The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-04-26
Bloody ButcherY.

j
A telegram dated Fort Smith, Ark the
Goth, says: Last winter white man
named J. J. Kesterson was living with
a Cherokee wife in the Cherokee nation,
about fifty miles from Fort Smith near
| the Arkansas line. On the 18Th of Feb
ruary {. noted desI eraIo, who is accused
of various murders, and who is known
as Ezekiel Proctor, walked into Kcster-
sons house and shot Mrs. Kesters IN
dead. There was ne proyicasions for the
deed He afterwards shot Kestersoa
above the eye, and. escaped. Proctor was
put on trial at the court house in Going
Snake district, but it was supposed that
he would not be permitted by his IuIia,
friends to undergo punishment. There
fore on April 18Th a posse Of eleven
United States deputy marshals, under
charge Of Jacob G. Owen and Joseph C.
Peasy, was sent from For Smith with in
struotions to arrest Proctor in case of
his acquittal or rescue, and bring him IN
The MarshaIls had also writs for the
murders Of United States Deputy Mar-
shall Benz, who were supposed to be in
the sam! neighborhood, where the people
shoot at deputy marshala almost on
sight The court house Is situated
about three miles from Evansville, in
the Barren Fork country.
The posse arrived within about fifty
yards Of the court house on the 18th at
8 p. m, dismounted, and walked up the
corner. Deputy Marshal Beck STEPPED
to the door and looked in, where the
trial was in progress. The courtroom
was full of peopleEarmed to the teeth;
and he turned away at once, but not be-
fore he was fired upon and dangerously
wounded The crowd inside instantly
opened at the posse; and almost stimuli
taneously a counterfre within the room
was begun by the friends of Beck, who is
Cherokee. In another moment seven
out of the eleven United States Deputy
Marshals lay dead on the ground, three
Indians dead inside, and sixteen or sew
enteen wounded, The sheriff in charge
of Proctor inside the court house was
instantly killed and the judge on the
bench received load of buckshot IN the
knee. OF the marshal's force, Deputy
Owens was mortally wounded and james
Ward and Riley Woods killed The
names of the others killed have not yet
been learned; but james Hawkins Paul
Jones, and Eugene Bracket are among
the missing. The murderer Proctor cs
capped, guarded by eleven PERSONAL friends.
Deputy Marshal Poavy dispatched a
note to Capt DonneIly, chief clerk of the
United States M1rshals at this place. by
the hands Of a brave young Ean with
three bullet holes through his coat and
one through his boot-heel, declariEg his
intention to stay with the dead and
wounded at all hazards. Deputy Marshal
Varney and he remained chiefly to take
care ofOwnes (who will die;) and these
three, with the messenger, are all that
are alive of the posse. They laid
out the dead at Whitemores, about a
mile from the court house; and when the
messenger left they were lOokiA5 to be
again attacked every moment
Upon the receipt Of this terrible news
at Fort Smith, City Marshal c. f.
Robinson, and Deputy u. 5. Marshal
Joe. Tinker, with thirty mounted men,
Immediately started TO rescue Peavy and
Yarney. Among the volunteers was
Captain Joseph Collins, lately the Third
U. 5. cavalry, Charles Zengel, Alex Pat
ccrson Tony Weiss, Jacob Olain, D. 5,
Winton Thomas w Deans, Nicely Borie,
James T. Weiha, and other brave young
men. They we're accompanied by Drs.
Julian c, Field and G.. w. Pierce, with
surgical appliances.
UNITED STATES TR OPS ORDERED.
Lieutenant General Sheridan has or
dered Gen. Grierson, with two com
panies of cavalry; to reoccupy Fort
/ Gibson and capture and drive out tbs
murderers and merauders in the Indian
Territory Itis expected that this &C
ton Of the Government will restore con,
fidence between the settlers and peacea
Die Indians on the borders OF Arkansas
The fort was abandoned by order Of Gen
Pope, but the terrible ARRAY reported
from Fort Smith shows the necessity OF
keeping fore, of soldiers in that sec
ton.
e.