The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-04-19
A FR|GHTFUL DEATH DEALT.
Brutality Displayed at an Execution
Among the Choctaws.
THE SCENE PHOTOGRAPHED.
Shot Only to Wound. Then the Pris-
oner Was Choked TO Death. More
Likely 10 be Sentenced to the
Same Fate. The President
Asked TO Interfere.


Tho president will TO asked to pre-
Won't tho execution Of 10 men in tho
Choctaw Nation in tho Indian Territory
This is call upon tho president to
tako part against the local govern
ment iii that Indian nation to prevent
execution as n result of political war
that has raged i'll that country for ten
years, but which in tho last two years
has resulted in bloodshed.
The test case camo up before tho pres
ident last yoar, and tho Choctaw nu-
tboritios succeeded at last i'll forcing
the execution, which proved tho most
brutal Of years oven for that country.
1t appeared that Lewis had boon one
of the leaders III what is known in
Choctaw politics MS tho Jackson faction.
Jackson had been candidate for gov
ornor OF tho nation, and opposed 20
him was Colonel Jones.
There was the usual manipulation OF
tho ballot boxes, and both sides claimed
tho victory. This was followed by both
men trying to get the place of governor,
and hot skirmishcs resulted i'll several
being killed
In duo time theiJackson faction gavo
up the fight, and Jones was installed.
Quickly followed the efforts to prose
cute tho leaders of tho Jackson faction
Tho oaso of Lewis was set up as tost
1t soon appeared to tho defense that
they would not DO given fair trial
Tho trial proceeded for day, and
| tho defense rested their case when tho
| prosecution had presented thoir side.
| and the packed jury returned verdict
of guilty, and the sentence Of death
| was passed.
Tho full history of tho case and all
the troubles leading up TO it was pre-
scented to the president and the appeal
made for protection. Tho president
asked the governor of tho Choctaw Ma
| ton to defer execution for q time, and
AS result the execution was postponed
| for month
Later there was another delay order
ed by tho governor, but i'll duo time it
| appeared to tho Choctaw authorities
that they would not bo injured by the
United States authorities if they pro-
ceoded with the execution, and accord
Ingly on tho 9th Of November they car
riod out tho sentence of death in tho
most brutal manner
According to tho Choctaw law. cani
tai punishment il inflicted by shooting
1t happens also sometimes that the SON
| tenco is executed by tho enemy of the
| accused.
III this case it was decided that Lew
is should DO shot by ono of tho leaders
OF tho Jones faction who was bitter
! personal enemy of Lewis and who is
known rs Limon Pusley. Puslay was
/ made deputy sheriff for tho occasion.
and then it was concluded that it would
BIO well to take as much revenge out of
the execution ns possible, so instead CT
shooting the doomed man il the left
breast, according to the law OF that
country, 1t was decided to DO appropri-
alto to make q mistake and shoot him in
the right breast SO that death would
not come instantly.
Accordingly tho shot was fred in tho
/ right breast, and LOWS failed to fall to
the ground. At this moment he was
takon i'll hand by the coterio from tho
| governors Office and thrown to the
| ground and stranglcd to death. 1t tool,
| Just 32 minutes to do tho work.
LOWS was conscious most of tho
time. and whilo he did all no could TO
inilict physical injury upon his assail
ants no uttered not word of appeal for
mercy.
1t was during this brutal struggle
that photograph was taken of the
sceno and this is preserved as evidence
OF tho treatment accorded Lewis and is
before the president, showing feature
of the lamcntablo conditions in that
country.
As shown hy tho photograph. Pusley,
tho temporary deputy sheriff, who puI-
posely Inado tho bad shot. stands with
tho gun in his hand. while Samuel
Huston holds tho mouth and nose of the
prisoner, and John Pickons is holding
his hand over the gunshot wound for
the purpose of forcing the blood to es-
cape on tho inside by way OF insuring
| death some time in the future, and A.
White is holding Lewis feet and in
Il. 80 81. 4 n