The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-01-26
HANK GOODS CRIME AND roefeIr.
Chootaw Indian who Gavo his Lif.
Without a SIgn of Eenr.

Choctaw Indian who Gavo his Lif.
without n sign OF rear.
Capt. Frank Williams of the Texas
Hangers, who passed through the city
last night on his way to New York,
gives an excellent account of the re.
maikable execution of Hank Good, q
thoroughbred Choctaw Indian, which
occurred September % In the Choctaw
reservation.
II never dreamed was going to see
one OF the bravest acts l ever witness
ed In my life when went to see Hank
Good shot" Capt. Williams said. 81
was In the reservation when Hank
committed the murder for which he
gave up his life, and / had great
curiosity to see how he would act
when the time came for him to pay
the penalty.
"The murder Hank computed oc-
CURED February o, 1893. Two whis-
key peddlers, named Isaac Greenbaum
and Solomon Heppenstein, were the
victims. They had been In the habit
or stealing Into the reservation about
once month and selling wliskey to
the Indians. On this particular night
they entered the territory with two
small casks Of whiskey. Hank saw
them when he came In, and he then
and there determined to get his fill of
fire water TINT night or know the rea-
son why. He watched them and fol-
lowed them to lonely place, where
they secured their whiskey, wrapped
their blankets around them and went
to sleep. When they were slumbering
soundly he stole upon them, and 1t
could not have taken him long to re-
Ievc them OF their scalps He found
the whiskey, drank to his hearts con-
tent, and enjoyed the warmth of the
fire the poddlers 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 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 whiskey casks was
claspcd 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 up.
and 1t was three days before he was
sober enough to be arraigned before
the Indian Judge and jury.
"On 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
whiskey. 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, Sep
tember %. Hank took an oath to ap-
pear at that hour under a big oak tree
and pay the penalty, They then al
lowed him to depart"
Were they afraid he would never
roturnf"
Not In the least. A full -blooded
Choctaw was never known to break
his OATH
We'll" Capt. Williams continued,
Hank did not leave the nation, but
three days afterwards he got married
and commenced to work as hard to
get land and horses as n man who ex-
pected to live fifty years. In few
months he was one Of the most pros
porous young men in the tribe and
lived apparently happy.
THE months slowly passed, and as
the time drew near for Hank to be
shot the Indians commenced to get ex-
cited. They We're all anxious to see
how he would act. Hank never re-
ferred 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 holiday on the reservation,
and long before noon all the members
of the nation were In the vicinity of
the big oak tree, dressed In all the
tinery they could command. Hank
was on the scene early, arrayed 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 upon
his face, he walked TO the coffin and
knelt upon the lid. The Sheriff had
not yet arrived, but Hank was there
and waiting. The Sheriff finally came,
and, walking over to Hank, he started
to bind white cloth around Hanks
eyes. Hank tore 1t off, and motloned
the Sheriff back You should have
seen the Indians look at him., Every
one admired his nerve.
"The Sheriff stepped back several
feet, drew his revolver, and took de
liberate aim. Hank smiled and glanced
down the glistening barrel without
moving a muscle. In another second
the Sheriff fired and a ball crashed
into Hanks brain, directly between the
eyes. He quivered a second, and fell
over dead into the coffin"
What became of Hanks wife,"
"Oh, she married Il good-looking
young buck the next day."-Pittsburg