The morning call., 1891-06-26
LURED TO THEIR DEATH
Murder of Two Strangers in the
Cherokee Nation.

A sensational double murder has Just been
unearthed in the Cherokee Nation, about
twenty-five miles from Tulsa. John Bird,
Willie WestmoFeand and John eagle were
lodged in the United States Jail this after
noon, charged with participating in the muir
der in February, 1890. Sherman Phelps,
mere bots was working for Noah Westmore-
land, who lives on the Cherokee Strip, at
the mouth Of Cimarron River. One after
noon two men came down the river in boat
and tied up near WestmOreland's. They got
some meal from him and offered $40 bill in
payment. WeStmOreland could not make
the change and gave them the meal
They prepared to remain there for the
night and just before dark WestmOre-
land went down and invited them 10
go out on a turkey hunt, represent
ing that they had a rooSt located. The
strangers assented and the party, composed
of Noah Westm0reand, John Bird, Sher-
man Westmoreland, Willie WestmOrelaud,
John eagle. George Anspaw, Sherman
Phelps and the two strangers, started. Ar
irving at "A point three miles from the start
ing place the WestmOreland party fired a
yolley into the strangers, killing them in
stantly. They made young Phelps go
through the pockets of the dead men and
hand out their purses. Then they put one
OF their victims across horse and made
Phelps take him TO Salt Creek, where heavy
stones were attached to the body and it was
sunk in the creek. The body of their other
victim was disposed Of in the same way.
They then warned Phelps that if he ever
said word about the affair they would kill
him, ana after getting back to the house
they put rope around his neck and told
him if he ever ''peached' that was the way
they would do him. Phelps remained there
for some time, but finally got work on the
opposite side OF the river with Abe Ackley.
He kept bis bloody secret until two or three
weeks ago, when he told Ackley the story.
Ackley at once got in boat with the boy
and brought him to this city, and the case.
as above stated, was laid before the United
States court NritS were issued, and the boy
went with Deputy MarShals Councils and
Yoes TO the scene, whers they arrested the
three prisoners above named. Phelps took
the officers TO the spot on Salt Creek where
he had thrown the bodies into the river, but
the waters were too high to make success
full search for them. Phelps says he has no
idea how much money they got from the
strangers, though he had heard An
spaw remark that $3.50 was mighty
little to make on such a raid. A
thorough search will be made for the
bodies as soon as the waters go down.
Marshal White found evidences around
the Westm oreland ranch that would indicate
a regular Bender family. He brought in
mum Der OF human bones that he had picked
up in the rocky detiles of the woods, and
also found an old grip that had been cut
open. old clothing, ETC. Young Phelps came
back to-day with the officers, being afraid
TO remain there after giving up his secret.
The other parties connected with the muir
der will be arrested as soon as the bodies
are found. The people in the Westmore-
land neighborhoOd are greatly stirred up
over the matter, and it will be thoroughly
investigated. Who the murdered men were
is not known. Phelps describes one of them
as light-colnplexioned man with thin
whiskers, about 43 years old. Tue other
was apparently % years of age, dark COM
plexioned, light mustache. Both were COM
monty though comfortably dressed.-FOrt
Smith (Ark.) special to Globe Democrat.