Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
HANK GOODS FORFEIT.
A ChOctaw Indian Who Gave His Life
without Fear.

Without Fear.
| From the Pittsbure Dispatch.
Capt Frank Williams Of the Texas ran
gers. who passed through the city last
| night on his way to New York. gives an
excellent account Of the remarkable execu-
ton OF Hank Good, thoroughbred Choc-
taw Indian, which occurred September Is
In the Choctaw reservation
Il never dreamed was going to see one
| OF the bravest acts ever witnessed in my
life when 1 went to see Hank Good shot. "
Capt. Williams said. Il was in the re-
servation when Hank committed the MUIR
| der for which he gave up his life and l
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
February o. 1898. Two whisky peddlers,
named Isaac Greenbaum and Solomon Hep
penstein. were the victims. They had been
In the habit Of stealing into the reservation
about once month and selling whisky to
the Indians. On this particular night they
entered the territory with two small casks
| or whisky. Hank saw them when they
came In. and he then and there determined
10 get his I'LL Of firewater that night or
know the reason why. He watched and
followed them to a lonely spot, where they
secured their whisky, wrapped their blan-
kets around them and went to sleep. When
they were slumbering soundly he stole
upon them, and 1t could not have taken
him long to relieve them of their scalps.
He found the whisky, drank to his heart
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 l was passing along the road with a
squad Of the white horse we came upon the
ba
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 I'D, and 1t
was three days before he was sober enough
TO be arraigned before the Indian judge and
jury
ION 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 committed the crime. 1t
was the first time In his life that he had
had enough whisky. The jury soon decid-
ed 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 at noon, September 25. Hank took
an oath TO appear 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?'
Not in the least. full blooded Choc-
Jaw was never known to break his oath"
well" Capt. Williams continued, Hank
did not leave the nation, but three days af-
terward he got married and commenced to
work as hard to get land and horses as a
man VINO expects to live fifty years. In a
rev months hs was one of the most pros
porous young men in the tribe and lived ap-
parently happy.
The months slowly passed, and as the
ha he
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. 1t
was holiday on the reservation, and long
before noon all the members of the nation
We're In the vicinity of the big oak tree,
crossed In all the linery they could COM
mand. Hank was on the scene early ar
rayed 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 and a smile on his face,
he walked to the coffin and knelt upon the
lid. The sheriff had not yet arrived but
tank was there and waiting. The sheriff
fnally came, and, walking over to Hank
he started to bind white cloth around
Hanks eyes. Hank tore it off and mo-
toned the sheriff back. You should have
admired his nerve
THE sheriff stepped back several feet.
drew his revolver, and took deliberate aim
Hank smiled and glanced down the glis-
tening barrel without moving a muscle In
another second the sheriff fired. and a ball
crashed into Hanks brain, directly be-
tween the eyes. He quivered a second and
fell over into the coffin"
What became Of Hanks wife,
buck the next day"