Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-10-24
y on AN OLD MURDER CHARGE.
Klnch West Gone to Texas for Killing a
Man Years ago.

we believe is Perry West, was arrest cd
at his home some distance east OF
here last Thursday by an officer from
Hill county, Texas. The charge is
that West killed man there eiRh-
teen years ago. To acquaintances
here MIR. West after his arrest, ad-
mitte1 the killing, but expressed no
uneasiness regarding the matter. lie
said that a mob came 10 his house in
the night and that he killed one Of
their number. lie stated that he
felt perfectly justified and had no idea
Of ever being arrested for the act.
A few years ago West was tiici in
the Fort Smith court for shooting
some Of the Barkers and sent to the
Detroit house OF correction for term.
Since coming back he has lead a quiet
peacsable life and little has been heard
Of him. Mrs. West died year or two
ago, leaving several small children.
A very sensational and highly-col-
ored account OF West and his exploits
Is given by Paris, Texas, correspond
ent Of the Globe Democrat, and 10 ap-
pended:
Information has reached here that
John z. Cox, sheriff OF Hill county,
Texas, has arrested Kinch West on
the Canadian river, between Table
quah and Muskogee, for the murder
OLA. d. Martin, in that county, in
1870. Martin had a negro In his en-
ployment and had sent him 10 a mill
IN the neighborf bod. While there
West enticed him into game OF cards
and won the wagon and team that be-
longed to Martin. Martin went 10
see West about II and insisted on the
property being returned, but West re-
fused, finally killing him in cold blood.
West fed the country, and soon AFTER
wards it was reported that he had
been killed in a gambling den in MeIi.
co. For eighteen years the man had
been considered dead. Recently Sher-
IN Cox was told by q man who knew
him we'll that West was living quietly
under an assumed name Ia a retired
spot on the Canadian river.
Kinch Vests career has been re-
markable one. When the war came
up he was an impetuous youth OF IS,
| living in Missouri on the borders OF
the Oonfederacy. He joined Quan.
trell, and was one Of the most daring
and reckless of that bold gang After
the war he and others OF QIantrell's 3
men came 10 Lamar county, where
they subsisted by stealing horses and
amused themselves by terrorizing no :
groes and other acts Of lawlessness
and deviltry. They roughed through
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations
up and down Red river from Gaines
vile to Fulton, and over northeast
Texas. In 1867 Willie Parish, an ex-
Union soldier, was murdered and rob-
bed near that city while in the woods
at work. 1t was never known who
did il. but " was alaid at the door OF
West and his gang Of midnight ma
rauders. A vigilance committee was
organized, and one dark, rainy night
in the spring Of 1868 the house where
West and his men rendezvoused was
surrounded. West and two other men
were there. In the fight one of the
outlaws was killed outright, another
was wounded aud captured, but West
got under the fioor and escaped in the
darkness. He Was again surrounded
and again escaped, and IL is said that
he took refuge in a tree under which
his pursuers sough s heller from the
elemepts. The man who was captured
was hanged and West left this eoun-
try and never returned. The news
came back that he had been killed by
cowboys in western Texas, where he
had resumed the vocation he followed
hero. This was not the case, as
shown by subsequent developments.
He was described as a man of wonder.
ful coolness and courage, who had the
agility and ferocity OF a panther, and
a score OF murders in Missouri, Texas
and the Indian Territory nave been
ascribed to him aud his followers."
There is no excuse for publishing
a card Of thanks except where per-
son wishes to return thanks 10 q num-
ber Of people whose names he does not
know. A published card, thanking
friends for their service In the sick
ness and death OF relative is decid-
edly ont OF taste, and Is now followed
only in backwoods countieA. II q
mans friends cannot wait on him in
sickness and bury him after death
without requiring thanks for it, they
are very poor friends indeed.
An accident happened at Alluwe
last week which cost the life Of the
twelve-year-old daughter OF Mrs.
Charles Merritt. Last Thursday the
family had started in a wagon toi the
Delaware payment when some young
fellows rode by at break-neck pace,
racing their horses. This frightened
the team and il ran away, throwing
the little girl out Of the wagon. A
wheel passed over her head and breast.
causing injuries from which she died
next day. The mother is a daughter
OF Ohief Journeycake.
during tho recent Delaware pay
ment as the police were somewhat
limited In number, the "clder" sell erl
dispensed their wares pretty freely
and as a consequence. there Was q
'good.deal OF drunkenness, Growing
tirai OF that state Of affairs Agent
Bennett stopped the payment, mount
ed horse and in person ran down
the offenders and destroyed their
goods" After reaching this place
Friday night the police visited one or
two "gin mills" and spilled a quantity