The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-12-14
HANK GOODS CRIME AND FORFEIT.

Pittsburg Dispatch: Cap. Frank
Williams, Of the Texas rangers. who
passed through the city last night on
his way to New York, gives an excel
lent account Of the remarkable execu
son Of Hank Good, a thoroughbred
Choctaw Indian, which occurred Sept.
% in the ChOctaw reservation.
Il never dreamed | was going to
see one Of the brayest actssI ever wit
in my life when l went to see Hank
Good shot" Capt. Williams said Il
was in the reservation 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 oc-
CURED Feb. 9. 1898. Two whisky ped
lers, named Isaac Greenbaum and Sol
omon Heppenstien, were the victims.
They had been IN the habit of stealing
into the reservation about once a
month and selling whisky to the In
dians. On this particular night they
entered the territory with two small
casks of whisky. Hank saw them
when they came in, and he then and
there determined to get his fill of fire
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 We're slumberlng
soundly he stole upon them, and 1t
could not have taken him long to re
lieve them Of their scalps. He found
the whisky, drank to his hearts con
tent and enjoyed the warmth of the
fire the pedlers had built. Hank
made no attempt to escape or conceal
MS crime, but remained there and
drank until he was stupid. About 10
o'clock the next morning as L 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 no, and it was three days
before he was sober enough to be ar
raigned before the Indian judge and
jury.
.SOn the third day after the murder
Hank was brought up for trial. Hank
made no defense. He did not seem
to feel sorry, either, for having com
mitted the crime. 1t was the first
time in his life that he had had enough
whisky. The jury soon decided that
Hank was guilty and should be shot.
1t took into consideration 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 shot to death at noon Sept
| %. Hank took an oath to appear at
that hour under big oak tree and
pay the penalty. They then allowed
him to depart"
Were they afraid he would never
return ~
Not in the least. 4 full-blooded
! Choctaw 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 commenced to work as hard to
get land and horses as man who eX
pected to live fifty years. La a few
months he was one OF the most pros
porous young men in the tribe and
lived apparentlEhappy.
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 refer
red to the matter and kept on work
ing up to the day before the one which
was to be his last on earth.
The fatal morning at last arrived
1t was a holiday on the reservation
and long before noon all the member
Of the nation were in the vicinity o
. the big oak tree, dressed in all tn
! ffnery they could command Ham
was on the scene early, arrayed in hi
F. best. and an hour before his execution
;; he danced with all the squaws. H
/ never glanced at the pine coffin o.
which he was to kneel and be killed.
e Exactly at noon he left his family
and, with head erect and smile upo
e his face, he walked to the coffin an
5. kneIt upon the lid. The sheriff ha
5 not vet arrived, but Hank was ther
1t and waiting. The sheriff finally cam'
IS and. walking over to Hank, he starte
IL to bind a white cloth around Hank
eyes. Hank tore it off and motione
the sheriff back You should hay
q seen the Indians look at him. Ever
/ one admired his nerve.
st The sheriff stepped back sever;
a feet. drew his revolver and took d.
IS liberate aim. Hank smiled and loo
$ ed down the glistening barrel witbol
81 moving a muscle. In another secor
Id the sheriff fired and ball crashe
a into Hanks brain, directly betwet
e the eyes. He quivered second al
ID fell over dead into the coffin"
IN Nv hat became of Hanks wife,"
IS "Oh. she married a good -lookiI
young buck the next day"
THE DEMON OF DESP AIR