Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-08-21

Fort Smith Herald of Saturday, WAS
executed yesterday, under sentence aol
the | uited States district court for the
western district of Arkansas, for muT-
der-the evidence beiEg wholly eireum-
stancial, yet everything proved, except
that no one saw the murder committed
and the probabilities are that he would
have been pardOned, or at least have
had his sentence cOmmuted, but for a
Kansas influence that was brought to
bear against him, as some there dreaded
his return to that section. Through the
attention Of General Sarber, United
States marshal, aud Captain Berry,
United States jailer, We were permitted
to visit
THE DOOMED MAN,
the day preceding the execution. We
found him calm, cool and collected, re-
signed TO his fate, still protesting bis in
nOcence, though having made some
statements 10 Captain Berry that were
not TO be made known until after the
execution.
John ChildeTs was born on Cowskin
creek, in the Cherokee Nation, on the
third day Of May, 164S. making him
twenty five years old in May, 1873. He
Is Of stout build-strong, athletic and
muscular, about five feet eleven inches
high, and weighs about one hundred and
sixty pounds. His father, Jim Childers,
was a white man; his mother, Katy
Nanne, 3 CherOkee-not, we believe,
any of the prominent Nanne stock of
the Nation. Most of his life has been
spent in the Cherokee and Creek Ma
tions.
THE MURDER
for which he was convicted, and with
his life at0Des, was committed in 1870,
and soon after he was arrested at KZe-
EOtch- kd, or BrokenarrOw town, in the
Creek Nation, by q deputy-maIshal
named NeBnOy and posse of men from
Kansas. who started toward Kansas
with him. Fearing that he would not
be taken to Van Buren,, where the court
was then held, be effected his escape
with irons on. About three months
afterwRrd he was arrested at the same
place, by the same party, taken to
Kansas, kept there a week in chains,
then brought to Van Buren,, and was
examined and committed by Captain J d.
G.. Churchill, United States commits
sioneF. He did not remain long in iail,
for he and six Others broke jail, and took
to the woods to get something to eat, on
the third day of May, 1871, which, by
the way, was the natal day of Childers,
aud one on which one would like to be
at liberty. After this
Childers was at large, and he says at
work on his fathers place, until Sep
tembeT Of the same year, when he was
again captured by the same Venn0y,
aided by Joe Peevy, and brought to Fort
Smith, placed in jail, and at the Novem-
Der term Of the United States court his
case was called, and for want of wit
nesses of importance on both sides, the
case was continued until next term, and
Childers admitted to bail, Captain E. NJ.
Adair and Mr. Mark Bean going his
security. Playing his Innocence, be
in proper time TO the May term
OF the court, as would any other person
who regarded his bond. At this term of
the court the case was again continued
for want Of witnesses, and Childers or
dered to Jail. AT the November term,
1872, he was tried and convicted of muir
der, and on tie fourteenth day of April,
1873, he was
SENTENCED To BE HUNG
on the fifteenth day of August, 1873; in
obedience to which sentence he was exc.
euted within the garrison grounds at
precisely two o'clock in the afternoon,
In the presence of an immense eoncOurse
Of people Assem- bled from the nations
west and the country around. Up to
few days, Childers had great hopes of
pardon OF Communication, as very strong
petitions had been forwarded asking for
it, when q dispatch from the attorney
general informed his attorneys that he
declined to interfere in the matter, as he
believed Childers was guilty. That the
citizens Of Kansas and those nearest the
range of Childers We're right, in their
own defense and under his conviction of
guilt, in using their efforts to prevent
either pardon or Communication, we have
no doubt; for, from all the facts now be-
fore US, Childers has been
A VERY BAD MAN,
and has been one of an organization,
composed of Indians and whites, whose
object was murder and plunder, aud
whose obligations bound them closely to
each other, right OF wrong, in all their
actions; and though only two or three,
say two whites and one Indian, of this
gang, formerly composed of eight, still
live, yet there are enough to do much
damage. Up to haIf-past eleven o'clock
this morning, an hour and a half previ-
Gus to his execution, when we last inter-
viewed him, he positively refused to
confess his guilt in the murder of We'd
ding. though we must say that, nOtwith-
standing all our previous sympathy, ,and
that Of others, and our belief in his innO-
cence, we are now fully convinced that
he is guilty and should be punished.
THIS EXECUTION.
At one o'clock precisely, under guard
of six deputy-marshals headed by Unit
ed States Marshal J. \. Sarber and Cap
tain c. E, Berry, be was led from his
cell to the scaffold, q distance of about
two hundred yards, and paced the
ground with firm, easy tresd, manifest
ing that cool indifference and courage, if
you please, that bis grey, rambling eye
denotes. He asceDded the scaffold as
easy and steady as any of those on
guard over him. On the way to the
scsffold he was supported by Marshal
Main and Jailer Berry, followed by Par
son HaITen. Childers kept up the same
cold indifference, and smoked his cigar
with as much nonchalence as if the af-
fair was none of his. In his remarks he
referred to witnesses VannOy and Erik
hart; says the time alleged was not cor
rect. He quibbled some, and finally ad-
mitted that he was
THE MURDERER
of Wedding; that he had a falling out
with Nannoy, and to get even with him
murdered q 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 be-
ware of bad company and bad practices.
he stated that it was the only murder be
ever nmitted by himself He regretted
il, and now fOrgave all, and hoped 10 be
forgiven. He had no regrets, only leav-
ing his sister and his friends, and asked
that his body 90 not TO the doctors, but
that his sister be permitted TO have it fol
burial in the Cherokee nation. He spoke
sixteen minutes, aud was followed by
Rev. Mr.. Harrell In a few eloquent re-
marks, followed by prayer, which brought
tears to the eyes of many. Miss Emma
Foreman, a Cherokee friend, visited him
on the scaff0ld. The sentence was read
by Jailer Berry, during which time
Chflders moved not muscle.
THE ROPE
was adjusted by Marshals Berry and
Mesler, and the prisoner offered prayer
the black cap was placed, and at two
O'Clock in the afternoon precisely the
drop fell, and the soul Of the mur.
derer, the poor, unhappy man, was
launched into eternity. After the fall
he lived and breathed fourteen minHte:
and a half, when he was pronounced
dead. and the rope removed, and by tbs
marshals present he was placed in hi
oos,ln and taken to the grave. Just s.
the drop feil, thebeavens darkened, ane
terrible thunder and lightning set IN a.
the soul Of the murderer TOOK us flgh
into eternity. After he fell ne made NJ
strn0rIe. only q few slight thrOes, anI
o,1ta3iv nassed into eternity. His necl
yas not broken-yet the arrangement
were ali so perfect and complete that III
- ~. , er.f- ,.aeead off As well and q