Jim Neely didnt have the luxury of modern-day forensics when he solved the disappearance and murder of Wagoner resident Jake Skelly in 1938. Neely, shown in the first photo, was assisted by Clay Flowers, sheriff, (2nd photo) and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, including local trooper Ben Hays. We came across an article in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol magazine about the case this afternoon and thought wed share a little of it. Skelly, who sometimes sold illegal whiskey from his little house on the west side of the tracks, lived mostly off his pension and was known to frequently carry $150-300, which was considered a large sum at the time. He is shown in his younger years in third photo. Roy Mannon, fourth photo, was executed in 1940 for having shot an killed Skelly and dumping his body in a well near Coweta. Skellys car, was found abandoned south of Muskogee. The last picture shows Skellys body being pulled from the well. Hays is one of the two troopers on the right. All photos are from the trooper magazine.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 01:17:43 +0000
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