.

Undersherif Wofford, along with an investigator from the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, were driving the man back to Oklahoma when a truck forced their car of the road. Their vehicle overturned, pinning both officers underneath it. Despite being handcuffed and injured, the prisoner attempted to lift the vehicle off of the officers. When he was unable to do so, he flagged down a passing truck driver for assistance.

Undersheriff Wofford was survived by his wife, three daughters, and two sons.

Deputy Sheriff Tom Hood

3/27/1933

Deputy Sheriff Tom Hood was shot and killed after discovering an illegal whiskey still in a mountainous region of the county.

A local farmer was arrested and charged with his murder. After two mistrials his third trial resulted in an acquittal.

Deputy Hood was survived by his wife and eight children.

Deputy Sheriff Perry Chuculate

9/27/1926

Deputy Sheriff Perry Chuculate was shot and killed while searching for a stolen vehicle.

He and another deputy stopped a speeding car and as they approached it the occupants exited and opened fire with rifles. The car was occupied by a gang bank robbers, led by two brothers, who had just committed a robbery.

Deputy Chuculate had served with the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office for two years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

The gang was led by the Kimes brother, who had murdered Deputy Perry Chuculate, of the Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, Sheriff's Office, on August 27, 1926. The two brothers were convicted of manslaughter in connection with Deputy Chuculate's murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. One of the brothers, Matthew Kimes, escaped from prison and continued his crime spree.

During the following year the escaped brother continued robbing banks with the Cotton Top Walker Gang, which was responsible for the murders of Patrolman Coke Buchanan, of the Borger, Texas, Police Department, on March 19, 1927; Deputy D. P. Kenyon and Deputy Almer Terry, both of the Hutchinson County, Texas, Sheriff's Department, on April 1, 1927; and Chief W. J. McAnnally of the Beggs, Oklahoma, Police Department, on May 18, 1927.

Matthew Kimes, one of the leaders of the gang, was arrested in Flagstaff, Arizona, on June 23, 1927.

Deputy Sheriff August Lee Edwards

12/24/1925

Deputy Sheriff August Edwards was shot and killed as he and a constable attempted to arrest a man for carrying a concealed weapon.

The man pulled out the gun and shot Deputy Edwards in the head, killing him. The man was arrested and charged with murder. The 20-year-old suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years.

Deputy Edwards had served with the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office for six years. He was survived by his wife and one child.