Laura Snapp, 20-year-old daughter of Hampton Snapp, lived with her aunt and uncle near Tom Bean, Grayson County in Texas.  Her father, one of the first settlers in Pottawatomie County, although he operated a successful ferry business on the Canadian River in Oklahoma, operated a successful bootlegging business out of his wagon which he drove to and from the ferry every day.  Despite his illegal trade, he was well liked in throughout the south and southeast parts of the county.  Before engaging in the business of selling booze, was a highly respected citizen in his neighborhood, about 3 miles from Wanette, and an exemplary Christian, even having a "license to exhort in the Methodist church."  (The Shawnee News, Friday, August 6, 1909, pg. 1)
Mr. Snapp had been charged with and convicted several times of bootlegging and violating the prohibitionary laws; (Shawnee Daily Herald, Tuesday, August 3, 1909, pg.1).  His latest conviction during the last week of July 1909 was reversed in the Court of Criminal Appeals because "the information was not verified by oath of the county attorney."  (The Oklahoma State Central (Guthrie, Oklahoma), Wednesday morning, July 28, 1909, pg.2)
On Sunday evening, the 1st of August 1909, about sundown Hamp Snapp tied his ferry up for the day and began his short journey in his wagon to his home.  That night he failed to return at the usual hour.  Instead his dead body was brought to his home and up to the front gate by his faithful horses.  (The Shawnee News, Saturday, November 13, 1909, pg.1)  Other accounts of the tragedy testified that Snapp's team and wagon appeared at the residence of Charles Green, with Snapp lying dead upon the seat, a shotgun wound in his mouth.  (Record & Chronicle, Denton, Texas.  Thursday, September 16, 1909, pg. 1)  Mr. Greene told of stopping the team in front of his house and having traced track of the wagon back to the scene of the killing and finding an empty gun.  (The Daily Oklahoman, Wednesday, January 5, 1910, pg.14)
Officers were notified who took up the trail as the mysterious death of Hamp Snapp was unwinding.  (The Shawnee News, Friday, August 5, 1909, pg.1)  The route over which Snapp had been carried was traced by the drops of blood to the scene of the killing where signs of a struggle were found.  From this place the hoof prints of the horse led to the town of Byars.  (The Shawnee News, Friday, August 6, 1909, pg.1)

In the meantime in Byars a young boy, Willie Byers, could not sleep.  His mother noticing his anxiety, asked her son to tell her what was bothering him.  Willie told his mother that he, in company friends with Hawk Jones, John Ruddell, and Pat Ellis had been drinking and wanting more, they went looking for Snapp at the ferry the previous night to buy some beer.  Not finding Snapp at the ferry, they figured he had started for home and went after him.  Soon they overtook the man and caused him to stop so that they could purchase liquor off of him.  They purchased four bottles and while standing around the wagon, one of them picked up a gun from the bed of the wagon and wondered if it was loaded.  The gun was discharged with the full charge of shot striking Snapp in the mouth.  Frightened, the boys threw the gun away and let the startled horses run homeward with their dead driver.  (The Shawnee News, Saturday, November 13, 1909, pg.1)

Three months after her husband's death, the widow of Hampton Snapp, frail and visibly pale accentuated by the deep background of her mourning attire, visited Shawnee to consult with the County Attorney concerning the prosecution of the four boys charged with the crime of robbery, seeking justice in the death of her husband at the hands of the accused.  (The Shawnee News, Saturday, November 13, 1909, pg.1)

The preliminary hearing had to be held under a big tree near Wanette with County Attorney Holt representing the state due to the crowd of citizens from the southern part of the county being present for the trial.  At the preliminary hearing, the story of Willie Byers was proven to be substantially correct although there was difference among the four boys' stories as to who picked up the gun.  It was also shown that Snapp, when peddling liquor, always carried a cocked gun.  (The Shawnee News, Saturday, November 13, 1909, pg.1)  A Petit Jury was called for Monday, January 3, 1910, at which time the criminal trial began in the superior court.  (The Shawnee  News, Monday, December 27, 1909, pg.4)  The defendants chose to be tried separately with the case against Willie Byers being called first.  (The Daily Oklahoman, Tuesday, January 4, 1910, pg.11)  Nine jurors were chosen to occupy the jury box on Tuesday, January 4th with the remaining three chosen on Wednesday, January 5th.  They were: J.B. Buckler, J.F. Jones, H. Waller, E.L. Hambey, Frank Knapenberger, I.E. Carter, J.M. Seward, James Turner, J.S. Son, J.R. Lansdown, W.H. Walker and J.T. Coats.  Over 20 witnesses were introduced by the state to prove that the crime of murder was premeditated.  All defendants claimed that the shooting was accidental.  (Shawnee Daily Herald, Wednesday, January 5, 1910, pg.1)  The County Attorney's case was to prove that Byars and Snapp had had trouble the day before the killing and that Byars had said he would kill Snapp.  John Ruddell testified during the trial that he and his three companions were drinking the night of August 1, 1909, that they had purchase liquor from Mr. Snapp earlier in the evening of August 1st, that they had later caught up with Mr. Snapp on the road leading to his home, that he had picked up the loaded gun which accidentally discharged, and the team of horses then ran away.  (Shawnee Daily Herald, Friday, January 7, 1910, pg.1)  By noon Saturday the fate of Will Byers was put into the hands of the jury, who found him guilty of manslaughter in the first degree, recommending an imprisonment sentence of 15 years in the state prison.   A request for a new trial was denied and bond was placed at $8,500.  (The Daily Oklahoman, Sunday, January 9, 1910, pg.9)
The defendant received the verdict with a sneer; none of his family was in the court when the verdict was returned.

"Ruddell was not in court last night when the verdict against his companion was rendered but arrived a few minutes afterwards and is said to have exclaimed: "Gee, that looks bad for me." (Shawnee Daily Herald, Sunday, January 9, 1910, pg.1)  Mid-week the bond for Ruddell was ordered forfeited since he had left the state.  Ex-Sheriff William Grace traveled to Texas in an attempt to locate the fugitive whose parents lived in Denton County and bring him back to Oklahoma for trial. (Shawnee Daily Herald, morning edition, Sunday, January 9, 1910, pg.1)

Hawk Jones was the second of the defendants to be place on trial, beginning January 17, 1910 with the same defense of accidental shooting.  (Shawnee Daily Herald, Sunday, January 16, 1910, pg.10)  Special Judge Miley was elected January 20th to preside at the trial of Jones.  (Shawnee Daily Herald, Friday, January 21, 1910, pg.5)  The prisoner testified for  more than 2 hours concerning the events that preceded the killing of Mr. Snapp, stating that the group had been on a 3-day spree of drinking and that John Ruddell took the gun from the wagon which was accidentally discharged.  (Shawnee Daily Herald, Tuesday, January 25, 1910, pg.6)  The jury was dismissed on Friday, January 28th after having been out for over 24 hours and being dead-locked at 9 for acquittal and 3 for conviction.  (The Daily Oklahoman, Friday, January 28, 1910, pg. 18)  A second trial for Hawk Jones began January 31, 1911.  (The Shawnee Daily Herald, Tuesday, January 31, 1911, pg.1)  The second jury returned a verdict of guilty and fixed his punishment at 4 years in the state penitentiary at McAlester.  (The Shawnee Daily Herald, February 2, 1911, pg.1)