The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-14
From the Pittshnrr nisn0tch.

Fear.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Capt. Frank Williams, of the Texas
Rangers, who passed through the city
last night on his way to New York, gives
an excellent account of the remarka BILE
execution of Hank Good, thoroughbred
Choctaw Indian. which occurred Sept, IS
IN the Choctaw reservation.
II never dreamed was going to see one
of the bravest acts / ever witnessed in my
life when went to see Hank Good shot"
Capt. Williams said. Il was in the reser-
walton when Hank committed the murder
for which he gave up his life, and had a
great curiosity to see how he would act
when the time came for him to pay the
penalty.
The murder Hank committed occurred
Feb. g. 1898. Two whisky peddlers,
named Isaac Greenbaum aud Solomon
Heppenstein, were the victims. They had
been in the habit of stealing into the
reservation about once a month and sell
ing whisky TO the Indians. On this par
ticular night they entered the territory
with two small casks of whisky. Hank
saw them when he came in, and he then
and there determined to get his fill of
tire-water that night or know the reason
why He watched them and followed
them to lonely place, where they Sc
cured their whisky, wrapped their
blankets around them and went to sleep.
When they were slumbering soundly he
stole upon them, and it could
not have taken him long to re-
lieve them of their scalps. He
found the whisky, drank to his hearts
content, and enjoyed the warmth Of the
fire the peddlers had built. Hank made
no attempt to escape or conceal his crime,
but remained there and drank until he
was stupid. About 10 o'clock the next
morning as | was passing along the road
with a squad of the White Horse we came
upon the horrible sight. Hank was lying
across the dead bodies of his victims and
one of the whisky casks was clasped in
his arms. We tried to arouse him, but
could not, and had to carry him to the
headquarters of the reservation. They
locked Hank up, and it was three days
before he was sober enough to be ar
raigned before the Indian Judge and jury.
''On the third day after the murder
Hanks was brought up for trial Hank
made no defence. He did not seem to
feel sorry either for having committed
the crime. 1t was the first time in his
life that he had had enough whisky.
The jury decided that Hank was guilty
and should be shot. 1t took into considera-
tion the fact that Hank was the most
popular and best looking young buck in
the nation, and recommended him to the
mercy of the judge. The Judge finally
sentenced him to be shoot to death at
noon Sept. 25. Hank took an oath to APP
pear at that hour under a big oak tree
and pay the penalty. They then allowed
him TO depart"
Were they afraid he would never re-
turn"
mot in the lecst. A full-blooded Choc-
taw was never known to break his oath"
well" Capt. Williams continued,
Hank did not leave the nation. but three
days afterward he got married and COM
menced TO work as hard TO get land and
horses as man who expected to live
fifty years. In a few months he was one
Of the most prosperous young men in the
tribe, and lived apparently happy
THE months slowly passed, and as the
time drew near for Hank to be shot the
Indians commenced to get excited. They
were all anxious to see how he would
act Hank never referred to the matter
and kept on working up to the day before
the one which was to be his last on earth.
The fatal morning at last arrived. IL
was a holiday on the reservation. and
long before noon all tho members Of the
nation were in the vicinity of the big oak
tree, dressed in all the finery they could
command. HANK was on lne scene early
arrayed in his best, and an hour before
his execution he danced with all the
squaws He never glanced at the pine
coffin on which he was to kneel and be
killed.
Exactly at noon he left his family
and, with head erect ana a smile upon his
face, he walked to the coffin and knelt
upon the lid. The sheriff had not yet ar
rived. but Hank was there and waiting
The sheriff finally came, and, walking
over TO Hank, he started TO bind a white
cloth around Hanks eyes, Hank tore it
off, and motioned the sheriff back. You
should have seen the Indians look at him.
Every one admired his nerve.
I THE sheriff stepped back several feet,
drew his revolver, and took deliberate
aim Hank smiled and glanced down the
glistening barrel without moving mus
Gle. In another second the sheriff fired
and ball crashed into Hanks brain, di-
rectly between the eyes. He quivered
second, and fell over dead into the cof-
fin"
"What became of Hanks wife2"
"Oh, she married good-looking young
buck the next day"
Did Grabber ever earn his fortune Or"