The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-14
wALLA ToNKA SHOT AGAIN.
Cory Story of Execution Which May
Or May Not Be True.

Cory story of Execution Which NAV
or May Not Be True.
GOODLAND. I. T., July 1s.-WiIliam
Coins, better known as WaIla Tonka-
was shot at Alikchit, I. T., today. under
sentence of the Choctaw court, for muir
der. During yesterday friends of the
prisoner gathered 1t was rumored that
an attempt would be made to rescue
him Twenty Indian deputies were
placed on guard, and everybody was
warned to keep away. Feeling among the
Choctaws was further aroused by a re-
port that an attempt would be made to
prevent the execution by another habeas
corpus, Judge Townsend having stopped
the execution once by habeas corpus
Application was made yesterday to
Judge John R. Thomas, for a writ OF
habeas corpus, by Coins attorney. and
an order by Judge Thomas granting the
writ was telegraphed from TeuIsa, I,
T., last night. 1t directed the Indian
sheriff to have the body of Coins at
South McAleSter, July o. and a deputy
marshal arrived at Alikchit with the
writ, at daylight this morning. District
Attorney Clay and Sheriff Thomas were
in consultation when it was presented
The sheriff refused to receive it. The dis
trict attorney declared that only AL
mighty God or Judge Abner James, the
Choctaw judge, could stop the execution.
A runner was dispatched to Judge
James, sixteen miles away, notifying him
of the telegram from Judge Thomas. He
was in bed, sick, and sent word to go
ahead with the execution
The execution took place two hours
later, and was a horrible sickening sight
A few minutes before Goings was led
out four Choctaws appeared, bearing a.
coffin, which was deposited in front of the
court house, and near it a quilt was
spread. The condemned man, supported
Dy sherlH watson and deputy, and es-
corted by twenty light horsemen, was
marched down the line of spectators. He
said goodbye. Goings then kneIt on the
quilt and was blindfoIded The sheriff
bared his bosom, painted spot over his
heart stepped back four PAGES, rested a
Winchester across a bench and fired. the
bullet entering the breast, just missing
the spot.
Coins fell backward and moaned nite-
ously for an hour before expiring. Wa
ter was poured down his throat a num-
Der of times to hasten death by strangu-
!atlon. While the execution was proceed
ing District Attorney Clay remarked to
the correspondent:
We are making history"
Coins was 80 years old. He had killed
seven men and two women, all his reIa-
ives. ne hao strange antipathy for
his kihfolks.
During the execution the light horse
men, with Winchesters, faced the crowd
ana Kept every eye rtYeted upon the two
Inited States deputy rnarshals. The lat
ter did not make any effort to interfere
after delivering the writ.
:, KANSAS CITY, No, July 18.-Alikchit
lssS Is oyer tnlrty-t1ve miles from the teIe-
graph office at Goodland The story from
Goodland telling of the execution of Co
1ngs' 1Tg' the Cherokee, is probably a fake.
The statement that he killed seven men
and two women is untrue.
CHICAGO, July 14-.2 a. m.-rhe Tri-
bune has report Of the execution Of
Croctaw Goings received direct from
Antlers, I. T., from a special man. who
was ordered by the Tribune several days
ago to cover the story. The Tribune
correspondent is ]. M. White, editor of
the Clarion, I. T. His report agrees