Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-05
Details Ofths Shooting of Reuben
Lucas at Sans BOIs.
How MURDERS Punished Among the
Choctaw Indians.
Lucas Shot for the Mnr-
der OF Thompson Mckinney.
Fort Smith tArk.l Berald, June 5.

about half past 10 o'clock on the 3lst
inst. and found there assembled about
300 people, fully One-half of whom.
were women aud children. When we
entered the courthouse Rev. Willis
Folsom was preaching from the first
verse ofthe Twenty-Five Psalm. He
was preaching in the Choctaw Lam
guage, and although we could not un-
derstand a word he said, his hearers
we're deeply interested. On his right.
hand we observed a young looking.
Choctaw, who was sitting up very.
straight, and was evidently paying.
great attention to what was said by.
the preacher. He was dressed in
a plain suit of jeans, a calico.
shirt, bregan boots drawn on
outside of his pant legs; and
that, we we're soon informed, was
THE CONDEMNED MAN,
Reuben Lucas, who was soon to make
a leap into the great beyond. AT the
conclusion of the sermon a fervent
prayer was offered by the brother of
the doomed man, and he was joined
by the prisoner, who, holding his
hands above his head, PRAYED most
~fervently. After prayer they sang the
following hymn in Choctaw, the pris-
ouer joining in the song:
81 would not live always,
! ask not 10 stay
Where storm after storm
Rises dark Ger the way"
Others then led in prayer at different
intervals until several had prayed. the
prisoner praying audibly each time.
1t was finally announced that Reuben
Lucas was going to talk to the people,
and that he would speak in Choctaw,
which he then proceeded to do for the
space of five minutes in a clear, DIS
tinct voice which seemed to hold
spell bound all of his hearers who
understood him. At the conclusion
of his remarks Rev. Willis Folsom
interpreted what he had said. In his
talk he said that this had been brought
on by drinking too much whisky. He.
had always known it was wrong to
drink whisky, but had kept on, aud
now this was the result. He said be
was ready to die. He only hated to
see bis friends weeping over him, and
advised them to stop it. Hesaid thatat
first he dreaded to die, but since be had
put his trust in Jesus Thirst, and God
had pardoned his sins, he had thought
the time long; that it had dragged
slowly to him, and now he was glad
that his hour had come. He knew that
there was a reality in religion, as he
had experienced it himself, and it bad
driven away all fear. He had never
bad any fear since his sins were par
doned. He advised all his friends to
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and
not to live as he had. He knew now
that his salvation was sure, and he
wanted his people to meet him in
heaven. He said that be would love
TO say more, but that he was ignorant
and uneducate6, and he would say
farewell. (When Reuben made this
last remark he took his hands from his
coat pocket for the first time, and
locked them over the back of his head J
After some words from Edward Me-
Curtain, a prominent Choctaw, in.
which he advised all parties to forget
the past; hat when Reuben was killed,
for whom he was very sorry, the
demands Of the law would be satisfied,
and all parties should be. 1t was
announced that a hymn would be sung
and that Reuben Lucas friends could
come and give him the parting hand,
after which all we're invited who
wished him we'll. We are indeed glad
to know that all present gave the IN
fortunate nan their hand. He standing
held his hymn book 10 his lett hand
and gave his right hand to his well
wishers al they approached. Many
women, both Of his own tribe and
white, gave him cheering words as
they elasped his hand, but he only
bowed pleasantly and sang on with nc
appearance whatever of emotion. Al
being done, Reuben was conducted
into a back room Of the court house,
and there he was
SHOWN MS COFFIN.
which he himself had ordered made.
He was then conducted to the iaiI
house and dressed in a nice suit o.
black cloth, a white shirt, black era.
vat black fur hat and a pair Of call
boots. He was then brought out anC
met by Sheriff w. w. Carney. f,
Choctaw, who read to him in Englisl
the death warrant. He was then con.
Quoted by Deputy Sheriffs Thompson
Cooper and P. ii. Roony to a blanke
near by, which had been spread {,
serve as a deathbed for the unfor
tunate mortal. On reaching
he meekly laid off his hat, an,
raising his hands towards Heaven in
voked the aid and blessing of tn.
, Deity. When he was through pray
: ing be sat DOWN on his blanket, but
Z toned his coat, and when he ha
/ reached his heart by feeling with hi
right hand, he pinned a small piece {
white paper wei it, to serve as a tai
get for the Sheriff to shoot at. ]
white bandage was then drawn aroun
his eyes, his hands we're taken by tn
two Deputy Sherifs above mentione
and stretched out on either sido; the
9 Sheriff Carney advanced to With
. about four feet Of the bravest BIZ
most pitiful looking human your co.
respondent ever beheld, and drawn
from his side a 44.caliber Colts In
d proved pistol, and dropping on h
6 knees, fred the fatal shot at Just sevC
minutes past twelve o'clock, and Re,
7, ben Lucas was no more. He ".
% placed upon his back, and for abol