Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-27
THAT $2O,OOO,OOO.
TO SAVE WALLA TONAkA
Writ Of Habeas Corpus for the Indian Base
Ball Player.
Deputy Sheriff En- Route to Scene of
Execution, Which is Set
for Today.

SOUTH McAL1STER, I. r, February q.
-Walla Tonaka, the Choctaw Indian, who
achieved national notoriety by touring the
west with a base ball team while under
sentence of death, is in peril for a third
time
Unless a United States deputy sheriff who
started from here to serve writ of habeas
corpus, granted Saturday afternoon by
Judge Clayton of the Indian territory fed
eral court, reaches the scene of execution
in time to prevent, Walla Tonaka will be
shot. at noon today in Alikchi, Wolf county,
in the heart of the Choctaw nation.
The crime for which Walla Tonaka is to
die is the murder of his uncle, Lampson
Young, who was an. Indian deputy sheriff
a year ago last summer Tonaka and two
companions We're cafousing and became so
boisterous that Tonakas uncle attempted
to arrest them. r- ii
They resisted, and in the melee that fol-
lowed Young was shot dead. The three
were arrested, but as there was no witness
to the murder, and as no one of the trio
would testify against the others, the guilt
was never clearly fixed. A Choctaw jury,
however, convicted Walla Tonaka, and he
was sentenced to be'shot August 6, 1897.
Reprieeed ito Play Rail-.
But Walla Tonaiear had another engage
ment on that day. He was a member of
the Choctaw ball team, which was under
contract to play IN Kansas City on the day
set for his death Walla 'Tonaka was the
best player on the team and could not be
spared, and so it was arranged to post
pone the execution by appealing to the su-
preme council of the tribe.
A respite was easily procured and in the
meantime Walla Tonaka was free to play
ball. During all this time he was absolute
Iy free, so far as physical restraint was
concerned, and only his pride in the tribal
honor was depended on for his appearance
and execution. The faith in him was not
misplaced, as it is said it has never been
in the case of a Choctaw, and when his
case came up for review in the supreme
council he was hand to hear the de-
cision. The review was merely form, as
| it was expected 1t would be, the sentence
of the lower court was affirmed and the eX-
ecution was set for November in Alikchi.
Still no restraint was placed upon Walla
Ionaka, and he appeared in Altkcht on the
date set ready to be shot by his two best
friends, as the Choctaw custom requires.
Had he failed to come the first ChoctaW
that met him would have shot him. and his
memory would have been reviled for gene
ratiOnS.
Preparations All Made.
All preparations had been made for the
execution and thousands of Choctaws from
all parts of the nation, some of whom had
been on the road for three days, were there
| to witness 1t. Half an hour before the time
set. g. reprieve came from the Choctaw
capital and Walla Tonaka had a new lease
| of life The execution was then set for
April 10, and again Walla TOnaka seemed
| to be on the brink of the grave, but again
| reprieve was received just in time to save
| his life. The case was then delayed for
months, because of the clash between the
| federal and tribal authorities, and the exc
cution delayed until today.
The chief was then appealed to again,
| but refused to interfere, and as last re-
sort writ of habeas corpus was asked for
| in the federal court here. 1t was granted
and deputy sheriff started with it for
| Alikchi but it is doubtful If he can make
| the eighty miles overland in time to stop
the execution.