20 Facts About Wiley Lynn

Wiley Ulysses Lynn was an American prohibition agent during the early 20th century, best known for having killed legendary lawman Bill Tilghman, on November 1,1924, in Cromwell, Oklahoma.

Wiley Lynn was born in Madill, Oklahoma, the son of a farmer; the family were enrolled Choctaw citizens.

Wiley Lynn accepted an appointment as a Prohibition Unit agent assigned to the town of Cromwell, Oklahoma.

Wiley Lynn, the prohibition agent assigned to the area, was a big part of the problem.

Wiley Lynn accepted the position of police chief of Oklahoma City in 1911.

From early on in the job, he and Wiley Lynn were clearly rivals.

Wiley Lynn pulled up outside in a vehicle along with prostitute Eva Caton and her companion, a US Army sergeant named Thompson, as well as prostitute Rose Lutke.

Wiley Lynn exited the vehicle, and discharged his pistol into the street.

However, Wiley Lynn had a second pistol which he quickly drew and shot Tilghman twice in the stomach and chest at point blank range.

Wiley Lynn then fled the scene, turning himself in at the Federal District Headquarters in Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleading self defense.

Wiley Lynn later testified that he could not see clearly exactly what happened.

Wiley Lynn survived the trial, and amazingly continued to work in his prohibition agent position for a very short time, but eventually lost his job.

Wiley Lynn was married, and had two sons, but his life went into a downward spiral after the Tilghman shooting.

Wiley Lynn was arrested several times for drunkenness in Wewoka, Oklahoma and Shawnee, Oklahoma, as well as other minor offenses.

Wiley Lynn clashed on more than one occasion with Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Agent Crockett Long, who was assigned to that area, and who had made no secret that he disliked Lynn, Long having known and been friends with Tilghman.

Wiley Lynn had previously that same year been involved in a gunfight with Pretty Boy Floyd, with Floyd escaping.

Wiley Lynn entered the Corner Drug Store, intoxicated, where Long was visiting with stock buyer Bill Baker, and the local undertaker Paul Watts.

Wiley Lynn approached the men with his pistol in his hand, and stated to Long "Put 'em up, you son of a bitch, I'm going to get you sometime so it might as well be now".

Rody Watkins and John Hilburn, two young men who were standing at the soda fountain, were both hit by the bullet fired by Wiley Lynn, which had passed through the body of Crockett Long.

Wiley Lynn staggered out of the store and across the street to a service station, where citizen Clyde Lewis took him to a doctor.