Edward Williams, 1960 July 28

We

roused his former employer around midnight. He forced the man and
his wife to go to the general store and open the safe from which he
took over $1,000 and left. They turned in an alarm immediately and
the police cuecoere: the car abandoned. On checking the registra-
tions they discovered thet Cooke, who had already been reported as
missing, was. the owner and they feared the worst. Williams went to
the home of some acquaintences near Talihina and forced them to

drive him to Wilburton where he boarded a bust headed for Fort Smith,
Arke; just as it was departing. As quickly as the bus Left, they
notified the police and when it stopped at Poteau, officers boarded
the bus and found Williams hiding .on the floor between two rows of
seats. He finally confessed that he had killed Rev. Cooke and told |
where to find the body. In return for a sentence of life imprisonneny
he pleaded guilty to murder and he thought that he had cheated the
chair. However, he was then placed on trial for kidnapping Cooke,
found guilty and sentenced.to death. Following a long series of
appeals, he was electrocuted on July 28, 1960.

roused his former employer around midnight. He forced the man and
his wife to go to the general store and open the safe from which he
took over $1,000 and left. They turned in an alarm immediately and
the police discovered the car abandoned. On checking the registra-
tion, they discovered thet Cooke, who had already been reported as
missing, was. the owner and they feared the worst. Williams went to
the home of some acquaintences near Talihina and forced them to
drive him to Wilburton where he boarded a bust headed for Fort Smith,
Ark., just as it was departing. As quickly as the bus left, they
notified the police and when it stopped at Poteau, officers boarded
the bus and found Williams hiding .on the floor between two rows of
seats, He finally confessed that he had killed Rev. Cooke and told
where to find the body. In return for a sentence of life imprisomneny
he pleaded guilty to murder and he thought that he had cheated the
chair. However, he was then placed on trial for kidnapping Cooke,
found guilty and sentenced.to death. Following a long series of
appeals, he was electrocuted on July 28, 1960.

TRUE DETECTIVE, BXEKXZUS page 52, February, 1961.

roused his former employer around midnight, He forced the man and

iis wife to go to the general store and open the safe from which he
took over $1,000 and left. They turned in an alarm immediately and
the police discovered the car abandoned, On checking the registra-
tion, they discovered thet Cooke, who had already been reported as
missing, was. the owner and they feared the worst. Williams went to
the home of some acquaintences near Talihina and forced them to
drive him to Wilburton where he boarded a bust headed for Fort Smith,
Ark., just as it was departing. As quickly as the bus left, they
notified the police and when it stopped at Poteau, officers boarded
the bus and found Williams hiding on the floor between two rows of
seats, He finally confessed that he had killed Rev, Cocke and told
where to find the body. In return for a sentence of life imprisonment
he pleaded guilty to mirder and he thought that he had cheated .the
chair, However, he was then placed on trial for kidnapping Cooke,
found guilty and sentenced .to dea Following a long series of
appeals, he was electrocuted on July 28, 1960.

TRUE DETHCTIVE, RXEXXXM page 52, February, 1961.

WILLIAMS, Edward Leon (Pete)

Williams, a 27-year-old white native of Oklahoma was arrested for
the first time for car theft when he was only 15-years-old. He spent

_ the next eleven years, with the exception of nine months, behind bars,

Serving two terms at the Federal Reformatory at #1 Reno, Oklahoma

and seven years at ‘the tndiana Sta te” ee eee Co mectons

“March, 1956, he returned + to Ok&ahoma ma obtained a job working aba

hast general store at Talihina where he remained for six weeks before ———

| he quit. On the night of June 16, he robbed a Tulsa service station _

bgt was spotted by a security patrol as he drove off. The patrol

pave chase and Williams finally wrecked his car-and-escaped into the

__ dark, He made his way to a Tulsa girlfriend's home and spent the |

\
\

night. The next afternoon, he stood in front of the Tulsa Library

looking for a nice Looking car to hijack. When Rev. Tommy Robert ——

_ Cooke, a 230year-old Baptist Minister, stopped for a traffic diet)

_ Williams crawled in and forced the young man ay eee cnet to ay

eee -O£- ‘bushes, _He- then drove-the- dead man's car to. Talihina and

WILLIAMS, Edward Leon (Pete)

Williams, a 27-year-old white native of Oklahoma was arrested for
the first time for car theft when he was only 15-years-old. He spent
the next eleven years, with the exception of nine months, behind bars,
serving two terms at the Federal Reformatory at #1 Reno, Oklahoma

“and seven years at the 4ndiana Sta te Prison, All of his convictions

_were for car theft. When finally paroled from the Indiana Prison in |

"March, 1956, he returned to OkAahoma and obtained a job working ah a

general “store at Talihina where he remained for six weeks- before ican

bat was spotted by. a security pathol as he drove off. The patrol

~ gave chase and Willtams finally wrecked his car and escaped into the —

_dark. He made his way to a Tulsa girlfriend's home and spent the

night. The next afternoon, he stood in front of the Tulsa Library

“Looking for a nice looking car to hijack. When Rev. Tommy Robert———

_ Cooke, a 23@year=old Raptist Minister, stopped for a traffic light, _

Williams crawled in and forced the young man at gun point to drive
to Taft, Okla., where he made him tunn-on to a-dirt road-and leave
the car. When the young Minister objected to Williams! plan to

tie him up, Williams shot him in the head and Metpubherbody ny ac i
elump—of bushes. —He—then drove—the-dead_man's_car_to- Talihina and _

WILLLAMS, Edward Leon (Pete)

Willians, a 27-year-old white native of Oklahoma was arrested for
the first time for car theft when he was only 15-years-old. —He spent
the next eleven years, with the exception of nine months, behind bars,
serving two tems at the Federal Refomatory at #1 Reno, Oklahona
and seven years at the indiana Sta te Prison, Alt of his convictions
were for car theft. When finally paroled from the Indiana Prison in
March, 1956, he returned to Ok&ahoma and obtained a job working ah a
general aes at falihina where he remained for six weeks before
he quit. On the night of June 16, he rob ‘Tulsa service station
bot was Bottae by a security patrol as he drove off, The patrol
gave chase-and Wittens finally wrecked his car-and escaped into the
dark. eee way toa Tulsa girlfriend's home and spent the
ne The next afternoon, he stood in front of the Tulsa Library

g fora nice looking car to hijacks When Rev, Tommy Robert
ee a Beyoar-old Raptist Minister, stopped for a traffle Light,
Williams crawled forced the young man at gun point to drive

3 Where he made him tum igs dirt road and leave
Williams! plan to

tie him up, id a pee eS ‘body in a
ie of bushes» He then drove the dead man's car alihina and

{ERS, Rivard Toon (ats)

SS Eien nt me may er rr