Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-11-15
FORT SHITH6appj.
REPORTED By OUR sPHorAL
CORRESPONDENT.
Blind" John Taylor is Stuck at
Last Other Pension Frauds
Elmer Lucas Convicted

Dan Roberts, larceny, jury out.
George and William Mheon,
mailing obscene letters, trial pro-
crossing.
The Fort Smith football team
were defeated here Saturday by
the A. /. w. team, by a score Of
AZ to 0. IL was the first Rugby
game ever played in the city.
1t was reported in this city this
morning that Bill Cook and two of
his associates robbed a drug store
in Ft. Gibson last night. The
other two were supposed TO be
French and Crosby.
Jim Riley, the tramp who was
shot a month ago Just south of the
city by DR.. Miller, a Mexican
quack dentist, died at st. Johns
hospital Friday. Miller has never
been heard from since the shoot
ing occurred.
John NJ. Taylor. of Tahlequah,
was convicted to-day of perjury
and presenting false claims to the
government. He is nearly blind
and obtained a pension on the
ground that his blindness was the
result of a gunshot wound received
at the battle of Poison Springs,
when in fact he was not in the bat
tie and was not wounded. His ar
rest created big sensation.
John Lee, a prisoner in the
county Jail, serving a sentence for
larceny, objected to being made
work the county roads. On last
Thursday soon after he was taken
out on the road, he took a knife
out of the "grub box" and delib-
erately cut big cash in his left
arm. He was brought to the city
ut once and it was found necessary
to amputate his arm at the elbow.
The trial of John Graves re.
suited in his acquittal. He very
materially strengthened his alibi
since his former trial and many la
dies were witnesses for him. Judge
Frederick, Graves attorney, is
very highly elated over the verdict.
He had five of his clients convicted
of murder and in each case secured
a reversal from the supreme court.
Four of the cases have been tried
a second time and two OF the de-
PENDANTS acquitted. Graves was
in Jail thirty.three months and his
health is greatly impaired.
Elmer Lucas, a member of the |
Cook gang, was convicted of train |
Saturday in the US. court. |
He held the horses while Cook.
Crawford Crosby, alias Cherokee
Bill, Henry Munson, alias Jack
Starr, Melbourne Baldwin, alias
Skeeter. and Curtis Daysen robbed
he Frisco train at Red Fork July
Is, 1894. Cook had been informed
hat there was a big lot of money
IN the train but they failed to get
t. The express messenger saved
. package containing $1,000 by
placing it in a book which he car
led an his hand. Lucas was
,nown as Chicken" and got only
linety cents as his share. Cook, !
)rosby and Baldwin are the only
hree now at large. This was
Jocks first train robbery.
Alex. w. Grain, II. G. Malot.
ieorge X. Davis and Mrs. Alice B.
Davis were tried last week for con-
piracy to defraud the government.
orgery and presenting false claims
nd were acquitted. Davis lives
t Arbeka and his wife is & sister
f John Brown, chief OF the Semi
.ole nation. Grain was a United
'tates commissioner and made out
number of pension applications
or Seminole and Creek soldiers.
Vben the pension examiners went
own TO investigate the claims the
pplicants denied having made the
laims, signed them or sworn 10
hem. Some Of the wouldbe pen
toner's swore that they went to ,
lrs. Davis and that she filled out
be blank application for them and
hat Grain afterwards signed their
amcs and affixed his jurat. There
'ere seven cases against Grain but
e was convicted in only two. He
as filed a motion for a stay of ex-
cuiion.