From The Files of The Seminole Producer

WEWOKA- A Seminole man testified today before the Seminole County Grand Jury about two burglaries at his rural home on July 18 and July 22 which were investigated by the sheriff’s department.

Leonard Mayfield, who lives six miles west of Seminole on SH 3, told the Producer prior to entering the grand jury chambers that there were several unusual events surrounding the burglaries and investigation.

Mayfield said he would testify that Deputy Sheriff Walker Watts of Wewoka investigated the July 18 burglary at his home and in reporting the incident list an $800 necklace as having been stolen.

“There was no $800 necklace stolen,” Mayfield told the Producer today.

The Seminole man said that during the investigation of the July 18 burglary Watts was shown where the burglars had missed a 22 rifle which was hidden in a closet and had overlooked a chain saw.

Mayfield said that both the chain saw and 22 rifle were then stolen by burglars on July 21.

“Other than my wife and me, Watts was the only person who knew where those two items were,” Mayfield alleged. Mayfield said he would ask the jury to investigate the possibility Watts reported the $800 necklace stolen thinking that the Mayfields would file this item in their insurance claim despite the fact that the item was not stolen.

“Of course we didn’t do this, but I wonder if it happened before,” Mayfield said. “I wonder if other theft reports had been padded?”

The Seminole man said on the July 18 burglary that the front door lock was pried open with some sort of instrument which was not know.

Mayfield said in the July 21 burglary that the burglars pried open the front door lock with a screwdriver which was later found at the residence.

Mayfield said that Watts in reporting the July 18 burglary said that a screwdriver was used in opening the front door lock.

“We didn’t know what was used in that burglary,” he said. Mayfield said he reported the incidents to Sheriff Bill Merryfield.

“I felt that I should tell the jury about this because its bothered me ever since it happened,” Mayfield said.

Items taken in the July 18 burglary, Mayfield said, were a gold watch, an AM-FM radio, recording and tape player set, a 22 rifle, a 16-gauge shotgun, a German lugar pistol and various frozen vegetables and steaks from his freezer.

-oOo WEWOKA—Two men, who sell materials to the Seminole County commissioners, were subpoenaed and questioned by the Grand Jury this morning as its probe entered its fifth day. Grand Jurors on Monday heard testimony from a state auditor and an investigator with the state Examiner’s and Inspector’s office, which conducted an audit on Seminole County records.

The jury recessed early at 2 p.m. Monday and afterwards state investigators and auditors questioned employees in County Assessor Paul Mathews’ office behind closed doors. The grand jury entered its second week of service Monday and in five days of taking testimony have probed District Attorney Roy Powell of Ada, and Commissioners B. Max Dye, Konawa; Jim Whitt, Seminole, and Clifford Ligon, Wewoka.

The secret panel thus far has apparently not heard any testimony concerning Assessor Mathews’ office, however, it is expected to investigate his office possibly later this week. The grand jurors are scheduled to re-tour public jails in Seminole, Konawa and Wewoka this afternoon at 1 p.m. Jurors on April 13 toured the jails, but a second tour is now necessary because a new grand jury member seated on April 14 missed the prior tour.

Juror Kenneth Tiger, who was seated on April 14 after juror Benjamin Brown was found to be unqualified to serve as a juror because of state statutes, joined the other 11 jurors today in touring the jails traveling aboard a Seminole Church of Christ bus.

Appearing before the panel this morning was Jim L. Litton of the Oklahoma Road Materials Company of Oklahoma City and E. L. Irwin of Independent Industries, of Meeker. Each appeared before the panel for about 20 minutes.

Secret subpoenas for Litton, Irwin and a third materials dealer Gore Edgin of McLoud were issued Friday and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents served the subpoenas on Irwin and Litton.

The agents, according to court records made public today, were unsuccessful over the weekend in attempts to serve subpoenas on Edgin.

Litton refused to talk with The Producer today and hurried away from the courthouse after a reporter identified himself.

“I’ve got an appointment and must be going,” Litton said. He also refused to allow a reporter to make his photograph, turning his back to the camera and hurrying away.

Litton, after appearing before the jury, did take time to stop in the county commissioner’s office and visit, after telling the reporter that he had no time to talk.

Irwin, photographed by a newsman as he left the jury chambers, told the Producer he was subpoenaed to appear before the panel.

He said his company sells pipe, lumber and other materials to the county commissioners.

Grand jurors apparently questioned the two material dealers today about business dealings they’ve had with the commissioners.

A Wewoka man, Max Floyd, who twice previously has run against Commissioner Ligon in elections and has been defeated, also testified Prior to entering the jury chambers, Floyd told The Producer he would testify about complaints he has against Ligon and his Commissioner District No. 3. Floyd refused to elaborate concerning his complaints.

Floyd is one of five county citizens who have petitioned State Attorney General Larry Derryberry seeking ouster proceedings against Powell and the commissioners.

On Monday the grand jury heard testimony from Charlie McSwain state audit supervisor of the western district of Oklahoma for the State Examiner’s and Inspectors office, and examiner and investigator Arnold Moreland.

State Auditor Ray Brown testified before the jury this morning.

The trio reportedly explained in detail to the jury about alleged law violations they uncovered concerning the county commissioners while conducting a sixmonth audit on Seminole County records.

Treated in the audit report were alleged acts of deficit spending by the commissioners along with allegations they split claims to avoid bids, purchase materials at prices exceeding the low bid, and paid for material apparently never received by the county. Other infractions concerning the commissioners and other public officials also were disclosed in the audit, which was part of a state investigation ordered here by Gov. David Boren.

McSwain and Moreland were the only two witnesses to appear before the jury Monday. Several times during the Monday session the jurors held secret deliberations where only the jurors themselves were present.

Grand jurors were moved from meeting in the District courtroom to a new large office in the county courthouse Monday morning.

District Judge Frank Seay moved the jurors into the new quarters after it was determined that a ceiling in the district courtroom was not safe.

Friday afternoon a section of the ceiling, which was installed in 1969 as part of a previous courthouse remodeling project gave way and crashed to the floor.

Jury members were not injured or hit by the falling ceiling, but some members were scared At least one female juror screamed. Judge Seay said workmen determined that the entire ceiling in the district courtroom will have to be reinforced before the room will be safe for occupancy.

Despite this, some district court cases were heard in the courtroom Monday by Special District Judge Earl Davis.