WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — More than a century ago, a veterinarian’s poker game on a Wichita County oil field was raided by a group of deputies, and when the gunsmoke cleared, two men lay dead.

On September 30, 1920, Houston “Doc” Snow, who claimed to be a professional gambler made good on a threat that his poker game would never be raided by officers, costing two Wichita County deputies their lives.

In her book “How Did They Die? Murders in Northern Texas 1882-1927” , Julie Coley , a Wichita Falls author and local historian, said the murders “would go down in Wichita County, Texas history.”

Oil boom brings prosperity, lawlessness to Texoma

The oil boom of the 1910s and 1920s in North Texas was a time when generational wealth could be found. When new oil was discovered, thousands came in search of a payday. The demand for labor was so high and the pay was so good that most people couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

In the 1920s in North Texas, oil fields began popping up as discoveries were made. One such oil field was the Kemp-Munger-Allen Oil Field. Today, the area is called Kamay, but over 100 years ago, it was known as Kemp City.

The first well was drilled in 1919, bringing more black gold to Texoma. It brought with it much prosperity to the area, but that didn’t come without that lawlessness that was sometimes known to accompany oil fields.

“This was a time of crime throughout the county,” Coley said, “With oil fields popping up everywhere and a large number of men were coming to the county to work and live in tent cities around the oil field areas. Gambling houses, robbery and other various crimes were being committed.”

“Doc” Snow was a veterinarian, and despite never earning a license to practice medicine, his occupation had earned him his nickname. He claimed to be a professional gambler, and according to some, he kept a gun under his gambling table.

Snow had made several threats that no officers would ever raid his poker game and get away with it. But on September 30, 1920, several deputies attempted to do just that.

Poker game raid turns tragic

According to Coley, Deputy Constable J.R. Spiller spoke with the county attorney, John Davenport, and they decided to make some of the townsmen deputies and carry out a raid on a gaming house in Kemp City. Authorities had learned that gambling had been going on at the gaming house on the oil field for about a week.

Spiller would later testify that himself, William P. Belcher, William S. Toney, Marvin Caple, and Joe Hancock left the courthouse in a Buick Six on September 30, 1920, and headed to Kemp City.

When the lawmen arrived at the K-M-A Oil Field, Spiller testified that Toney and Caple had gone into the gaming house and positioned themselves at the back door. Spiller testified that Belcher had spoken to Wiley Smith, who was dealing blackjack, to let them know who they were.

According to Spiller’s testimony, Smith said, “Boys, Spiller and Belcher, the law from Wichita…”

That’s all Smith was able to get out before the sound of gunfire erupted from the gaming house.

In fear for their lives, the men inside the house started to run, but the deputies were able to get a large group of them back into the house. According to Coley, it was at this time they discovered Caple and Toney lying on the floor. Toney was dead. Caple was still breathing, however, he died a short time later.

Snow, however, was nowhere to be found. He’d somehow cut the screen out of a back window and fled from the house.

Snow captured after multi-agency manhunt

A manhunt for Snow began involving Wichita County deputies. Texas Rangers were also called in, not only to locate Snow but to stop gambling operations in the oil field. They searched for Snow for three days.

On Saturday night, October 2, 1920, Wichita County Sheriff R.L. McFall received word Snow had been seen in the tent city. Deputies searched the entire area, looking through all the tents, finding only a coat with a bank deposit slip with “H.C. Snow” on it.

After waiting for several hours, Snow never showed back up. So, they returned early the next morning, at around 3:30 a.m., and found breakfast was already being prepared. Sheriff McFall asked the cook if he’d seen snow, and the cook pointed out the tent where Snow was sleeping.

According to Coley, on October 3, 1920, Snow was captured by Sheriff McFall and a group of deputies along the banks of the Wichita River, about 30 miles from Wichita Falls and about 450 yards northwest of the Electra bridge.

Coley said Sheriff McFall approached Snow with his gun drawn. Deputies woke him up and told him who they were. Sheriff McFall said they were there to arrest him, and all Snow said was, “Alright.”

It’s a good thing too. They found a six-shooter under Snow’s pillow.

Snow was taken to the Tarrant County Jail out of fear that a mob might break into the Wichita County Jail and ensure he’d “never make it to trial,” as many had threatened. After all, something very similar had happened just over two decades prior .

Snow takes the stand in his own murder trial

According to Coley, Snow was tried separately for the murders of Caple and Toney. The trial for Caple’s murder began on November 17, 1920.

Coley said Snow’s attorney argued that the men who raided the poker game never identified themselves and that Snow thought the gambling house was being robbed. A doctor also testified that both Toney and Caple were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the raids, showing they weren’t in their right minds when they entered the gaming house.

Eventually, Snow took the stand himself, and according to Coley, “You could hear a pin drop in the courtroom as he began to speak.

Snow testified that he was afraid and that he shot Toney and Caple because he thought they were “sticking up the place and he thought that they were going to kill someone.” He testified that he ran from the law because he saw a newspaper article that law enforcement was looking for him, and had it not been for that newspaper article, he would’ve turned himself in.

According to Coley, Snow cried during closing arguments.

At around 8:40 p.m. on November 22, 1920, the jury found Snow guilty of Caple’s murder and he was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

Snow plays his last hand

Snow’s attorney immediately filed for an appeal, sending Snow to the county jail while the appeal was pending. Allegedly, Snow became a Christian while in jail and was taken to the Floral Heights United Methodist Church and baptized in a private ceremony on June 21, 1921.

Since an appeal was pending for the trial of Caple’s murder, the trial for Toney’s murder wasn’t able to begin. In February 1922, a new trial was granted for Snow due to alleged jury misconduct, and he was released on a $10,000 bond after spending two years behind bars in the Wichita County Jail.

While Snow was awaiting his new trial, he was arrested on federal bootlegging charges in January 1923.

In July 1923, Texas Rangers went on a raiding expedition at the Freeman-Hampton Oil Field, looking to break up more illegal gambling operations. They’d been told during an earlier raid that Doc Snow threatened to “smoke and burn up” the next officer who attempted to interfere with his games.

On July 21, 1923, Rangers heard gunshots while on their raiding expedition. When the sergeant ran into the building the shots came from, he found Snow dead, finding a gun partially drawn at Snow’s hip.

Snow had played his last hand.

This story was written thanks to hours of research by Wichita Falls author and local historian Julie Coley . Her published works can be purchased on Amazon or locally at Picker’s Universe at 10th and Indiana or at Emmalee’s Shop at Jacksboro Highway and East Scott.

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