Special Deputy Marshal Richard Speed

Charles Richard "Dick" Speed (12-11-1867--9-1-1893) was my husband, Stephen D. Hawkins, maternal great grandfather. He was married to Rachel Margaret Mills and they had three little boys at the time of Richard's murder. The boys were 5, 3 and 1. The one year old, William Emory Speed, was my husband, Steve's, maternal grandfather whom is buried in Pampa, Tx. During my husband, Steve's, boyhood, stories among his family members circulated about his ggf Richard Speed. Richard was a constable in Perkins, Oklahoma (which is about 15 miles to Ingalls, Ok where Richard was gunned down by Roy "Arizona Tom Jones" Daugherty, a member of the Doolin-Dalton Gang. He was deputized as a Special Deputy Marshall and along with many law officers, entered Ingalls to bring this notorious gang to justice. According to a first hand account by Dr. J. H. Pickering, whom tended the wounded after the battle, he stated in his diary (from the Oklahoma Chronicles) that he saw 27 law officers arrive and take cover when they arrived via two covered wagons. (The Gang knew they were coming as a young child had forewarned the Gang. The Gang chose not to leave but to continue playing cards in the saloon near the livery and near the 2-story hotel). An undercover officer had infiltrated the Gang and played cards with them to get information for the other officers waiting to come into Ingalls. His name was Red Lucas. Red Lucas and Dock Roberts were 2 undercover Marshalls that had been coming to Ingalls pretending to set up a booth to sell tickets for the Oklahoma land grab). Red Lucas found everyone there in the saloon, except for Roy "Arkansas Tom Jones" Daugherty. Sadly, he did not find this information until the battle. If he had, all 3 officers might have lived. Roy Daugherty was sick with the flu in his second floor room in the hotel. When he heard gunshots (later ascertained to be between Richard Speed and Newcomb (one of the Gang), he had the perfect vantage point to shoot not only Richard, but also, Marshalls Tom Hueston and Lafayette "Lafe" Shadley. Dr. Pickering attested that neither Bill Doolin or Bill Dalton shot these officers. It is now known that Daugherty shot all 3 men. It is a shame, and this is my opinion, that the townsfolk were not able to lynch Daugherty. Instead he was sent to federal prison supposedly for 50 years in 1893, but got out, due to his two preacher brothers, in 1910. He continued to rob banks until he was finally killed in Joplin, Missouri (where he is buried) during another gunfight. The above has been carefully researched by me and all mistakes are mine. My name is Gloria Ann Prince Hawkins, the wife of Stephen Dale Hawkins. P S. Richard is buried in the well-maintained Perkins Cemetery in Perkins, Ok.; Tom Hueston is buried in Stillwater, Ok and Lafe Shadley was sent back to his state of Kansas (I believe) to be buried. All 3 are heroes and I wish they could have lived to raise their children. Richard was 25 years old...Tom was 42 and I have not looked to find Lafe's age at death. But all 3 were and always will be heroes.

Gloria Hawkins
great granddaughter in law of Richard Speed

October 23, 2023