The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-07-20
CHASTITY EXECUTION.
William Goings, the Choctaw,
Shot to Death.
A POOR SHOT MADE, AND 1T TOOK AN
HOUR TO DIE.
The Indian Had Killed Seven of His ReIa-
tiVes.-Writ Of Habeas Corpus Ignored
by the Choctaw Authorities,

tiVes.-Writ Of Habeas Corpus Ignored
by the Chsctaw Authorities.
| Goodlsnds, 1. T July 13.-Wm
Goings was shot at Ahkichi, 1. T.,
to-day under sentence of the Choc-
taw court for murder. During
yesterday friends of the prisoner
gathered. It was rumored 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 Choctaw was further
aroused by a report that an attempt
would be made to stop the execution
by another habeas corpus. Federal
Judge Townsend had stopped the
execution cnce by habeas corpus
The day he was to have been shot,
after hearing the case, he held that
Goings, having been convicted be.
fore the Indian courts were abolish
ed, and the federal government had
no Jurisdiction, and turned him back
to the Choctaw authorities.
Application was made yesterday
to Federal Judge John r. Thomas
for writ of habeas corpus by
Antler's attorneys. An order by
Judge Thomas granting the writ
was telegraphed from Tulsa, l. T.,
last night. It directed the Indian
sheriff to have the body OF Goings
at South NcAlister July %, and a
deputy marshal arrived at Alikichi
with the writ at daylight this morn
ing. District Attorney Clay and
Sheriff Watson were in consultation
when it was presented The sheriff
refused to receive it. The district
attorney declared that Jesus Christ
or Judge Abner James, the Chcctaw
judge, alone could stop the execu-
ton.
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 verbal message to go on with |
the execution. 1t was noon when
the message was received. The ex-
ecution took place two hours later |
and was horribly sickening sight. |
A few minutes before Goings was
led out four Choctaws appeared,
bearing coffiu. 1t was deposited in
front of the court house. Near it a
quilt was spread. The condemned |
man, supported by sheriff Watson
and deputy, and escorted by 20
light horsemen marched down the
line of spectators. He babe them
goodbye. Goings then kneeled on
the quilt, blind-folded. The sheriff
barred his bosom, painted a spot
over his heart, stepped back four
PAGES, rested Winchester across a
bench and fired The bullet entered
the breast, but missed the spot.
Goings fell backward and moaned
piteously for an hour before expir.
ing. Water was poured down his
throat number of times TO hasten
his death by strangulation- While
the execution was proceeding district
attorney Clay remarked to your cor
"We are making his
tory"
It remains to be seen what action
the United States government will
take for defiance of the writ. Go.
ings was 80 years old. He had
killed seven men and two women.
Ill his relatives. He had a strange
for his kinsfolk. During
The execution the light horsenen
with WInehesters faced the crowd
and kept their eyes riveted on two
United States deputy marebals. The
after did not make any effort to in
.erfere after delivering the writ.
Duel Fatal to Both