Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-02-16

| f415esrs adt 80 81. LOUIS, February &
L. John c. Parker, who was to have been trled
THIS aftemo0n'for the murder Of Nike Peyt toa4
baker, shot his wife dead in. the Criminal
court-room to-day and then put : bullet
though hls own brain The room was crowded
with, lawyers, witnesses and spectators.
/ While another case was being heard Parker B
wife. Nellie, and, his three sisters were in the
court. and during the morning Mrs. Parker
had stood near the cage IN which her hnshand
Wps confined and had been engaged in close
conversation with him. About hoon Pafkers
lawyer asked to- be allowed TO copsult with
his client Leave being granted, the prisoner
was taken out Of the cage, and. followed BY
bis wife. two Of his sisters and two artorneya
WIS taken 70 me 'jurysfoonl, which opens Oh
the south side of the courtroom. They ali So
down around . ieHg table. and the prisoner
started to give his lawyer list of witness 4.
Al eyes weys oI the man for an instant. Hi6
wife was sittipg beside him. Suddenly shot
1 was heard and she settled back In 'hel
chair = corpse, never moving or speak,
n ialuproar blk G before interference
was possible, Parker placed the muzzle Of the
pistol Just behind his right ear and hred, scat
tes1ug his own brains all over the room. He
died in an hour, never speaking, after tho
Shot. Where he got the pistol is a mystery.
! 1t y sppPosed his wife or, he sitter. Mrs.
craft. gave it to him. Mr. Craff, his brother
in-law. identified the weapon Is belonging to
hiu, butall say no one but his wife was near,
enough to the prisoner to rive 1t TO him. Ev-
erythfns indi0ates fhat ths whole aifair was
cencocted dalibcptely. and that Mrs, Parker
went to the courtroom knowing shsw was 70 be
killed, She told thres people yesterday that
see would baye to die. II would pc better for
- n
Khlgets and Ladiss of Honor, Of which ordep
she mad beeq member. Mrs. Parker and her
husband had beon married about six yesrs
Before hermarriage she was Miss O'Neiit,
who lived In the northern part Of the city.
1hoae who knew her say shn WAS stdkin1dy
handsome, petite and storltly built, and in
every way nm attractive giri. As she lay fead
on no etalie \ gould be seen she wss still 4
pretty woman. 4 letter was found In Parkera
cen. written BY Nm, il which IL declared hfs
inteution " ling hisnself aud WIFE, Frn1,
the tone Of the lett r il Is plain that the wife
was : pkriy't 70 her hushsnd's plans. 1 "a
About four O'clock on the Inorn'pg Of An.
gust 20, 1851, 4 crowd- or men. among them
JehnW Packer Wd n iks Feyfop, were stand. !
ing in front " . saloon on The. corner Of Fifth.
street and hncsn avenue. when INrker and
peyftn, both'of whom were very hot-headed
]
= drink. Peyton, who was hirge man. aimed
yicious blow IT Parker with q knifc. This
thrust Parker sworc missed ifs mark and, took
bic aseaiant in fhe sidaI cutting open the ab- l
domcn and letting forth the eniraHs,. Such
was sParkers story, told jnst after the murder.
Psyton vas taken TO the hospital. snds there
~ swore that Parker had come mp to hun rs no
was standing in the saloon. and drawInx long
knife had cut him In the side. Peyton then PUT
his hand to his side and staggered 10 the edge
Of The s9dswslk. where he fall fainting from
loss Of blood. Parker ran enet to an alley
an1 Mp thc nl(cy, throwipx nway his knife
p pc ran Policeman King was called 70 the
spot and gave chase, tatehing the. fugitive 1
before he led gone block, Parker was ugly
and Pcsistod violently, md King and two other
ofIiceie we're able with difficulty TO get him 20
the poliue station There be was found TO be
70 much under the influence OF liquor that he
was threatened y q dolirium tronens- Rem
edies werc applied and the man saved from
the attack. AZ soon - pc vps abie to speak
bc told bis story in ttraiahtforwnrd manner,.
uro noter vorte4 ffom Il even when fcyton,
On bic death-bead. identined him as the muir
derer. PARKER Was tho SIN OF wealthy pa
rcnts, and had been well educated and
nrouenf un but IN reaching manhood he had
fallen into bad ways. from which bis wife. q
womau Of rnncment. M wan tNttempted
again AMI ugain TO rescue him, and from which
Parker, who was fine bpok-Soopeg. promised
10 sever himself, only TO fall back Into had
until be committed murder.