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On his marriage license, of March 22 1908, Arthur lists his age as 24 and his birthplace as Georgia. The grave of Joseph A. Seabolt in Roff is inscribed 6-1-1883 to 12-17-1908 (the day Arthur was murdered). Unfortunately, the most we know of Arthur is that he was shot by his father-in-law -- per front page article in the Ada Evening News of 12/26/1908.
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Ada Weekly News, December, 24, 1908
THIS IS THE RECORD OF GRUNDY CALLAHAN SO REPORTED:
The News reporter has been told the Grundy CALLAHAN, who shot Arthur SEABOLT near Roff, had previously killed two men, so his son-in-law made his third victim. It is also said, the SEABOLT wife is only a step-daughter of CALLAHAN, as the first husband of the girl's mother was an Indian, so it was through that connection, Mrs. SEABOLT holds the allotment of which CALLAHAN had been living.
The following account of the killing of SEABOLT, is from the Roff Eagle.
There were two eye witnesses to the tragedy, and it seems from their statements that SEABOLT was not expecting trouble. It seems the CALLAHAN had been living at the house where the tragedy was enacted, but had lately moved out and SEABOLT had moved in. SEABOLT had driven his team of mules up to the barn and was taking them from the wagon when CALLAHAN drove up and spoke to him, telling him that he has come to get some onions that he had left on the place, and adding that he hoped he wouldn't be in the way. SEABOLT answered that he would help him as soon as he fed his mules. He than put his mules in the lot and picked up some ears of corn in his arms, when CALLAHAN drew a pistol and shot him, the first shot striking his left arm in which he held the corn. He asked CALLAHAN not to shoot any more, but he continued to shoot three more shots. One passing through the body of SEABOLT and two through his head. It seems that trouble had been brewing between the parties for some time, and they had a row or two before this.
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Ada Weekly News, December 24, 1908
GRUNDY CALLAHAN SHOT ARTHUR SEABOLT
Grundy CALLAHAN, who lives near Roff, shot and killed his son-in-law, Arthur SEABOLT, yesterday evening. SEABOLT was advancing to CALLAHAN with a pitchfork, when the latter shot the former with a pistol. SEABOLT died in about forty minutes.
So far as the particulars leading up to the tragedy can be learned by a reporter of the News, they are in substance as follows:
Grundy CALLAHAN'S daughter has an allotment on which her father has been making his home. Last year she married Arthur SEABOLT, and it is reported he mistreated her. This is said to have been the basic of the enmity between CALLAHAN and SEABOLT. Recently, SEABOLT got his wife to have her father to move off of her allotment, so as they could go on it, and CALLAHAN moved yesterday, except one load, which he had returned for.
CALLAHAN found SEABOLT on the premises and the old trouble between them renewed, with the result that SEABOLT grabbed a pitchfork and started toward CALLAHAN, when the latter pulled his pistol and shot SEABOLT through the breast, resulting in death.
CALLAHAN went to Roff and surrendered to an officer and was brought to Ada last night, where he was guarded by friends until today. CALLAHAN has not yet been arraigned.
Prosecuting Attorney WIMBISH and Sheriff SMITH went to Roff yesterday evening and will return at 4 o'clock this evening. Their trip was for the purpose of investigating the killing, so some action will be taken upon their return. For the present, CALLAHAN is under guard.
Another version of the killing, is to the effect, that CALLAHAN shot SEABOLT as he came out of the crib with an arm full of corn, and as SEABOLT fell, CALLAHAN shot him three more times, each ball striking him. It is said that SEABOLT begged CALLAHAN not to shoot him again.
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December 25, 1908
A KILLING OCCURS IN VICINITY OF ROFF
Thursday afternoon a difficulty took place near Roff, as a result of which Arthur SEABOLT was shot by F.G. CALLAHAN, his father-in-law, and died about an hour later. From the best information obtainable it appears that CALLAHAN drove up the barn where SEABOLT was unharnessing his team and stated that he had come to get some onions he had left when he had moved from the place. SEABOLT told him to go ahead and he would help him as soon as he fed his mules. The just as SEABOLT was reaching into the crib for some corn CALLAHAN shot him four times.
CALLAHAN then went to Roff and surrendered to the officers who brought him to Ada.
The preliminary trial was held Monday at Roff before Justice CROWDER who bound CALLAHAN over to the grand jury without bail.
Article from front page of Ada News of December 26, 1908.
Sheriff Tom Smith took Grundy Callahan to Lehigh today, where applications will be made for his release before District Judge West on habeas corpus proceedings.
Stone and Maxey represent Callahan and prosecuting attorney Wimbish will resist the application for bail.
This case is one in which Callahan shot and killed his son-in-law, Arthur Seabolt, at the home of the latter, near Roff.
Judge West granted Callahan bail in the sum of $25,000.00 so the News is informed by phone 4 o'clock by County Attorney Wimbish.
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THE ADA WEEKLY NEWS
January 21, 1909
ENDS HIS LIFE BY SUICIDE
Grundy Callahan Who Killed Arthur Seabolt, Takes Whiskey and Strychnine and Dies at His Home.
Felix Grundy Callahan ends life by suicide
Grundy Callahan committed suicide last night at his home, near Roff, by drinking whiskey and strychnine, as some of the contents were found left in the bottle from which he drank.
Grundy Callahan shot and killed his son-in-law, Arthur Seabolt, at the home of the latter December 17th, last.
Seabolt married a daughter of the wife of Callahan by her first husband, who was a Indian. The daughter had a allotment, near Roff, on which Callahan lived. While Seabolt and his wife resided elsewhere. On December 16th, Callahan moved off the premises and on the 17th, Seabolt moved in. Callahan returned to the Seabolt home on the 17th of December and, according to eye witness, shot Seabolt as he was getting out the crib door with his arms full of corn. After shooting him down, he emptied other shots into the prostrate body. Upon examining trial Callahan was committed to jail without bail, but later, his attorneys, Stone & Maxey, secured before Judge West bond in the amount of $25,000 which was made with scheduled property, security of $35,000.00.
It is reported that Callahan remarked that before retiring for the night, that he had found a bottle of whiskey in the barn, out of which he took two drinks.
Some of Callahan's friends rather hint at the possibility of a poisoned preparation having been fixed up for the bins, while other scount the idea.
Since being released on bond, Callahan has been residing near Roff, and last night he ended it all by taking sufficient strychnine to kill himself.
There is a chance here for the investigation to draw more conclusions and many moral lessons, but as it is the province of this paper to give only the unprejudiced news, that phase of the tragedy is passed up.
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1882 - 1908 (26 years)
