The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-24

Capt. Frank williams Of the Texas
rangers, who passed through the city
last night on his way TO New York,
gives an excellent account Of the re-
markable execution Of Hank Good, a
thoroughbred Choctaw Indian. which
occurred Sept. % in the ChOctaw reser-
walton
4 never dreamed I was going to see
one Of the bravest acts l ever witnessed
in my life when I went to see Hank
Good shot," Capt. Williams said. II
was in the reservation when Hank COM
mitted the murder 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.
1.-The murder Hank committed oc-
CURED Feb. 9, 1898. Two whisky ped
dlers, named Isaac Greenbaum and Solo
mon Heppenstein, We're the victims.
They had been in the habit of steal
ing into the reservation about once
month and selling whisky to the In
dams On this particular night they en-
tered the territory with two small casks
Of whisky. Hank saw them when they
came in, and he then and there deter
night or know the reason why He
watched them and followed them to
lonely place. where they secured their
whisky, wrapped their blankets around
them and went to sleep. When they
were slumbering sOunGly he stole upon
them, and il could not have taken him
long to relieve them of their Scalps.
He found the whisky, drank TO his
hearts content and enjoyed the warmth
nj fire no had hrrfTf
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 / was passing
along the road with a squad OF the
White Horse we came uDon the hOTri-
bic 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 10 carry him TO the head
quarters of the reservation. They locked
Hank up. and il 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 10
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 decided that Hank was
guilty and should be shot II took into
the most popular and best looking
young buck in the nation. and recon-
mended him 10 the mercy of the judge.
The judge finally sentenced him to be
shot TO death at noon Sept. 25- Hank
took an oath 10 appear at that hour
under big oak tree and pay the pen
atty. They then allowed him TO depart"
Were they afraid he would never re-
turn?"
Not in the least A full-blooded
oath"
We'll" Capt. Williams continued,
Hank did not leave the nation, but
three days afterward he got married
and commenced 10 work as hard TO get
land and horses as a, man who expected
TO live fifty years. In a few months he
was one of the most prosperous 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 excited. They
We're all anxious TO see how he would
act. Hank never referred to the matter
and kept on working up to the day be-
fore 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 members OF the
nation were in the vicinity Of the big
oak tree. dressed in all the finery 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 10
bind a white cloth around Hanks ewes
Hank tore it off and motioned 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 revlver and took deliberate aim
Hank smiled and glanced down the
glistening barrel without moving
muscle. In another second the sheriff
fired and bail crashed into Hanks
brain, directly between the eyes He
quivered a second and fell over dead
into the coffin"
What became Of Hanks wife2"
"Oh. she married a good-looking young
buck the next day."-Pittsburg Dispatch.