Morning journal and courier., 1893-12-26
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
From All Quarters.
IS A SCHOOL FOR Crime
Criminals 0verrun the In
dian Territory.
PLENTY OF WORK NOW FOR The idle
Business Confidence is Re-
stored in Colorado.
CREsTtR'S BRIDGE CARRIED away.
A Train Was Tagged Be-
fore it Went Down.


IMMEDIATE CHANGE NEEDED.
Governor Fishback of Arkansas Calls
President CIeveland's Attention to
the Appalling Number OF Grimes
Committed In the mississippi Valley
That Had Their Origin In the In
| dian TerritOry-The Territory Is
Fast Being Made a school of Crime
by the Outlaws who Have Taken
Refuge There.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Dec. 25.-Governor
Fishback of Arkansas has addressed the
following to President Cleveland:
"Dear Sir-The developments incident
to the recent train robbery and murder at
Oliphant, in this state, render it proper, 1t
seems to me, that I call your attention to
the dangerous relation which the Indian
territory west of Us occupies to the states
of the Union, and especially to the ada
cent states of Arkansas, Texas and Okla
homa territory. Upon the person of one
of the captured robbers was found the map
of the route they had taken from the In
dian territory, IT'S miles, to the scene of
the robbery, and also a map of the coun-
try around Chattanooga, Tenn, showing
that another robbery was contemplated at
or near that city. 1t also appears that the
captured leaders are noted characters in
the business and inveigled respectable
citizens along the border into this rob-
berry. oo. .,o.
very large percentage of the bank and
train robberies that take placs west of the
Al1o~ho r{o onI Of tho Rnpkia9
organized or originate in the Indian Ter
ritory. Let me also add that the refuge
which this sparsely settled rendezvous of
outlaws affords to criminals Is constant
temptation to crime in all the country
around. During the last twelve months
there have issued from the states of Ar
kansas, Texas, Kansas and Oklohoma elk
ty- one acquisitions upon the Indian Ter
ritory authorities for fugitives, while we
have reason to believe as many more are
hiding among their comrades in crime in
this asylum.
"Those criminals who find refuge in this
territory are rapidly converting the Indian
country into school of crime. They are
demoralizing the Indians and are especial
ly stirring up the young Indians to deeds of
blood and theft. Young Henry Starr for
example, although less than twenty-one
years of age and of fine capacities, has been
charged with almost every crime In the
catalogue and is now under sentence of
death for murder. The records OF the fed
eral courts of Paris and Fort Smith reveal
q startling story in this direction, yet they
do not tell one tenth of the whole story.
"Prior to the late civil war resided in
the city of Fort Smith, on the border of
this territory. The merchants of the
place did 100000 worth of business in
that country yearly: Their clerks would
make periodical collections, travelling open,
and known to have large sums with them,
yet nobody was ever molested-travel was
safer than in Texas. Now, according to
the estimates of one of the newspapers
published a year since, In Muskogee, the
number of murders reached the appalling
figures of 200 in one year that were cogniz-
able in the federal courts. The federal jail
at Fort Smith Is at all seasons nearly full
of prisoners from this territory, and the
federal court holds sessions continuing
through nearly every month.
'This state of semi-chaos and the farce of
government which exists in this territory
rendering 1t q constant menace to the
peace and order of all the states of the
Mississippi valley suggest the very serious
question whether the time has not arrived
for the federal government to assert It's
right of eminent domain.
~ can think of no valid reason upon
which to base the opinion that an Indians
rights, either of person or of property, are
any more sacred than those of the white
man which 1t is conceded must give way to
| the public good. In this case not only the
| public good, but public safety. as we'll as
the highest interests of the Indian himself
| demands the suggested change.
Very respectfully,
w M. FISHBACK. GOyernOrn