The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-06
AN INDIAN ON THEGALL0WS
A sTveuIsR STORY OF CRIME ON
THE ARR ANs4s BORDER.
A cscc,aw Iaaian Murders Two Men for


s1OO-How he Disposed Of the Dead BO-
dies - The Murdered Mans Pnntntoou-
roo good TO nc Thrown AwHy-Thc MUIR
derer's Vastly launched into Eternity.
Correspondence or the sun.
VAN buren,, Arkansas, june 30, 1s1O.-Very
considerable excitement has been created here
lately By
on Friday last, for double murder committed in
the Indian Nation. In September last james Nc
CLAIM, halfbreed Choctaw, and James Bakely q
negro, were driving wagon loaded with domestic
goods from scailyvile to Bosgy Depot, in the Indian
Nation when they were passed by Amos McCurtin
and William Fry, fullblood Choctaws who drove
their own wagon on. " went into camp" and about
dusk were Joined by McClan and Blakely who
campod at the same place. After dark, McCurtn
proposed to Fry that they should murder the new
arrivals and thus obtain possession Of their goods
about 800 in value. Fry Directing TO this, both
lay down. and about daylight the former was
aroused by McCurtn. who said that he had gust
murdered McClan ans Blakely, and demanded his
as sistance in removing their bodies Tho threats
used by McCurtin caused Fry TO comply and the
TWO together took the body Of the negro,
TIED 1T TO rHE TAIL OF Pony,
and started the animal into the woods. The goods
were then removed to McCurtn's wagon, in which
placed the body Of Mccain.
Amer driving some distance McClarin's corpse
was thrown out in the Brush where II was left amer
McCurtin had taken from 1t the pants, rcmarking
that they were too good to be lost" That might
Fry was arrested, when he made the above state
ment. Two days aftorward McCurtin was arrested
In his own house, when he denied AL knowledge Of
the affair. The suspicion OF the citizens OF Doggy
Depot, the Choctaw capital through which MeCur-
tin had passed. had been created by the fact that
Mcn in had MC(1afin's.
while the revolver and gun which he carried were
known to be the property OF the same person.
THE MARKS OF BLOOD on THE WAGON,
caused the Indians to follow the track, aud Ivy the
roadside were found the bodies Of the victims half
devoured by the hogs.
The prisoners were brought here and examined by
Col. J. o. Churchill, the United states Commission.
or. who committed them both. Mc,urtin was tried
nj tho November term, before Judge CALDWELL Fry
having been released TO testify md AFTER short
trial McCurtin found guilty, and sentenced to be
hanged Of Van Buren,. on Tuesday. June e. Nc.
Curtin greatly affected by the sentence. and his
emotion so empowering that the guards were
compelled to carry him back 70 he Jail. since them
the Indian gave another evidence OF his degeneracy
from the boosted frmness Of bis race, by attempting
sel.destruetion
ny RATING GLASS.
This little meal was interrupted by the vigilance
Of the prison attendants, and although death did
not ensue. enough had been swallowed to cause
breast pains, which remained until his death. On
Tuesday last your correspondent, accompanied by
interpreter, visited the jail, where he round Nc
Curtin with three others engaged in the mysteries
Of Old sedge." Two of the Indians eompanions
are awaiting trial tor murder, while tue third ~
detained to answer the charge OF having run of $50
head OF mules. The pame over, whicA resulted In
NeCuriins defeat, much to that wortly.s DISGUST,
he expressed his Willingness to favor me with heap
talk"
p'cuRrS CONVERSATION
was marked by deliberate manner. He Denied
that he had murdered both the men. but declared
that he had proposed the double murder to Fry who
had assented, he killing hcClain, while Fry killed
BlSkely, and, added he, %Fry thought no more Of
In response 10 the inquiry a. to his belief In re-
words and punisnments in future state, heCurtin
s7d that he held 10 such doctrine declaring iur'
taer that lie had fret Joined the Methodist ana a.
terward tae Preslyterian church. He said that he
did not know which denomination had hs prefer
ence and added. 1t don, maze any difference, for
| It's nothing tut biz talk anyhow The question
was then put to him II he would
COMMIT TIE CRIME Own AGAIN
provided he could o.earo viii the goods and with.
| lower Of Wesley ana Calvin, 81 don't know about
| that; Ia have 10 think heap before could make
The night before the execution was passed by the
prisoner in Leary sleep, and in the morning be de-
| widely published that the execution was to take
place. citizens from tits and adjoining counties
To- :
| sh.l, capt ". A. Butun. had vety properly decided
that the hanging shoUi be conducted privately ia
the jail yard am rs consequence ne anu ms dcpn-
~ were literally be.ieged - applicants for admis-
sion to the scene. The ceuerh refusal OF thee re-
quests caused general DISGUST at what tie d.-ap-
| pointed ones were pleased 20 regard as a selfish
| monopoly OF peculiar ,nJOymtHt; but learning
| that the
scAFToLD would REACH ABOVE THE WALLS,
these iudctltieahle sieht-scers prcparod TO soc
what they could OF the dismal sght over two thou
| sand people had gathered about the jail when the
hour arrived. and motley set they wee. Farmers.
their wives and daught. officers and soldiers nom
Fort Smith, while here and there, noun ed on their
ponies and developed IN heavy blank sts, could be
| seen Choctaw Indians, who sat motiOnlcss and
| speechless 10 witLess the last moments OF their
| brother
Al The appointed time the United States Marshal
entered the jail yard, anu after the deputies had
| taken their assigned positions the prisoner com
| neneed dressing himself This Office he performed
| yousness. Once, as he gn2ed upon his ne" clothes
and white gloves his look Of misery was exchanged
for CLEAN Of satisfaction, aud it Wa curious to
observe this striking evidence OF the love Tor dls
play that distinguishes alike the sava-e aud the lady
OF society. After lie had sat down, McCurtin
| eyiuc,d his appreciation Of his improved IvrsoGA
| appearance by asking II he could not have
| HIS PICTURE TAKEN
and n(er he was tcd that 1t was late to have thu.
wish granted, he relapsed into sent. udmirug con
temptation Of bis new pants aud gloves, which wa'
only disturbed by his inquring II some one 1oult
give lin cACN Of tobacco. The weed glyen him
the man 20 soon 10 be more relapsed iutO silence
anu Hus pdestu us lew IeHAlHlhS monVh's u A.t
| the INDIAN sToIcIsN,
that 30 much las been said and written about, die
not receive much Of support from Met urlin. liz
said nothing, smply for the reason tlat one
would nave understood him and ali the time h'
| shaking limbs and the conyu'-iye tTitching Of lui
mouth showed how anject were his fears. lie wa.
supportoi or rather dragged M To the scJtold and
| di not gain am composuTe until q GLASS; OF water
| had been handed lin. Tue clergyman ia attendance
| then offered PRAYER, TO which he listened In Won
| dering and trembling silence. The warrant was teen
| Interpreted to him, a farewell gwen by tie officers
Then cAME TnE SIGNAL,
| and McCurtin fen. The only sound tina, broke th,
Impressive stiffness Of the occasion was q series o
| very audible grunts nom the Indians on the outside
who after thus expressing their approval OF dlsslt
| isiaction OF the performance, rode of. The neck
| htturtn was not broken, aud II was not unit
| eighteen minutes that lie Was pronounced extinct
IL certain that the murderer was nsonsblo before
| he WIS executed, and rs soon a. the black cap wa
| placed upon him he rcelcc 10 and iro, and Woul'
| have fallen had he not been supported by TIVE
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