Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-04-26
Border Runlanism.


startling news from the Indian country
The feeling Of Jealousy harbored by
our Indian neighbors at the authority OF
the government of the United States ex-
ercised over their territory eliminated
last Monday, the 10Th inst, in fearful
deed of bloodshed, falling little short OF
Wholesale massacre OF the agents of
the government.
The following startling letter was re-
ceived on Tuesday morning at the
United States marshaps Office by Capt.
James NJ. Donnelly, chief clerk -
WHITMoRE's, BARREN Fork,
CHEROKEE NATION.
J. NJ. Donnelly: Dear Sir-We have
had terrible fight. Lost seven on our
side, killed. Three of theirs are killed.
There are lots of wounded. We are in
devil of strait. Send us men and
means instanler. We are with the dead
and wounded and expect to stay with
them until the last one of us goes.
Owens is wounded. For Gods sake
send he'll aud send quickly. Come to
Dutchtown and then down Barren Fork
to Whittemore's. Ward is killed. Van
ney and are alone with Owens. We
look for help tomorrow night by dark,
and are looking TO be attacked every
moment. The parties are close together.
Some of the Cherokees are with us.
Yours, in haste, j. S. PEAvY.
La order that the circumstances caus-
ing the terrible fight above alluded to
may be more fully understood, we will
state that on the 18th inst. white man
named j. j. Kesterson, living in the
Cherokee nation, near the Arkansas line,
about fifty miles from this city, came
here and filed information before the
United States Commissioner Churchill
against one Proctor, also a white man
married to a Cherokee woman, for as
saulting him with intent to kill. He
stated that while in his saw-mil on the
18th of February last Proctor came in,
walked up without provocatioD and shot
his wife dead. He then fred his revolv-
er at him, the ball striking Just above
the left eye. Before he could fire again
Kesterson escaped. 1t is further stated
that Proctor is undergoing trial now for
The murder of his wife at the court house
in the Snake district, about tifty-seven
miles northwest of here. A writ was
issued, and the deputy marshals were
instructed to go to the court house aid
remain until the trial was over, and if
he was not convicted to arrest him on
the other charges. Proctor IS known to
be desperate, and it being in the
neighborhood where Deputy Marshal
BeDtz was killed little over a month ago,
where in fact deputy marshal is shot
| at almost on sight, it was necessary that
a strong posse be sent. The party also
had wrts for the murderers Of United
States Deputy Marshal Bentz, who are
supposed to be in the immediate vicinity,
and they intended to resist arrest. Last
| Saturday morning, the 18th inst, Depu.
I ty Marshal Jacob g. Ovens and Joseph
J. Peavy, with William Wood, Joseph
g. Vanney, James HasGins. Paul Jones
and Eugene Brokel as posse left here
for the scene of action. At Evansville
they were joined by Riley Woods and
William j. Morris, and at Dutchtown
| by man named Beck, who is part
| Cherokee. The Indian court house is
about twelve miles west of that place,
The party proceeded when about 3 P. NJ.
on Monday they were within fifty yards
of the court house, they dismounted,
hitched their horses, and quietly walked
toward the east side of the house, in file
by twos They stopped at the corner,
and Beck stepped around to the front
door and looked in. Seeing large num-
Der of people inside, armed to the teeth,
he turned to come away. but not before
he was fired upon and dangerously
| wounded. At the same time volley
was poured from the court house upon
the marshals force without, who then
commenced to return the fire. They
were at great disadvantage, as the at
tacking party vas under shelter inside
the court house.
Happens Beck had some friends in.
/ side the court house, who, when they
sew him fall, opened fire on his Decks 81
enemies inside, and presently the fight
ing was general. 1t was brief, however
but terrible N its results. Or the mar
shal's force seven out If the eleven lay
| dead, and of the assailants three. Some
sixteen or seventeen are reported wound
ed-some mortally, including Marshal
Owens. The messenger knew the names
Of only two of the marshal's force who
were killed james Ward and Riley
! Woods; three were missing
Haskins, Paul Jones and Eugene Brock
ct. Morris helped to lay out nine bodies
on porch about half mile from the
scene of the deadly ARRAY, and thither
the federal wounded were also carried.
Proctor, the woman-killer and despe-
RADIO, was guarded by eleven of his per-
sonal friends, who would not see him
convicted. The sheriff was killed, and
the judge received three buckshot in the
knee. Indeed, IL appears from the sud-
den and deadly assault upon the mar
shals force that the people inside the
court house had been fully informed OF
their approach aud were prepared for
them. The officials had instructions to
make a demand for Proctor only in case
OF his acquital, and expected some re-
sistance should they attempt to arrest
Proctor after his acquittal; but for
the murderous volley on their first ap.
proaeh they were not prepared, hence
their slaughter.
Immediately upon receipt of Deputy
Marshal Perry's letter, r. r. Kerens
chief deputy marshal, Capt. J. w. Don.
nelly, chief clerk, and United States