A look back: Murder at Bryan’s Mill

SAM GRIFFIN SHOT

This story is a reprint from the CITIZEN’S JOURNAL dated Thursday, Jan. 16, 1921. Because I grew up in Bryan’s Mill, I have heard versions of this story many times. After the reprint of this article, I will attempt to provide a backdrop from the many conversations drawn from the many conversations I have had and heard over the years.

REPRINT

Sam Griffin was shot and killed Monday morning while passing through the W. S. Stewart pasture, half mile north or Bryan’s Mill. We understand that Charlie Kingston reported to a doctor at Bryan’s Mill where could find Griffin and that the doctor could go out there, but he was sure he would find him dead as he had been shot four times with a Winchester rifle. We understand that the two men had been carrying their guns for each other for some time.

Trouble arose between them some time last year and during the trouble Jim Kingston was shot and killed, for which Mr. Griffin stood trial and was cleared in District Court at Linden. Mr. Griffin had moved to Idabel Okla. but recently moved back to the Bryan’s Mill community.

BACKDROP

As stated in the above article, the feud between the Kingston’s and Sam Griffin started much earlier. The story begins when Jim Kingston started having an affair with Sam Griffin’s wife. As in any small community gossip spreads fast and soon almost everyone s knew about it except Mrs. Griffin’s husband Sam. Even the fact that Mrs. Griffin would signal her lover Jim Kingston that her husband Sam was not home by placing a lit lamp or lantern in a certain window.

Finally, Sam Griffin realized what was happening and stated carrying a rifle and at this point so did Jim Kingston. Jim left home one day pretending he would be gone for a while but stopped a short distance from his home and waited. Soon he saw the light placed in the window and knew that Jim Kingston would be coming soon.

What happened at this point was that a gun battle between Jim Kingston and Sam Griffin ensued. Who fired the first shot is still debated, but after the shootout Jim Kingston was dead and Sam Griffin was brought to trial for murder but the District Court cleared Sam of any wrong doing.

As the above reprint states, Sam

Griffin moved to Idabel, Oklahoma for about a year and on his return was killed by Charlie Kingston, Jim’s brother. Charlie Kingston was convicted of murder but was released from prison after serving a few years.

He then returned to Bryan’s Mill and married Mrs. Griffin, the widow of the man that he murdered. They then left the community, moving to Bowie County to live a long life together.