The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-07-13
THEY WILL NOT BE SHOT.
EXECUTION OF THE NINE CHOCTAWs
HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
Their Crimes Were Committed Under Politi-
cal Excitement and the United States
Government has Recommended
Postponement and Further
Consideration.


are that only one or two, if any, of the
members of the Jones faction, recently
convicted of murder in connection
with the Choctaw troubles, will be
executed. Some months ago, when
the Jones and Locke faction were on
the point of meeting in battle, care
full investigation was made to deter
mine who were the constituted au-
thorities of the tribe. The conclusion
reached was that Governor Wilson
Jones was undoubtedly entitled to
recognition and Inspector Faison was
sent to the scene of threatened trouble
with Instructions to support Governor
Jones as the representative to the
national government, but at the same
time do all in their power to induce
liberal and conservative treatment to-
ward the insurrectionists provided the
latter returned to their homes quietly
and respect of law. At the recent
trials number of men were convicted
of murder, some of mansiaughter,
Others found not guilty, and still
others held for trial.
Desiring to carry out the original in
tention of the department that the
law be recognized. but that the guilty
be treated with all reasonable leniency,
on June 30 Secretary Smith sent the
following letter to Inspector Faison:
You will call upon Governor Will
son Jones and advise him that the pro-
posed execution of so large a number
of recently convicted in the Choctaw
courts does not meet with approval by
authorities here. Executive clemency
should be extended to majority if not
to all those sentenced to death. Sus-
pension of sentence for the present, or
reduction of sentence to imprisonment
should be applied to all with the ex-
ception possibly of one or two of the
leaders,"
This letter was written with the
knowledge and approval of the presi.
dent OF the United States. On July
the secretary received the following
telegram from Inspector Faison:
1.-The governor and cabinet have
suspended the execution of the nine
Choctaws sentenced to be shot until
August 4.
1T is the purpose of the interior de-
partment," said Secretary Smith to-
day, ITO sustain among the Choctaws
whoever may occupy the position of
authority as the result of their own
decisions as to their elections, but at
the same time the department will use
its influence to induce the constituted
authorities to treat with leniency
those who have heretofore been
charged with crime, provided their fu
ture conduct indicates they merit len
iency." Still further Communication of
sentence to September 4 will be re-
quested by the department, and dur
ing the interim care will be taken to
see how the Locke faction conduct
themselves during this clemency.
Recently D. M. Wilson has been APP
pointed by the president to succeed
Agent Bennett, the latter by his ex-
IRENE communications to the depart
ment having indicated his want of fit
ness for the position, and July Special
Agent Selby was ordered to report at
once to Inspector Faison, who was in
structed to suspend Agent Bennett
and to put Selby III charge. The COM
munications of Inspector Faison sent
to the department, while they show
that he carried out the instructions of
the department by supporting the
duly constituted authorities, indicate
entire freedom from bias and show no
uncalled for criticism on the Locke
faction. 1t is hoped by the depart
ment that through the use of firmness.
tempered with kindness, peace may be
permanently restored between the
warning factions of Choctaws.