◆ SpookStack

goo Hale was very nervous and complained tothe Agent tia “stomach trouble and was having trouble sleering lates ye Be rhed that he kad sold ail of his cattle intereats retci onl ymesO head of cattle and about 75 tons. of cottonseed cokey. «- gatd me did not know exactly what he was going to do but feit need @ long rest. The Agent learned that Hale had already , 25, 000 that year (1925) in his oattle dealings and other interesta, Hale was very friendly to the undercover Agent and - a introduced him to several prominent citizens of Fairfaz. The © « iSAgent learned thaz Hale was cond@eting a propaganda campaign to Syoee e wanes #d ana ha aatita Tn net men an . RGny vr 7Enads Gé- se Wl tile. ag gave away MGT y Presenvae to <t3 9 various individuals, bought them auits of clothes, co-signed snotes for persohs, gave ponies to young boys and was exceedingly ayer Wind to odd people and those suffering rom affitetions. 7 a . fhe Agent ascertained that Hale had.ordered a new sui i¢ og n of clothes and an obercoat from a tailor to whom he remarzed that. ‘he was going to take a trip to Florida. He also learned that Hale's 18-year-old daughter had renarked that the family had everything packed and they were prepared te leave at.a moment's notice. Hale. ia stated to othérs in the presence of the undercover Agent that he "waa toa slick and keen.to catch cold and he'was tired of two- bit . - erooks riding the public on his reputation. "oe Another uncercover Agent who played the role ofa plain “Texas cowboy established close association with many of Hale's - tntinates and employees, all of whom unknowingly contributed ' valuable Information. The lives-of the Agents investigating these murders were ‘Bie constantly tn danger since the area abounded with robbers and 38 ‘Killers. Agents working undercover often met late at nigat in reno te: a 29°. ond dangerous piaces in Qsage County, such as the woods which were .'* ea 40 “used aa a meeting place by Al Spencer, who used the area casa 3% reso) te hideout for his notorious band of bank robbers, and Dead Lfan's Hfal 42— ‘where many murders and robberies had been plotted. 43ob-, a - Agents learned that W. K. Hale had atten enpt ted to hire fas ' Spencer to murder Indians. Other members of the Spencer ring later’. testified at Hale's trial that Hale had also tried unsuccessfully | . te hire them to murder certain Indians. 7 "Curley" Johnson, another bank bandit active in this area; was at one time approached by a nephew of William Hale, a. .,< _ cartel instigation, for the purpose of hiring Johnson te murasr !. 52, certaga Indians. Johnson was later killed under mysterious circus 53 stance and the rumor was common that he had heen killed at the Bi Sev Angi igntton of Hale who feared he might "talk." 3S ba “ "Another: notorious criminal, Henry Grammer who monopolized 52. the ina iiguor traffic, Shared honors with Hale as bose of the GOT minal element of Osage County. He reputedly kept certain woods