The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-09
Public Land CherokeeLand
Strip. Strip.
lOklahonnal
INDIAN LANDS
CATTLE OR MEN E?

The lands Of the Indians no one
proposes TO touch. The va ant lands,
are now filed with cattle and cowboys,
the very worst neighbors the Indians
can have, If it is intended that they
shall be advanced in civil zltion. The
proof Of this may be found ia almost
every newspaper published on the
borders OF the Indian Territory. The |
United States Court at Fort Smith,
which tries all cases of crime arising
in the Indian Territory, has it's hands |
and it's Jail constantly full. Take, as
an example, this report, published in
all the newspapers.
FoRT SMITH, ARK, January 30, 1886.
Judge Parker passed sentence of |
death upon seven prisoners in the |
United States Count here 10 day. They |
were convicted OF murders committed |
in the Indian Territory, over which
this court has jurisdiction. They are
as follows: Meredith Crow, white
man, convicted of killing Cub Cartney,
another white man; j. L. Mason, an
Indian, convicted of killing a white
man named Henry Martin; Robert
Wolf, a negro, convicted of killing
Frank Stockbridge, white man; Joe
Jackson, negro, convicted Of killing
his wife; Luce Harmon, Hulbah
Muckel and one Wiley, Indians, con-
viCted OF killing white man named
Owens. Friday, April 23d, is the day
set for their execution.
Take as aDother-and surely that
will be enoueh-l report dated only
few weeks later:
Fort SMITH, ARK, March 4, 1886.
The Federal Court here continues to
grind out justice from day to day, and
yet the number CT cases does not ap-
pear to diminish, but, on the contrary,
the docket is replenished as rapidly as
the cases are disposed OF. During the
present term large number OF cases
have been disposed of, and since the
% h of February the following con-
victs have been sentenced to the
House of Correction at Detroit, Mich:
Here follows a long list of Cases, and
the writer goes on:
This makes twenty-five convic's
awaiting transportation to Detroit, all
convicted since the first Monday in
February. The Marshal always holds
them here until he gets car load and
takes them straight through to their
destination. This crowd will proba-
bly, be taken off this week in order to
make room in the ia for fTeah arr
walls, there now being ITO behind the
bar5-about as many as can be accom-
modatei. Besides these u large NUN
Der have been convicted who received
short Jail sentences. The eight con-
demned murderers, under sentence to
be hanged on the 23d OF April, appear
to be the jolliest of slI, and, with one
exception, none OF them are making
the least preparation 10 meet their
fate.
A well-sustained effort will be made
to obtain a pardon in the Meredith
Crow case. Petitions vii be Circu-
lated in Texas, where the prisoner re-
sided before and after the murder of
which he stands convicted, and also
in the Chickasaw Nation, where the
killing occurred He has never de.
MED the shooting OF his victim, but
claims lelf-defense.
Henry Wood', a prominent citizen
of the Cherokee Nation, we ! known
to ST. Louis business men, is now on
trial for murder. Thee are some fiji y
business men in attendance and the
case will last several days, 1t is being
watched with great interest by his
many iriends, He killed man
PANIED Milss list spring, but claims
he did it in self defense.
There ale but 81 500 men, women
and children in the whole Indian Ter
ritory. 1t ID rather startling to read
of eight condemned murderers at q
single session OF the court, with more
on hand to be uisd; OF twenty-five
: other Convicts awaiting transpoTta-
ton TO prisons at q distance; OF ITO
! others "bebind the bals" awaiting
= trial and more "crowding in" Mr..
Ross, q Cherokee chief, spesks Of the
five civilized tribes"-but whether
they are r5a ly civilized or not, it is
plain they are suffering from bad
company. To give them civilized
neignbora peaceable, industrious
isrmers-would certainly be great
= help to these Indians. They ought TO
welcome any pa looking TO such q
change. They ought TO thank Provi-
denCe that the 100000 acres which
Congre can and ought to throw open
b settlement at once does pierce
the very center Of their posses.
slons, and thus will put them a, the
greatest number OF points in contact
with genuine civilization. Seventy
two thousand three hundred and
ninety-one families could be settled
, on these 100000 ceres OF govern
ment lands, and yet give to each lam
! lily 100 acres. Such settlement O.
farmers would domore bv example tC
Civilize the surrounding Indians thar
another half century of the present
! system, which produces, 1t seems
! cbishy a large annual crop OF mul
4 derers.
The real friends of the Indisn
I ought not to be deceived. The ''Okla
homa question is not question o
taking away lands icom the Indians o
putting obstacles in the way Of thei
\ progress in civilization. 1t is ques
q ton whether civilized men, womeI
and children shall occupy / ,0C0,G0
Il acres Of government land now left ah
z so utsly without government and law
o and occupied in violation OF law b,
/. ca tie and cowboys.
l. On these 100000 acres lying 4
n the closest neighborhooa 10 the II