St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-29
FIRED 1900 SHOTS.
Expected Conflict Between
the Rival Choctaw Fac
tionS Takes Place.
Loeke'S House Literally Rid
died by the Bullets Of
the Militia.
One Of the Militia Mortally
and Four Seriously
Wounded.
Nineteen Of the Attacking
Party Arrested by United
States MaPshalS.

PARIS, Tex, March 2S.-The expect
ell conflict at Antlers between the mill
tia force of Gov. Jones and the citizens,
headed by V. NJ. Locke, came to pass
today. Early this morning the military,
having learned that the Locke party
had withdrawn from the town, swoOped
down in force and made vigorous
search for the men they allege they
wanted. They surrounded Locke'S
house, but kept carefully under cover
until Mrs. Locke, in answer to repeated
calls, came out. They told her
TO tell Mr.. Locke to come out,
and when she told them he was
not at home they rushed upon
the house and subjected it to thorough
search. After that they left and re-
turned to their camp. Afterward they
were visited by your correspondent,
United States Attorney Lee and Com
misSiOners Kirkpatrick aud Gibbons,
who notified the Indian officials that
they would be held responsible for any
violation OF the law, and demanded to
know if they have process for any
parties, and, if so, for whom. On the
showdown it appeared that they had
Process Only Tor One
Willis Jones, who had not been discov-
cred for two months. The day before
they presented a list of seven or eight.
including Locke, for whom they
claimed to have process. Returning to
AntleTs, Locke and five or six friends
were found returning to his camp, east
of kamatie. to make another effort for
peace, and, on learning that the militia
only had warrants for Jones, became
more than ever satisfied that they were
seeking au excuse to kill him. After
consulting with the United States Off
ciaiS he again wrote out the following
prOpOSal:
TO Key Durant, Captain of Indian
Militia-Sir: In the interest OF ali
r9rtieS concerned. and to do whatever
10 in my power to prevent further
trouble. l herGby submit TO you and the
militia the following proposition: You
understand the laws of the ChOctaw
nation to be that any and all persons
charged with any crime against our
laws shall, for officers to make the
arrest, be charged by complaint prop
erly made before any county judge OF
ihe court where such
Crime Was Committed
Or by bill of Indictment found by
legally organized grand jury; that the
warrant based on such complaint or in
dictment can be executed by the sheriff
OF the county only, unless he is power
less by reason OF opposition to execute
the same; then the light hOrSemen of
The nation are authorized to arrest him:
and, if such force is not sufficient, then,
and not until then, the militia may come
to their assistance. If then, with this
understanding as to the law, you have
a warrant legally issued, by the proper
officer, for any citizen of the Choctaw
Nation and Will place the same in the
hands Of the sheriff empowered by our
laws to execute the same, | hereby
agree and state that | will in every way
assist in having the arrest of such citi-
zen made. or use whatever influence in
inducing persons charged to surrender
to such sheriff, and will further do all in
my power 10 have such persons brought
to justice, if it appears they have com
miIted any crime. ~. NJ. LOCKE"
Soon after the party had left the
militia camp in the morning, Capt.
Durant placed the command IN charge
of Capt. Thompson, his junior officer,
and went see the county judge. LOcke's
proposal was submitted TO Judge Dur
and, eXjustice of the supreme court and
an adherent Of Gov. Jones, and who
said it
Covered the CIlOctaW Law
EXACTLY. and your correspondent. with
Commissioners Kirkpatrick ana Gibbons
and Attorney Lee ana Judge Durand.
started with it to the camp to the edge
Of the lake. We met about twenty of
the militia, led by c. w. Duke, coming
on a run. An effort was made to halt
them, but with no effect. Calling that
Locke was in town unarmed, one of our
party dropped out of the pack and
started for town to warn him, but was
promptly halted by Dukes men, and
ordered back.
Locke was just starting for his house
up town when Mrs. Locke saw the mi
lita coming and calleG him back. He
had only four Indians and a negro in
the house. Our party hurried back and
reached a corner of Locke'S place, 800
yards from his house, as they came.
Locke called 10 them to let the women
and children out, but STEADY roar from
seVenty-eIght WincheSterS was the only
reply. Several of the militia stopped
with us, saying they were not on that
sort of service. The attacking party
clung to the fences and trees and
hugged the ground which SlOped down
from the house. We could see over the
whole ground. The militia ceutered
their fire on the east front and soon rid
died it,
Smashed Out Every Window.
and after the fight it did not look like a
sparrow could have lived in the house.
Bowls, pictures, mirrors, pictures. walls
and furniture we've torn and riddled by
the leaden hail.
Locks and his five men returned the
fire steadily. Mrs. Locke and the chill
dren had run out at the beginning, and
made their way to neighbOrS, and were
fired at repeatedly. but escaped unin-
juTed. When about LOO shots had been
tired, Capt. Thompson arrived and as
quickly as possible called off his
men, who had been urged
into the trouble by Dukes
men. One of the militia men was
mOrtally injured. and four others re-
ceIved serious wounds. Two Indians
and a negro of LOcke'S party were in.
jured, but will probably recover. The
militia were told that if they made an
attack Oh Locke without prOyocatiOn
and without legal warrants. they would
come in contact with the United
States authorities, as Locke held a
commission as United States marshal
ard WAS entitled TO protection. Capt.
kirkpatrick at once issued warrants,
and with a single deputy began making
arrests, beginning with Dnk" aud be