Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-10-24
on An OLD MURDER CnARaE.


Man Years ago.
"Kinch" West, whose right name
We believe Is Perry West, was arrested
AT his home some distance east OF
here asst Thursday by an officer from
Hill county, Texas. The charge Is
that Wes. killed man there eigh-
teen years ago, TO acguainlancea
here MIR. West after his arrest, adj
mittcd the killing, but expressed no
uncasiness regarding tho matter. lilo
said that mob came to his house in
the night and that he killed one OF
their numoer, Ho stated that he
felt perfectly justified and had no idea
Of ever being arrested for the act.
A few years ago West was hied in
tho Fort Smith court for shooting
some Of tho Barkers and sent to the
Detroit house oil correction for term.
Since coming back he has lead a quiet
peaceable life and little has been heard
of him. Mrs. West died a 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 is APP
pended:
"Iniormation has reached here that
John p, Cox, sheriff Of hil county
Texas, has arrested Kinch West on
the Canadian river, between Table
quah and Muskogee, for the murder
OLA. d. Mertin, in that county, in
1870. Martin had negro in his en-
ploymont and had sent him To a mill
In the neighborhood. White there
West enticed him into game Of cards
aud won the wagon and team that be-
longed TO Martin. Martin went 70
see West about it and insisted on the
property being returned, but West re-
fused finally killing him in cold blood.
West fled the country, and soon after
wards it was reported that he had
been killed in gambling den in Mexi'
Co. For eighteen years the man had
been considered dead. Recently sher-
ifi Cox was told by q man who knew
him well that West WAS living quietly
under an assumed name in aretlred
spot on the Canadian river.
Knch Vests career has been re-
markable one When the war came
up he was an mpetuous youth OF IS,
living in Missouri on the borders Of
the Ooniederacy. He Joined Quar-
trell, aud was one of the most daring
and reckless Of that bold gang After
the war he and others of QIanirell's
men came 10 Lamar county, where
they subsisted by stealing horses and
amused themselves by lerrorizing ne
groes and other acts Of lawessness
and devilsry. They roughed through
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations
up and down Red river from Gaines
vile 10 Fulton, and over northeast
Texas. In 1867 Willie Parish, an ex-
Union soldier, was mur dered and rob
bed near that city while in the woods
at work. 1t was never known whc
did it, but it was laid 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 rendezyoused was
surrounded. West and two other men
we're there. In the fight one Of the
outlaws was killed outright, another
was wounded and captured, but West
got under the floor and escaped in the
darkness. lie was again surrounded
and again escaped, and 1t is said that
he took refuge in tree under which
his pursuers sought shelter from the
elements. The man whowas captured
was hanged and West left this coun-
sry 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
here. This was not the case, as
shown by subsequent developments.
He was described as 4 man Of wonder.
ful GOODNESS and courage. who had the
agility and ferocity ofa panther, and
score Of murdersin Missouri, Texas
and the Indian Territory nave been
ascribed to him aud his followers"
There is no excuse for publishing
card of thanks except where psr-
son wishes to return thanks TO num-
Der of people whose names he does not
know. 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 counties. II a
mans friends cannot wait on him in
sickness and bury him after death
without requiring thanks for it, they
are very poor fIiends indeed.