Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-01
nAmALr OPENED, LONELY GRAVE
Are Found the Decaying Bodies Of two
Unknown Men.


g. N. Walker, residing near the head
of Cabin, who were here yesterday, we
learned Of the finding Of two dead men
in their locality. On last Sabbath
boy passing by the coal bank on Jack
Bnrker's place had his attention drawn
20 something buried in ditch dug TO
drain the bank. Investigation revealed
the decaying bodies Of two men, appar-
emily brothers, which were partially
exposed and had lain there for some
weeks. Nothing could be found TO in
dicate who the unfortunates were but
the pockets Of both being turned out
and the evidences of murder told full
well the story Of their fate.
As described 60 us, one Of the men
was Eve feet and eight inches in
height weighed about 40 pounds; had
small feet and hands; left arm had
perished away and was some four
inches shorter than the right; had
light complexion; dark auburn hair;
would have had sandy beard II allowed
TO grow. lie had on a brown vest, two
striped cotton shirts, black fur hat,
brown overalls, black cashmere pants,
cheap overalls for drawers, pair Of blue
and red wristlets; wore red silk
handkerchief around his neck. The
left side Of his skull was mashed in and
the throat was cut.
The other was FIVE feet ten inches in
height; weighed l65 pounds; was Of
dark complexion; dark brown hair;
brown beard IL allowed TO grow. He wore
striped cotton shirt, a red and white
undershirt, blue striped overalls, light
colored wooden pants, canton flannel
drawers, red sock, purple wristlets.
Had on a German silver ring with cop
per set in it. The mans neck was
broken, and he was shot with a small
pistol in the inner corner of the left
eye. The bone Of one Of the fingers OF
the right hand was broken. Both men
were between twenty-five and thirty
years of age. Each wore medicine
pads attached by string 10 the neck
They had evidently been brought IN a
wagon TO the place where found, but
the scene Of the murder was close at
hand. There fire had been built and
their boots and portion of the cloth
ing destroyed. For some time black
hound, with blue-white stripe around
his neck and star in forehead has been
seen in the vicinity and his tracks
show that be has been many times at
the grave. 1t is supposed the dog be-
longed to the men and even though
dead would not leave them.
As soon as the report Of the murder
reached here several persons at once
recalled the fact that six weeks ago
two strangers sold a span of mules in
this place under very suspicious cir
cumstances. They appeared driving
the mules to a wagon and leading a
span of horses, and said that they had
been at Red Fork working on the rail-
road. II has been learned that two
days before reaching here they stopped
at the home Of Mr.. Bowen, a half mile
from the scene Of the tragedy, before
daylight, and enquired the way to
Vinita.
Oply a vague description Of these
men is recalled. One OF them was
crippled, one ofhis legs being consider
ably shorter than the other. The
mules we're sold for SIPS worth double
that to Felix Cowan. The cripple
left here OF the Frisco for the east and
his partner went in the same direction
by wagon, driving the horses. The
mules were a black, (mare) five years
old and a dark brown (horse) four
years old. The horses were probably
l5A hands high, weighed l4c0 pounds
and were twelve or fourteen years old.
The horses had on a set OF gag-rein
harness, literally supplied with ivory
rings. When they came here the men
had two New Foundlard dogs and one
bird dog.
There are certainly circumstances
enough known TO connect these men
with the murder 10 the extent that they
should be hunted down and placed on
trial. The belief Of Marshal Isabel il
that the crime will not long be wrap.
ped in mystery.