Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-31
The Hangman is Kept Busy Yes
terday in Several States.
A Wretch in Maryland Dies Came
They Say, and Says Goodbye
Hilariously.
Jack Spaniard Fights When They Come to
His Cell for Him-Walker Dies in Good
Humor-Their Crimes.
a Double Hanging.

court at daybreak this, morning revealed
two large ropes, with hangman 5 knots
dangling from the beam which has here
tofore sustained the weight of so many
men who have paid the penalty of crime
committed in the Indian Territory These
ropes were intended for the execution of
Jack Spaniard, a fine-looking white Cher
okee, who was cOGvictedof the murder
of Deputy Marshal William Erwin in the
Cherokee nation in 1886, and William
Walker, a negro, who murdered Calvin
Church, another negro, at Durants
Choctaw nation, in 1887. Last night the
condemned men passed much OF their
time in
RELIGIOUS EXERCISES.
Spaniard retired about II O'Clock, and
Walker an hour later. Spaniard was
restless and did not sleep well. The
negro slept about as usual. The greater
part of the morning, after breakfast,
they spent in devotional exercises.
Shortly before II o'clock the death
warrants were read to the
condemned by Deputy Marshal
II. Creekmore. After this there were
short devotional exercises, when it was
announced that the dreaded time had ar
rived. This announcement had no effect
upon the negro Walker, who willingly
came forward and held out his hands for
the manacles But upon Spaniard the
effect was different. When deputy
entered the passageway to the cell
| for the purpose of hanging him,
| he re turned to his cell and picked
up chair with the intention OF
| knocking the officer down. 1t was fully
| three-Ouarters of an hour before he could
| be persuaded that resistance was useless.
He did not fear death, but he abhorred
fa of 8
| end, and begged the jailer, William
| Pope. to shoot him and save him from
SUCH AN INFAMOUS END.
| IT was IL :55 when the jail door opened
| and the death march to the gallows com
meneed. The criminals were surrounded
| by a body of heavily armed deputy mar
| shaIs. and these were preceded by
! United States Jailer William Pope.
AS they stepped from the jail door
| Spaniard hesItated a moment. He took
| one
LOOK AT THE GALLONS,
| distant about one hundred yards, and re-
| sumed his march with logged indifer-
ence. Walker appeared perfectly I'M
| concerned. Arriving at the gallows
thew mounted the steps without sign of
| fear. On the gaIlows Spaniard was at
| tended by Rev. Mr.. wade,
a white man, and Walker
| by Rev. James Mitchell, negro.
| PRAYERS were offered by each OF the
| cIergvmen and two hymns were sung,
when the two malefactOTs took their
stand on the deadly trap, shaking hands
with their guards and with their splrltual
advisers Spaniard' s parting with
Taller Pope and Jerry Berling, former
deputy marshal, was very aHectng. hS
| shook hands warmly with Doth
| hi q hearty
bless you.
AS they stepped on the trap the prison.
ers were told they might speak and say
ANYTHING to the public they wished, bus
neither had word to say, except Span
lard who asked Jailer Pope some ques-
| tious concerning the disposal of his body
The black caps were then placed over
their heads and Immediately, at
u :29, the trap fell. Neither body moved
after the fatal drop. Both necks were
broken and death was instantaneous
After hanging fifteen minutes they were
cut down and the body of Walker taken
to the potter's field of the city ..
Il Spaniard IS body was given to Dick Hays 4,
his half brother, and Will Givens, who
will convey it to the old home near Web
ber's Fails, Cherokee nation.
WILLIAM WALKER
was a staIwart young negro over SIX teet
high and built in proportion. He was
convicted on the 18th of February last on
eyewitness evidence of most wantOn
and wicked murder, for which he could
offer no excuse at the trial and has never
complained of his fate or made any effort
to avert his terrible doom. He became
member of a coIored church here some
weeks ago, and has made some appar-
emily sincere efforts in behalf of his soul q.
He was tried and convicted of the muir
der of another negro named Calvin
I Church, at Durant, ChOctaw Nation, on
the 18th day of December, 1887, and was
arrested Immediately after committing
the deed.
t JACK sPANIARD IS CRIME.
In 1885 there existed in the Cherokee
, nation a notorious gang of outlaws, sew
enty-six IN number, known as TIT
, stStarr Gang" This gang was com
g posed of murderers, thieves and felons o
4 high and low degree. Not one of tina
r hand is now at liberty. They are eithe
a dead or under conviction. OF the mum
( her were Felix Griffin, murderer and con
d victed perjurer and thief; Frank Palmer
T white outlaw, who was afterwardi
e murdered, it is said, by Griffin and Jaci
4 | Standard himself. William Erwin /
g mere boy, brave and fearless, undertook
: to serve warrants of arrest on thes
5 outlaws His plan was to go alone
: arrest a prisoner, and then make his rul
e to some point beyond the danger OF res
cue. So he did with a number. Final.
in the spring of 1886 he caught FeiE
Griffin and attempted to get him out o
# the you 1ger's Bend '{settlement, tn
headquarters Of the gang. AT Weber
"a Falls Erwin was informed that Spanlar
1T was in town for the purpose OF reseulnl
N his prisoner. He procured Spanlard
pr arrest by the local authorities on tn
IN charge of carrying concealed weapons
, and while ne was in charge of the lOca
:. officers, the deputy marshal started Wit
it his prisoner to reach point in the Choc
IT taw county where he had friends.
j. Spaniard obtained his release, IN
CURED the direction taken by Erwin