True Crime Chronicle A Deadly Conspiracy-The 1912 murder of Tulsa ttorney Charles T. Reuter

On May 5, 1912, two gunshots shattered the night, killing Charles T. Reuter, a prominent Tulsa attorney, in his sleep. His wife, Laura Reuter, claimed an intruder fled, but she and three conspirators---Guy McKenzie, Joe Baker, and Grover “Bud” Belew--were soon charged in Oklahoma’s most sensational murder case to date.

Tried in Tulsa and Bartlesville, the case gripped a city fueled by oil wealth and scandal. A century later, the Reuter murder remains a stark tale of betrayal and justice in Tulsa’s early days.

Charles T. Reuter, around 40, was a legal titan in 1912 Tulsa. Originally from Illinois, he thrived in Peoria before joining Tulsa’s oil-driven boom. Specializing in land disputes and oil leases, Reuter’s downtown practice drew clients eager for his sharp courtroom skills.

But his personal life was troubled. His second marriage to Laura, his former stenographer, followed a scandalous divorce, with Laura named in his first wife’s suit. Frequent quarrels led the couple to sleep apart, setting the stage for tragedy.

On May 5, 1912, Charles was shot twice in the head while asleep in his Tulsa home, likely on South Boulder Avenue. Laura, across the hall, said she awoke to a flashlight, hearing Charles say, “You have got me this time,” followed by shots and footsteps fleeing via the basement. Neighbors saw a man running, but police found no forced entry. A stolen diamond ring, shirt stud, and cash suggested robbery—or a cover-up.

Laura’s calm demeanor and the couple’s strife raised suspicion. Police arrested her, McKenzie, Baker, and Belew, alleging a plot to kill Charles for personal gain. The Tulsa World called it a “crime of passion,” captivating the city.

The accused formed a web of motives, detailed in court and Belew’s testimony:

• Laura Reuter: About 30, Laura was poised and charming. Rumors of an affair with McKenzie, tied through his sister, swirled. Prosecutors said she planned the murder to escape an allegedly abusive marriage, offering Baker $200 and Charles’ valuables. She denied it, claiming an intruder struck.

• 
  

• Guy McKenzie: In his late 20s, McKenzie was a schemer who supplied the car and pistol. Belew called him the planner, saying he sought hitmen to kill Reuter and faked an alibi. McKenzie denied close ties to Laura.

• 
  

• Joe Baker: Around 30, Baker, a criminal with burglary and prohibition convictions, was the alleged shooter. Belew said he entered the Reuter home, locked Laura’s door, and killed Charles, stealing goods. Baker claimed he was elsewhere.

• 
  

• Grover “Bud” Belew: A young McKenzie aide, Belew gained immunity to testify. He said he drove Baker to the Reuter home and implicated Laura’s $200 offer and McKenzie’s role. His account, though self-serving, was key.

Tulsa’s media frenzy split the trials. Laura’s case moved to Bartlesville, while McKenzie and Baker faced trial in Tulsa.

• McKenzie and Baker (Tulsa, October–November 1912): The 27-day trial hinged on Belew’s testimony, detailing the car, pistol, and theft. Prosecutor Pat Malloy argued a conspiracy fueled by greed and Laura’s desperation.

  
  

  The defense attacked Belew’s credibility, but weak alibis doomed McKenzie and Baker. On November 1, 1912, the jury sentenced both to life in prison.

  
  

• Laura’s Trials (Bartlesville, 1912–1914): Laura’s first trial ended in a life sentence, with Malloy casting her as the mastermind. Her defense cited Charles’ alleged abuse and the intruder story.

  
  

  In 1913, the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals ordered a retrial, citing Malloy’s overly persuasive argument. In January 1914, Laura was acquitted after a 19-day trial, fainting at the verdict. Bartlesville’s courtroom cheered, and jurors celebrated with her.

  
  
  
  

McKenzie and Baker’s 1915 appeal failed (McKenzie v. State, 149 P. 911), and they were sent to McAlester’s Oklahoma State Penitentiary for hard labor. No records show parole; as key conspirators, they likely died in prison or served decades.

Laura’s Trials (Bartlesville, 1912–1914): Laura’s first trial ended in a life sentence, with Malloy casting her as the mastermind. Her defense cited Charles’ alleged abuse and the intruder story. In 1913, the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals ordered a retrial, citing Malloy’s overly persuasive argument.

In January 1914, Laura was acquitted after a 19-day trial, fainting at the verdict. Bartlesville’s courtroom cheered, and jurors celebrated with her.

McKenzie and Baker’s 1915 appeal failed (McKenzie v. State, 149 P. 911), and they were sent to McAlester’s Oklahoma State Penitentiary for hard labor. No records show parole; as key conspirators, they likely died in prison or served decades. Laura, acquitted, married Charles Roberts, her defense team’s stenographer, in 1914.

Belew, freed by immunity, vanished from records, likely living quietly.

Today, the case lingers in Tulsa’s archives. Charles’ grave, possibly in Oaklawn Cemetery, marks a life cut short. The Bartlesville courtroom, now historic, recalls Laura’s triumph.

The Reuter murder, a snapshot of 1912 Tulsa, endures as a story of ambition, betrayal, and a lawyer lost to the night.