Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-04-22

DOHN A. OXFORD and Howard
O Hobbs we're arrested and brought
here from Nowata last Saturday night
charged with the murder Of Joel o.
Mack. Oxford is about 30 years old
and Hobbs gives his age as IL. The
actions of these parties since Joel
Macks headless body was found about
the 10th Of February has been such as
TO arouse suspicion, and finally ON last
Friday the man oxford was arrested
by Frank Mccartney OF Nowata, and
the same evening made a statement
under oath 10 the effect that Howard
Hobbs, the IA year old boy, his broth
erlnlaw, did the killing by shooting
the deceased In the back OF the head
with a winchester while he was In his
barn at his place near Bartlesvllle
harnesslng his team, on the Both Of
last January. Oxford further stated
that he and the boy took the body aud
concealed u In a straw stack on the
place three or four days, after which
they loaded II into wagon and start
ed out toward this city via Nowata,
the man driving the team TO the wag-
on, and the boy following up In bug
gy till near Coody's Bluff, some 25 or
80 miles from the Mack place, where
they buried the body In shallow
grave, after cutting Oft the head close
TO the body. In order TO get the body
into Il small hole they broke the arms
near the shoulders, and the thighs
near the trunk with a blunt instru-
ment, apparently a mattox. The
head OF the victim was hauled back
to Nowata, and at night taken, out
and buried inside the limits Of the
town. oxford and the boy were com
PEELED TO go with their captors at No
wata and show where the head was in
tered, and 1t was found and dug up.
The body Of joel Mack was found af-
ter a three days search near DIR. Al
lens place three miles northeast Of
Coody's Bluff. The head was missing
aud no signs OF blood we're to be seen,
and no clothing whatever was on OF
about the body A party Of men from
about Nowata took the team and
wagon, after placing the remains in II,
back to Nowata and IL was prepared
for burial by an undertaken and ship
ped to independence, Kansas, in care
Of the wife OF the deceased. The find
Ing of the body was just one week
after DIR. Allen had seen the wagon
and buggy turn of the main road and
go up into small rayIne,
and the body was found some two
miles from where the wagon was left,
though the wagon was tracked back TO
within forty feet Of the grave. The
dirt had been taken out In digging and
placed on a blanket, and after the sod
had been replaced, all the fresh clay
was carried a short distance and
dumped into the stream, and thus IL
was apparently attempted to hide all
trace OF the place OF burial.
The motive for the brutal murder OF
Joel Mack Is in a measure still shroud-
ed in deep mystery, and there are
more theories than one. II may have
been that the murder was committed
for gain, and that Mack's murderers
expected to get hold OF his property,
or as the evidence seemed to show the
man had had trouble with his wife,
having had fight with her about
Christmas last, and that his death
had been deliberately planned and ex-
ecuted. However this may be, evil
dence will doubtless be produced 10
show who are the guilty parties and
also the motive. The investigation
was concluded at noon Tuesday and
the accused committed without bail
TO await the action OF the grand jury.