Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
FORT SMITH.
rhe Criminal Docket for the February
Term Of the Federal Court
Closed.
for the Execution Next FRI
day Of Thirteen Criminals other
Notes.


Special 20 the Gazette.
FoRr SMITH, ARR, April 1.-THE Feb
ruary term Of the United States court Nor
the Western district Of Arkansas, so far as
the jury trials are concerned, has closed
until the first Monday in May, though the
court is still in session. careful survey
OF the clerks record shows that since the
first day Of February, 1872 criminal
cases have been wiped from
the docket by jury trial, nolle
pros. plea of guilty, and death, as fol-
lows Murder, 10; rape, ! assault with
intent TO NIL, II f; larceny, 90; conspiracy,
2; fraudulent claim, | embezzlement,
perjury, I cutting timber on government
laad, l peace bonds, 2; whisky cases, 81.
In the rape, conspiracy, enlightenment
and timber cases the defendants were
acquitted. In the fraudulent claim
case the defendant is dead. The
murder trials resulted as follows.
John w PARROT, Calvin james, Kit Ross,
Blue Duck, and Lincoln Sproe were con-
victed. Timber Reed and Morris Green
were acquitted on the ground Of jurlsdic-
ton, but were turned over to the Choc-
taw authorities for triel. Henry Woods,
Jordan y. Flack, William Christie, William
Letterman, Henry Bailey, Ed Stein, Tom
Lee and Bill Davidson were acquitted,
Tom Bowman died ia jail and John Nc
Laughlin hung Jury. OF those charged
with larceny and crooked whisky bust
ness, most all of them entered pleas OF
guilty to the charges preferred.
This does not include cases
ignored by the grand jury
The following persons have this week
been sentenced TO the house Of correc-
ton az Detroit, Mich:
George Smith, larceny, one years Dick
Yaun, assault with intend to kill, three
years hard labor Charley Taylor, ped
ding whisky in Indian county, eighteen
months and $500 1ne; James Shanks,
same, eighteen mouths and 5000 fine
Thomas White, same, eighteen months
and $3.50 fine; Muskogee Daniel, eighteen
months snd 500 fine; William Jones,
same, eighteen months and $50 fine.
Besides these several received short iail
sentences.
PREPARING FOR THE DEAD FALL.
The old gallows, from which forty
three men have been swung off into eter-
nifty has been torn dowo, and new
structure Is being prepared for the ac-
commodation Of the thirteen unfortunates
now uader conviction for murder, eight
of whom will be jerked into the dark m
known on Friday next unless President
Cleveland interferes in behalf OF some Of
them. The new scaffold will be a six.
teen by twenty-fOot platform, the cross
beam being eighteen feet between the sup
ports, which are eighteen feet high,
which gives siX-foot drop. The
beam is Of solid oak, 9Sll inches square,
and viii be strengthened with two-noh
thick strips nailed on either side. The
trap is eighteen feet long and three feet
vide, arranged in slcn "a way that the
simple pulling OF lever does the work
Tor as many unfortunates as may be
strung out on IT, The whole is inclosed
with plank fence eighteen feethigh, thus
shutting ont the horrible proceeding from
the gaping crowd til It would be sure to
" semble were the eallows exposed TO
view. a ! iuch rope Will be used. Col.
w NJ. Cravens is nov in Washington City
endeayOriug to obtain pardon
or Communication in favor Of Robinson
Kemp, Merideth Crow and Robert Wolf.
COURT NOTES.
There will probably be twenty murder
cases behind the bars 70 try next term.
which begins on the first Monday in next
month.
The cost Of feeding the prisoners is II
cents per DAY for each person, and they |
are pretty well fed.
The condemned men are all kept In one |
cell where there are number of other
prisoners, and no irons or haudcuffs are |
Kept ON them To casual observer
they appear wholly Indifferent as regards
their fate.
Ben Diilard, Newt Scrlmpsher, Charts
h.ng and Charles Gibson, all brought in |
WITHIN the past four or five weeks on
charges OF murder have been discharged |
oy the United States commissioner within
ten days.