New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-01-12
The Honor Of . Choctaw.

place Friday at noon in the presence of
but q small number of people. Chester
Dixon, the murderer, was young full
blooded Choctaw about seventeen years
of AGE. He was subject to fits, during
which he often lost control of himself.
He was, aside from this malady, con-
sidered rather bright boy.
Dixon lived with his mother and
stepfather about five miles from Atoka.
Their nearest neighbors were an Indian
known as Washington, and Martha, his
wife. One afternoon, about year ago,
Washington returned from Atoka and
found that horrible murder had been
committed. The body of his wife lay
on the floor of his cabin in CHASTITY frag-
ments. The head was severed from the
body, and several terrible gashes had
been inflicted with an ak. The bloody
instrument of butchery lay beside the
bleeding victim. The alarm was given
and it was discovered that Dixon had
been seen issuing from the fated house
covered with blood. He was arrested,
but stoutly denied the killing.
He was tried according to the Choc.
taw law by a competent jury. He was
found guilty, and sentenced to be shot
September 10, at noon. He was al
lowed to 60 home from the Courtroom,
unrestrained except by parole of honor
to be at the Courthouse at Atoka at
the hour appointed for his execution.
Choctaw laws provide for no appeal.
else his case would have been reconsid-
cred, for after his conviction he was at
tackled with fit, which proved conclu-
sively that he was subject to temporary
alterations, during which, it is pre-
sumed, he was irresponsible for his &C
tions. His attorney during his trial had
not made any such plea, and, the SEN
tence of death having been pronounced,
it was unalterable.
On Thursday, Dixon came to Atoka
with his tep-father, for the purpose Of
ordering his coffin. He had his meas
ure taken and gave the orders for the
disposition of his body without the least
appearance of concern. On Friday
morning about one hundred persons,
most of them whites, gathered about
the Courthouse to witness the execu-
ton. Up to within half an hour of the
appointed time Dixon had not ap.
peared. Our reporter asked his com
panion whether there was not some like.
lihood of the prisoner breaking his pa.
role.
eff he is alive he will be here within
ten minutes just as sure as the sun
Shines"
Hardly had the words been spoken
when murmur of "Here he comes
was heard on all sides. and there rode
f0110vxy c1Soeht ne, h,,S11 %ol
and straight, but rather awkward in
his movements. Alighting from his
pony, the boy approached little knot
of Indian women who were gathered
around blazing log. Without giving
any attention to those around him he
sat down by stump, and, hanging
down his head, he seemed lost in med
itation. Presently a venerable old In
dian approached the boy and spoke to
him in the Choctaw tongue, bidding
him, as the interpreter said, to meet
his fate as became Choctaw brave; ia
remember that nothing but his life
would atone for the life he had taken,
and not to make the expiration grudg-
ingly, but to meet his death feeling
that his people had done justice in con.
demning him.
While the old man was talking
Dixon held his head down, but at the
conclusion of the speech he looked up,
held out his hand, and, in the hearty
grasp he gave the old mans hand,
seemed to imply that he would not
falter, and he never did throughout it
all. Several men and women then
came up and shook hands with him.
He looked up at each one with glance
of recognition, but never spoke word.
At about II As O. clock the Sheriff, VIM.
Nelson, brought the doomed boy an
entire change of clothing. which he
put on. While Dixon was dressing fol
the grave, eager eyes watched his every
motion to discover, if possible, the
least evidence of emotion, but he ad.
justed every button without sign OF
tremor. He then sat down on a blan-
ket while his mother combed his hair.
The Sheriff then announced that the
time had come. Dixon arose and
walked to the spot pointed out by the
officer, and stood facing his coffin. His
stepfather held his right hand, his
cousin supporting him on the left. The
same old man who had spoken to Dixon
before now made mark with charcoal
upon the boys breast just over the
heart, and spoke few words of encour.
agement. The Sheriff then bound a
handkerchief over Dixon's eyes, COM
manded him to kneel, and Immediately
thereafter beckoned man who had
until then kept out of sight. This was
Abner Woods, cousin of tho con-
demned. Dixon had chosen him to do
the shooting. Abner advanced, and,
taking his position about five PAGES
from the boy, he leveled his Winchester
rifle, took steady aim and fired.
The ball went to the mark. Almost
simultaneously with the report of the
rifle Dixon fell forward, uttered groan
and died without struggle. The
mother of the dead took charge of the
remains, which were buried by few
friends. The entire proceeding passed
without a semblance of excitement.
Everything was conducted properly and
decorously. AS contrasted with the
civilized mode of punishment the Choc.
taw method is more humane, more
effective, and is more likely to deter
others from capital offenses.