The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-18
INDIANS POISON TRICK.
TdRANTULA IN BOTTLE or WIS
KET FOR MURDER PURPOSES.
The Mystery of Jim Biackbird's Death
solved-Killed by n Cowboy while steal
ing n Ride in n BOX Car-Indian Tried to
Poison tho Cowboy and n Stranded Actor.

1
soIved-Kiiled by Cowboy While steal
ing n Ride in BOX Car-Indian Tried to
Poison tho Cowboy and Stranded Actor.
WASHINGTON. June 17-An Indian method
! Of poisoning. for the purpose OF murder and
robbery. was recently brought to light
| in the United States Office OF Indian Affairs.
/ On or about Feb l, 1895. the natives Of Ninita,
l. T.. were startled at the sudden disappear
| ance Of Jim Backb bird. half-breed Cherokee
! Indian, whose dead body was found week
| later in an empty freight car at Springfield,
| Mo. Three bullets had penetrated his breast
| but there was no evidence OF n struggle or
| any means to identify the body
| vlnita Is village in the northeastern part Of
| Indian Territory. situated on the st. Louis K
| San Francisco Railroad. whore Black bird had a
| family. owned n section of land. was considered
| quiet, and never known to have any enemies
| However. there was mystery about him. for at
| times he would frequent the gambling houses
with large sums OF money which was lost reck
| essly. and his associates could never realize
how It was obtained As the authorities OF
Springfield Mo-. buried the Indian In Pot
ter's Field. his family. after waiting one
year for his temperance. decided that
I'he was dead. and proceeded to divide
his property. Legal complications arose
among the heirs. however. and as the
proof OF Backbrd's death was not forthcom-
ing the case was laid aside from time to time
until George A. Where. n former actor, having
read q newspaper item in reference to the af-
fair. decided to lay bare the facts. which he did
on June z. to Indian Commissioner William A.
Jones and Charles +. I.arrabee, chief Of the
land division Of the United States Indian ONCE.
Where states that no has never referred to tho
murder before as his hair turned white the
night 1t happened. and that he has aged twenty
years since.
On being asked II he saw Blackbird killed.
Where said:
mo it was done in the dark. but was right
there when it happened. You see. had Just
left stranded theatrical company Of which
was member, in FL Paso. Tex. We had been
playing one-night stands. and our manager
could not endure the strain of four weeks
rainy weather. so the company collapsed |
expressed my trunk c. o. u. to st. Louis Mo.
and proceeded to follow it by beating or
stealing my way on freight trains. When
elected from a box car in towns along the
route l visited the various saloons. and by
singing and dancing would pick up enough
change to purchase my meals.
In few days found myself slowly making
my way through the Indian Nation. On arrv-
ing at Muscogee. l. T.. | scrubbed the hotel
office for my breakfast, then proceeded to
watch for a freight train. l watched all day. but
was lil SucctSSiu III uDOut . L. VI, IL was a
cold night, and while providing about. hunting
for an open car. | finally evadcd tho train
hands and crawled in the end door OF a big
lumber car. and immediately stepped on the
face OF a man who was lying down. The few
oaths he muttered as he sprang to his feet did
not alarm me. The accident was soon ac-
counted for and later he asked If | had II bottle
of liquor. After informing him to the con-
trary conversation ensucd. during which |
m IA N
who had Just received his wages after a title
roundup In Northern Texas. and was on the
general good time. He considered railroads
legitimate prey and would not pay fare. but at
and with 4 revolver protect his money. Which
he carried ~ belt beneath his clothing. |
a,S9 ioand MN rough hpt agreeable, char.
him as to my route. The darkness was intense,
and we huddled together to keep warm He
occasionally see his face. Later fell asleep in
his arms. and nothing disturbed our sIumbcr
door was stealthily opened, when the form Of a
man could be seen, who uttered a peculiar
That's an Indian whispered the cowboy.
!, The engine whistle blew its two short
h be apa G Te E4Gr moS
language the cowboy addressed the newcomer,
WHO approached and informed us that he was a
stopping place, | never liked an Indian. so
kept quiet, while. We three wer" standing to,
The Indian spoke English. but his answers 10
questions seemed to be grunts. which is
"' Have you bottle: asked NV friend and
the half breed grunted ailirmatively / i'm
80 a the eoMbo Tor the au%
first, and was Just in the act Of removing the
cork with the intention Of inviting him to drink
when the bottle was wrcsted from my hand |
grew angry at this disrourtesy and was about
to express my oIinion, when a match was
flask and gnzed for second ut its contents 1t
was the first good chance had to see his face.
and as the light died in his fingers 81 saw
countenance over which crcpt the sarcastic
smile OF despGrat" man. who calmly ,nxed his
Of the train and tn" extreme darkness
a aIaEd sn to my amn%emSnt and hg59re
from huge revolver. / saw the three sudden
flashes cross my breast in the direction OF the
sin of my life. Of mothers ulIabics and grass.
grown graves, then sank to the floor. feeling
two remaining cartridges in the rcV"!yer W and
thinking lunatic was to be dealt with /
E o4 Se MY r"mnnRf s55snEh and Ei
GSa$n lis Ip"i cTyms out For r'G$ oa SAX"
give me the gun. which believed was soon to
sent my soul to eternity. When | laid my
crying. he grasIad me by the nape of the neck e
and Er I'M z. t%'d do m" 70 II ioW
century and. being almost paralyzed with |
fear. could scarcely move, but finally found nv
way 70 the end of tho car and attempted to |
open the, door. hoping to escape. had scarce |
Y moved II an inch when was hurled to the |
moor by the cowboy. who lay on my chest and |
placing his mouth to my ear warned mo II / |
Don't Kill me- / cried
don't intend TO-, whispered he, but the |
tnulan Wilt he amt dead: and nc couldn't |
door ~ ''' ''''''
e.. may forget the faces Of my friends. may |
forget the hand that nursed me in the tender |
days OF infancy. but never. never as long as / |
possess my present faculties will forget those |
lew terrible moments which followed the |
cowboy sitting on, me rs | lay on the floor. |
while. with cooked revolver h" was prepared |
Tor an expected attack from the Indian, nj |
whom ne had shot with the intention OF Kill |
ing, but did not know thernsult All this aided |
70 the rumbling Of the train and tn" dreaded |
darkness. caused me to sckrn and almost |
faint; pleaded with tn" ranchman to tel ma |
why he had shot the half breed. to which there |
came no response.
How long remained in that position | do
not know. IT. seemed ages. | realized that we
f@ ~ iln not strike match because the Indian
mercy, so Just tremhed and prayed. Finally |
the train slackened its speed, and when about
TO stuD CDull lnnr h,,i.v