Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-06-08
EXTRAORDINARY EXECUTION.
An Indian Convicted Of Murder Asks for
Twenty Days Time to Settle his
affairs and Gets it.-He Ap-
pears Promptly at the
Expiration of his Re-
prieve and Meets


affairs and Gets it.-He Ap-
pears Promptly at the
Expiration Of his Re-
prieve and Meets
his Doom.
The following extraordinary oc-
currence recently took place in the
Indian nation:
A certain Indian of the Choc-
taws was some years ago suspected
O having killed another Indian of
his tribe, but for lack Of sufficient
proof was not arrested. Afterward
he committed willful murder, and
was promptly arrested, tried and
sentenced to be shot to death. He
asked for twenty days in which TO
prepare and visit his relatives and
friends. and gave his word of honor
as a brave to return at the appoint
ed time. Whereupon he was re-
leased and allowed to 90 forth with
out a guard or bail. At the expira-
ton of the twenty days, according
to appointment,the hour for the ex-
ecution arrived and the Indian, true
to his word, at the very hour and
minute galloped up to the place
where the sentence was to be car
ried out, in company with three of
his sisters and three brothers, all
appearing as cheerful as though
they had come to dance or frOlic.
The coffin was then brought on the
ground. but some one remarked
that it was too small, upon which
the doomed Indians brothers told
him to lay down in it, and measure,
which he cheerfully did, and laugh
ingly said, 1T fits all right The
crowd meanwhile appeared to be in
the most cheerful spirits, and crack
ed Jokes and laughed. At last,
when all was ready, the doomed
man was ordered to sit on the
ground. A handkerchief was then
placed over his eyes by his sister
While the Sheriff held one hand,
one Of the condemned Indian
brothers held the other on each side
of him. The Deputy Sheriff then
stood in an old house, about ten
steps in front of the condemned
with a rifle. From some cause the
rife went off accidently, the bullet
passing up through the roof of the
house. The Indian, believing he
was shot, drew himself up and shud-
dered, but did not speak or move
from the spot. A black mark was
then made over the Indians heart
with spittle and powder by his
brother, while the Deputy Sheriff
reloaded his rifle, and at signal he
took steady aim, fired, and pierced
the center of the mark. The Indian
with few struggles, fell back, dead
with his brother and the Sheriff still
holding his hands. No one seemed
to be in the least affected, except
the doomed Indians mother, who
shed tears, but was told to 'shut up
by her son, and all was over. Thus
ended this extraordinary execution
Mr.. James A. Ferguson, our in,
formant, a well-known and worthy
citizen Of Jonesburg, was in the
Indian nation when this took place,
and stood within five steps of the
Indian when shot, and was an eye
witness to the whole scene as de-
scribed. We forgot at the time tc
inquire of the exact locality in the
Indian nation where the occurrence
took place, but we give the account
as related to us.
Such is the confidence that the
much abused red man has in each
other, and their faithfulness to keep
their word, even unto death. Would
to God that the white men were
half as faithful to keep their pledges,
and to their own people, as the pool
Indian is to his own tribe.