Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-07-24
AN AWFUL RECORD.
Calvin James is Hanged at Fort Smith
for a CoId-Blooded Murder in
the Indian Territory.
Lincoln Sproie Suffers Similar Fate
for a Double Murder-Both Men
Meet Death Like Stoics.
Forty-six Men Executed--A Brief Stretch
OF Each OF the Murderers-Whishy
the General Cause.
a pornLE ExKcuTIoN.

Special 70 the 6dIcttcs
FoRT SMITH, ARK., July 23.--Lincon
Sprole and Calvin James were hung here
to-day at .85 p. m. for murders commit.
ted in the Indian Territory. The con-
demned men took the matter with I'M
usual Indifference up 20 the hour of being
taken from jail. Sprole slept well last
night and partook Of a hearty breakfast
this morning. He spent the forenoon
lying on his bunk, most Of the time con.
versing on general topics with his fellow
prisoners. james was baptized this
morning by coiored Methodist divine,
after which he remained quiet In his bunk.
At ! O'Clock Jailer Pryor and two deputy
marsbals entered the cell, and presenting
each OF the condemned men with an en-
tire change Of clothing, requested them
10 prepare for death. They soon donned
their new suits, and then touching
scene followed, Sprole being moved 10
tears as one at time he babe the
inmates Of the jail farewell, and
many OF them also shed tears.
James appeared entirely unmoved
and listened TO the reading Of the death
warrant without evincing any emotion.
They were then conducted TO the gallows,
James being so weak that his attendants
had to support him TO some extent. On
the gallows Rev. l.. Smythe Of the Catho-
lie church conducted brief religious exer-
cises with Sprole, while Rev. Phillips at
tended TO James. The ceremonies were
short, and as neither OF the condemned
had anything TO say the ropes were forth
with adjusted, the black caps drawn, the
trap sprung and the bodies dropped six
feet, both necks being broken.
CALVIN JANIS.
one Of the most atrocious and uncalled-
for murders ever recorded was the one
committed by Calvin, and for which he
paid so dearly to-day. The evidence in
his case was brief and 10 the point On
August /, 1855, Calvin James, Toney
Love, Henry Robey and Albert Kemp,
all negroes, went over into Texas from
the Chlckasaw country TO buy whisky.
Toney Love bought tour gallons and the
others all bought some. On their way
back Robey and Kemp were riding along
in advance, while Love and James were
some distance behind, when James stealth
lily drew his pistol and shot his
companion in the head, killing him.
The object Of the murder was nothing
more than robbery, the murderer desir-
ing to get possession Of the whisky his
victim had. After committing the deed
he carried Loves body of the road and
hid II In the brush, taking the saddle and
bride of the murdered mans horse and
turning the animal loose. He told Kemp
and RobeY he would kill them both ifthey
ever told on him However, Love was
soon missed and having last been seen
with these three men they were all ar
rested, and then Robey and Kemp
gave the whole thing away, and
at the trial appeared as
witnesses against James, who was con-
yicted on the 4th OF February last. After
being sentenced he became respondent,
and was soon Frustrated. He prayed
day and night, and wrote TO his wife
asking her 10 pray for him. AS he for
long time refused TO take either medicine
or food, many of the prisoners confined
in the same cell with him think he was
trying 10 starve himself to death. He
failed TO die, however, and soon became
tired OF fasting About ten days ago he
began eating again, and soon got better.
He was satisfied he would 20 direct 10
heaven, yet he appeared TO dread death
more than either OF his companions.
LINCOLN sPROLE
was white boy apparently not more than
twenty years of age. He was convicted
on the 9th day of April Of wantonly muir
dering BENJAMIN Clark and his eighteen
ysar-old son, Alexander Clark, and being
convicted on two counts received death
sentences. The murder occurred in
Paul's Valley, Chlckasaw nation, and ac-
cording 10 the evidence introduced at the
trial, was most uncalled.for butchery.
Sprole worked on the same farm that the
Clarks did and it appears they had
falling out about bolt
TO cultiyator. This led to
other quarrels, and the men became enc
mics. On the day of the murder Clark
and his son went 10 White Bead hill, a
trading point some distance from the
place, on business, making the trip in
two-horse wagon. Sprole knew they
would return that evening, and accord
ing concealed himself In thicket by the
roadside, and as they passed along fred
on them with a Winchester rne. The
tiTst shot missed It's mark, but lust as
old man Clark turned In his seat to see
from whence the shot came, a second
shot was fired, and Clark fell back
IN the wagon, the bullet having
struck him in the breast and passed
quartering through him. As he fell, the
lines dropped and the team ran away
Young Clark jumped from the wagon,
and as he did so Sprole shot HIM through
the leg, SCATTERING the knee. The boy
fell by the roadside and Sprole came up
close to him and shot him a second time
as he lay helpless ON his back begging for
mercy. People who heard the shooting
and saw the team running away soon ar
rived on the scene, and the wounded
father and son were taken to their
home Old man Clark lived but
six hours, while the boy lived seventeen
days In great agony, relating to several
parties the details Of the tragedy as
above given, aud his statement was cor
roborated by strong circumstantial evi.
dence. Sprole fed to Butler county,
Kan, where his mother resides, but was
soon afterward arrested and lodged In
jail here. He has never denied the killing
but says he actedin selt-deiense, as Clark
hadAthreatened TO XIII him, and he was
afraid Of his life. He has taken the mat.
ter very coolly and made no preparations
TO meet his fate, relying ON Commnta-
~ al. A.. A.