poisoned whiskey had been one of the killers’ preferred methods,
the priest sent word back warning Mollie “not to drink any liquor
of any kind under any circumstances.”
But Mollie’s diabetes seemed to have provided an even more
devious way to deliver the poison. Some of the town’s doctors,
including the Shoun brothers, had been giving her injections of
what was supposed to be insulin, but instead of improving, Mollie
seemed to be getting worse. Government officials working for the
Office of Indian Affairs were also concerned that Mollie was
slowly being poisoned. A Justice Department official had noted
that her “illness is very suspicious, to say the least.” It was urgent,
the official went on, to “get this patient to some reputable hospital
for diagnosis and treatment free from the interference of her
husband.”
By the end of December 1925, White felt that he could no longer
wait. He had not finished confirming many details in Lawson’s
confession, and there remained certain contradictions. In addition
to Lawson having made mention of Kirby, he had insisted that
Hale was in Fairfax at the time of the explosion rather than in Fort
Worth with Grammer, as some witnesses had claimed.
Nevertheless, White rushed to obtain arrest warrants for Hale and
Ernest Burkhart for the murders of Bill and Rita Smith and their
servant Nettie Brookshire. The warrants were issued on January 4,
- Because agents could not make arrests, they fanned out with
U.S. marshals and other lawmen, including Sheriff Freas, who,
after being expelled from office, had been reelected to the position.
Several lawmen quickly located Ernest Burkhart at his favorite
dive, a pool hall in Fairfax, and transported him to the jail in
Guthrie, eighty miles southwest of Pawhuska. Hale, however,
could not be found. Agent Wren learned that he had ordered a new
suit of clothes and had said that he was planning to leave town at a