Ben J.  Higbee– City Marshal, Coyle

Saturday night, January 30, 1904, 26 year old Higbee had only been the City Marshal a few weeks when he was scuffling with John Howe apparently attempting to arrest Howe on an unknown charge, when Higbee’s gun fell out of his pocket. The gun discharged as it hit the ground. The bullet struck Howe on the right thigh, cutting a hole in his pants and entering Higbee’s right groin and traveled upward through his body. Higbee was immediately treated by the local doctor but a doctor from Oklahoma City was telegraphed for. When the doctor arrived from Oklahoma City on Monday February 1^st he operated on Higbee but the young City Marshal died that day from extensive internal injuries caused by the bullet. Higbee also worked in the local bank and was survived by his father, a brother and a sister.