Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-12-30
coMARpLY ANp CRUELTY.
Capt. Sam SIxklller is AssassInated on
on the streets Of Muskogee.

Shortly after six o'clock last Friday
evening, Christblas eve, a message
came over the wires from Muskogee
stating that Sam Sixkiller had just
been murdered. That a man with as
little thought Of danger should fall by
violence seemed in no wise strange but
still the shock was none the lighter
aud expressions Of regret were general.
From an eye witness we secured the
following particulars Of the tragedy: A
horse race run that day had brought
number OF hard characters to town and
whisky was flowing pretty freely--in
fact, Muskogee was in its glory. Capt.
Sixkiller had been sick for some time
AMI was in sense of duty, and at the
time unarmed. Just after dark he was
going down the main street when two
persons called to him. Turning around
he met his fate, cowardly and cruel as
IL was. In the neighborhood Of n
dozen shots were fired, but one in the
face aud two in the body did the work.
Yates, the timer, in front of whose
shop the killing took place, was the
first to reach the dying man and IL is
intimated that 10 him the assassins'
names were given ere life departed.
Whether this is the case or not, there
seems no question but that the men
were Dick Warn and All Cunningham,
both Cherokees and brotners-in- law.
After some delay the body was dressed
and then conveyed home and on
Sunday was buried. Immediately
after the killing the two men ran to
where their horses we're hitched, one Of
them exclaiming, "Hurry up, they will
be right after u.s." In this presump-
tion they were at fault for IL is reported
that to all appearances they might
have stayed in town, as no one dared
say a word and pursuit was never
thought of. Shelly Keys, the marshal
changed hat and coat that he might
conceal his identity and looked as
though he would like to contract for
cast iron suit Of clothes.
Capt. sixkiller was more widely
known than any officer in the territory
and has for years been the head and
front Of the Indian police force. Not
directing his men in difficult and dan
gerous situations, but leading them.
That more than one evil door should
have fallen at his hand was not to be
expected. One Of the most notorious
OF this character was Dick Glass, a
desperate outlaw for years, and who
was killed some two years ago. The
cause Of enmity of Vann and Cunning
ham was partly owing to a case of this
kind, the victim being Jess Nicholson.
This man was wounded in the heel last
summer, from the effects OF which he
died, though IL is not known who shot
him, rs Capt. Sixkiller, Charley LAHORE
aud possibly others, were firing. Some
hours before the shooting Of Sixkiller
Gunningham's honor had received a
setback at the hands of Tom Kennard,
Creek negro Lighthouse, who had
beaten him over the head with six.
shooter. This raised clamor for
blood and possibly had much to do
with the tragedy that followed.
Vann, it will be remembered, was
sentenced to the penitentiary for three
years, a few months ago, for an assault
upon Capt. Hamar, at Fort Gibson,
but was pardoned by the president.
We are informed that United States
writs have been issued for the men
named and placed in the hands of an
officer. The prediction is that they
will not be served without fight. As
all the parties we're Cherokees, il seems
as though the matter would come be-
fore the Indian courts perhaps the
Greek, where the offence was commit
ted) for trial, unless the fact that the
murdered man was United States
deputy marshal cuts a figure in the
case.
AS soon as the news OF the murder
reached this town word was sent to
Luke Sixkiller, a brother Of the de-
ceased and he went down at once.
Henry, we understand, is now in
California.