The Van Buren press., 1873-08-19
Hanging Of John Childers at Fort Smith
on Friday.
He confessss to the Murder OF Wedding

oe ConIesses 10 the Murder Of Wedding
John s. Childers, a Cherokee half
breed, was charged with the murder 0,
Reyburn Wedding on the oath of Octo
Der, 1870, in the Cherokee Nation. He
was found guilty at the Fall Term of the
U. S. Court, 1872, and sentenced the L 9TH
of May, 1873. We COPY from the For,
Smith Herald the closing scenes of his
life:
THE EXECUTION.
AT l O'Clock precisely, under guard
of six deputy marshals headed by IT, S
Marshal j. N. Sarber and Capt c E.
Berry, he was led from his cell to the
scattold, a distance Of about 200 yards,
and paced the ground with firm, easy
tread, manifesting that cool indifference,
and courage if you please, that his grey,
rambling eye denotes.
He ascended the scaffod as easy and
steady as any ofthose on guard over him
On the way to the scaffold he was sup
ported by Marshal Main and Jailor Bsr-
ry, followed by Parson Harrel.
Childers kept up the same cold indif-
ference, and smoked his cigar with as
much nonchalence as if the affair was
none Of his,
In his remarks he referred to witness
es Vannoy and Erkhart; says the time
alleged was not correct. He quibbled
some, and finally admitted that he was
THE MURDERER
of Wedding; that he had a falling out
with Vannoy, and to get even with him
murdered man from Vannoy's State
Kansas. He did not tell what he fell out
with Vannoy about.
He gave the usual caution to young
and old, to beware Of bad company and
bad practices. He stated that it was the
ONLY MURDER
he ever committed by himself He re-
GREETED it, and now torgave ali, and hop
ed to be forgiven
He had no regrets, only leaving his
sister and his friends, and asked that his
body go not to the doctors, but that his
sister be permitted to have it for burial
in the Cherokee Nation.
He spoke 16 minutes, and was follow
ed by Rev Mr. Harrell in a few eloquent
remarks, followed by prayer which
brought tears TO the eyes Of many
Miss Emma Foreman, a Cherokee
fliend, visited him on the scaffold.
The sentence was read by Jailor Ber-
ry, during which time c. moved not a
muscle The rope was adjusted by Mar
shals Berry and Mesler, and the prisoner
offered a prayer,the black cap was placed,
and at . o'clock p. N, precisely the drop
fell, and the soul Of the murderer, the
poor, unhappy nal, was launched into
eternity After the fall he lived and
breathed l45 minut, S, when he was pro-
n Dunced dead and he rope was remov-
ed and by the marshals present he was
placed in his coffin and taken to the grave
Just as the drop fell, the Heavens dark
sned, and terrible thunder and lightning
set in AS the soul of the murderer took
its flight into eternity.
After he fell he made no struggle, on
ly few slight throes, and quietly passed
into eternity His neck was not broken
yet the arrangements were oil so per-
feet and complete that the whole affair
pass off as we'll and as orderly as could
have been expected. There were some
two thousand persons present, of all
shades, colors, and sexes-from the prat
Ting infant in arms, to the old and grey
headed and everything passed of with
out any disturbance, the police regula
tions were SO perfect, it could not have
been otherwise.
Thus has passed from time 10 eternity,
a man who admits his guilt; and may it
be warning to all, to avoid his fate.