The evening times., 1899-06-27

An Indian method of poisoning for the
purpose of murder and robbery was re-
Gently brought to light in the United
States ONCE of Indian Affairs. says the
Washington correspondent of the New
York Sum-" On or about February 1, 1895,
the natives of vinita. l, T., were startled
at the sudden disappearance of jim Black
bird, half-breed Cherokee Indian, whose
dead body was found a week later in an
empty freight car at Springfield, Mo.
Three bullets had penetrated his breast,
but there was no evidence of a struggle,
or any means to identify the body.
| Vinita is a village in the northeastern
part of the Indian Territory, situated on
! the st. Louis and San Francisco Rail-
| road, where Blackbird had family, own
ed 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 gam
bling houses with large sums Of money,
which was lost recklessly. and his asso-
ciates would never realize how it was OBJ
| tanned. As the authorities OF Springfield,
Mo-, buried the Indian in Potter's Field,
his family, after waiting one year for his
temperance, decided that he was dead,
and proceeded to divide his property. Le-
gal complications arose among the heirs,
however, and as the proof of Blackbird's
death was not forthcoming, the case was
laid aside from time TO time until George
A. Villere. o former actor, having read
a newspaper item in reference to the af-
fair, decided to lay bare the facts, which
he did on June Z, to Indian Commission
er William A. Jones, and Charles F. Lar
rabee, Chief Of the Land Division Of the
United States Indian Offce. villere states
that he has never referred to the murder
before, as his hair turned white the night
it happened, and that he has aged twenty
years since.
On being asked IL he saw Blackbird
killed, Villere said: mo, 1t was done
in the dark, but l was right there when
it happened. You see, l had Just left a
stranded theatrical company, OF which I
was member, in Ell Paso, Tex. We had
been playing one-night stands, and our
manager could not endure the strain of
four weeks rainy weather, SO the COM
pany collapsed. / expressed my trunk c.
o. d. to St. Louis. Mo-, and proceeded to
follow it by beating or stealing my way
on freight trains. When elected from O
boxcar in towns along the route l visit
ed the various saloons and by singing and
dancing WOuld PICK up enough cnaHSe 10
purchase my meals.
I'm a few days I found myself slowly
making my way through the Indian Ma
tion. On arriving at Muscogee, l. T.. l
scrubbed the hotel Office for my breakfast,
then proceeded to watch for a freight train.
watched all day, but was not successful
till about p. m. 1t was cold night and
while prowling about, hunting for an open
car, l finally evaded the train hands and
Ial ;,,to tha rof - law,
car, and Immediately stepped on the face
of a man who was lying down. The few
oaths he uttered as he sprang to his feet
did not alarm me. The accident was soon
accounted for and later he asked II l had
a bottle of liquor. After informing him to
the contrary conversation ensued, during
which learned my new acquaintance was
a cowboy who had Just received his wages
after cattle roundup in northern Texas.
and was on the way to St. Louis, No, to
spend his money in a general good time.
He considered railroads legitimate prey
and would not pay fare. but attired like a
tramp would rather steal his way, and with
revolver protect his money. which he
carried in a belt beneath his clothing. I
also found him rough but agreeable
chap. and gained a great deal of informa-
tion from him as to my route. The dark
ness was intense and We huddled together
to keep warm. He loaned me his pipe, in
the glow Of which / could occasionally see
his face. Later l fell asleep in his arms.
and nothing disturbed our slumber until
the train stopped for water and the car
OF man could be seen, who uttered pc
culiar grunt as he climbed in.
That's an Indian whispered the cow
boy.
THE engine whistle blew its two short
blasts and We were once more rumbling
over the bleak. desolate prairie. In the
Cherokee language the cowboy addressed
the newcomer. who approached and in
formed US that he was half breed Indian,
going only to the next stopping place. l
never liked an Indian. so kept quiet while
We three were standing together. and let
the cattleman do the talking. The Indian
spoke English. but his answers to ques-
tiors seemed to be grunts, which is char
acteristic OF the race.
Have you a bottle?' asked my friend,
and the half-breed grunted affirmatively.
Immediately commenced to grope for the
liquor. So did the cowboy. However it
reached me first. and was just in the act
of removing the cork with the intention OF
inviting him to drink when the bottle was
wrested from my hand. / grew angry at
this discourtesy and was about to express
my opinion, when a match was lighted by
the cowboy, who held it behind the flask
and gazed for second at its contents. 1t
was the first good chance l had to see his |
face. which was as pale as death. His lips
Quivered, and as the light died in his fin
gers l saw countenance over which crept |
the sarcastic smile of desperate man, f!
who calmly fixed his eyes on me. l was |
dumfounded. The roar of the train and |
the extreme darkness added to my amaze |
ment, and before could speak there rang |
out three wicked barks from a huge re-
volver. saw the three sudden flashes !
cross my breast in the direction of the |
Indian. l could not move. l thought of |
every sin of my life, of mothers lullabies. |
and grass grown graves. then sank to the |
floor, feeling that my end was near. Realiz- |
ing there were two remaining cartridges |
in the revolver and thinking a lunatic was
to be dealt with, gathered my remaining
strength and groped for the cowboy on my
hands and knees. Discovering he had not
moved, l attempted to reach his hand,
crying out For Gods sake. don't shoot. 1 |
wanted to persuade him to give me the