The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-30
March 81, 1889.
JUSTICE AT FORT SMITH.
The Gallows There, n the Grim Old
Hangman Who Operates IL.

The Gallows There, and the Grim Old
Hangman Who Operates IL.
Fort Smith tArk) Letter to the chicago Tribune.
The Court at Fort Smith Is some of the most
noted in the world, chiefly because Of the
large number OF criminal cases that stain its
dockets. Not less than 1900 criminals are
brought before II for trial every year, and
an average of fifty OF them are charged with
murder. Judge Parker, who has presided
over the court for fifteen years, has during
that time disposed of 81 murder cases. lie
has pronounced the death sentence on 1872
convicted murdercrs, sevcnty-one of whom
were hanged just outside his courtroom, the
Others being p%ardoncd by the President or
receiving Communication Of sentence. There
promises 10 be an unusually large number
OF hangings this year. There has already
been one, and there are TO be six hanged IN
! a bunch April 10, sentence having been pro-
nounced a few weeks ago ut the close OF the
last term. There hire now In the Federal
Prison forty-seyen prisoners awaiting trial
for murder. and deputies are on their way
here with fifteen or twenty more.
The Court has almost exclusive jurisdic-
ton over the Indian Territory and Is the
only terror that the despcradocs OF that
crime infested country know. luke IL away
and crime would run rampant As IL b,
forty mounted deputy marshals are kept
busy the year round making arrests and the
Court grinds without cessation from one
wears end 10 the other. The docket Is never
cleared. One term runs into the next, and
sessions are often held until midnight. There
are no vacations. Most Of the trials are for
criminal otienscs, ranging all the way IRON
selling liauor 10 murder, and the punish
.-Laa L $500 LAW NaanN.NN NWLNnH "A hattie
Of whisky into the Territory men are sent to
prison for three months. A horse thief
generally gets ten years la the pc~nitcntiary,
and hanging II invariably the verdict IN the
case OF a convicted murderer Rape u pun
ished by death. Judge Parker, personally
a pleasant and genial gentleman, and not
at all the stern magistrate one might
expect says that severe punishment
Il absolutely necessary In order 10 hold
the criminals Of the Indian country
IN check, and Ms 30 many escape through
lack OF evidence he almost invariably. IN
case Of conviction, pronOuuccs tie extreme
sentence allowed by law. AZ the time he
was assigned To the court murders in the
Territory Averaged nearly one a day, and In
order 20 check them he began his first term
by announcing the death sentence Of every
r convicted murderer that came before him.
| At the close Of his first year he had sen.
: fenced fifteen men 20 be hanged, aud had
. sent about 30 10 the pcnitcniiary, many OF
them Tor life. The dospendocs became
, tcrrorstrickcn. and some 81 them, rather
than come before him for trial, killed them
4 selves.
a Within an easy stones throw Of the prison
1 stands the gnllows on which the scycnty-on'
y men who have been hanged by order %
1 Judge Parker were executed.
This terrible instrument Of death II n rud'
J. scanold Of rough hewn timber supporting
4 large platform. In the middle Of the plat
= form n a double set Of %tuipdoOrs that drol
q downward with the turn II a lever. Tn
n ullows Is large enough 10 permit the hang
i ING Of eleven men 90 one time, bat ~ far III
a executions have been limited 10 eight III
y condemned stand upon the trap and rope.
suspended from q beam Immediately over
n head. are made fast around their neck,
n After the black caps are arranged the eNecu
TONER, standing IN the platform IN full Wet
AZ II the audience. gives the lever q twist, an
the doors drop. shooting the poor fellow
- downward until the slack 81 the ropes
r. spont aud their nccks are broken. uc0rR
r. Malcolm, a gray.haircd Yankee, Is the "a
m ccutioncr, aud he has personally hnnge
IL every one ot the scventy-one mul
II dcrcrs who have been launched into etc
N nifty from this gnllows. MalcdOn N quite
m character aud has got the business Of ham
"A ing reduced TO n science. He likes 90 tai
In about his work aud exhibit his skill IN tyir
a. q hangman's moose, aud he proudly boasts
ie the fact That hc has never done q bungliI
cr lob or failed IN breaking the neck OF his VI
h. inns. When asked II hc vas never haunte
by the ghosts Of men lac had hanged J
y. laughed and said he guessed all thc mtlrdc
he or he had stretched were writing in Ham
M aud couldn't yet out long enough 10 hnul
be- anyone. Hut despite his seeming bravad
Ter people who have assisted him In execution
say that every time hc drops thc trap !
he face 4 NJ white o. death, aud sometimes
be shakes ~ that lac can scarcely aumni0n sul
nd cicnt strength TO move the lever.