The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-27
He KEPT his PROMISE.
How Running Deer Returned to
His Tribal Home In Time
to Be Executed.

Jim Running Deer, a Choctaw Indian
baseball player, was legally executed
near Chelsea, /. T., on Friday for q
crime he committed three years ago.
Since the time of his being sentenced
and the date of his execution he has
been roaming about over the country
playing baseball with a band of In
dians. He has never been under guard
nor bond. All the assurances that the
officials of the Choctaw nation had of
his return was that he had given his
promise, which was sufficient.
Running Deer was well known in
western baseball circles as an expert
pitcher. He had made quite a record
in this line since he was sentenced to be
shot and baseball circles will miss the
Indian more than any one else. 1t is
quite common thing for Choctaw
Indians to come home to be shot. 1t
seems to be a traitSof their race. The
Choctaw Indians never heard of a jail
for their prisoners. All were turned
loose upon their own promise to come
back, and few have ever failed to keep
their word.
Three years ago, at an Indian dance,
Running Deer killed Standing Elk, an
old friend, because the latter tried to
make love to Running Deer's white
sweetheart, Jessie McAdams. She stood
by at the time and acted as second for
the duelists. She smiled when Standing
Elk fell dead within a few PAGES OF her
feet, for she said she really liked Run
ming Deer the better, although she
hated to say so before the fight Imme-
diately after the duel she married the
man who had killed his rival and then
they went to face the law about the
crime he had committed for her sake.
She tried to get the husband pardoned,
but the old Indian Judge became dis
gusted with her actions, and ordered
her out Of his presence while he was
talking with. hte murderer. As a re-
suit Of a few moments talk the old
judge gave Running Deer three years
time in which to enjoy life after his
marriage and then told him to show up
on that day and meet his lust dues.
Running Deer gave his promise.
Then he and his bride went away
from the Choctaw nation and never
once again visited 1t until last week.
He went into the Chilloco Indian base
Ddll CluD ds pltCheib anu iOT tHTet SuIn-
mers pitched winning games for them.
During the winter he and his wife spent
their time in Florida, where he played
ball on a winter team. Last week he
showed up at Chelsea a few days prior
to the date set for the execution. He
employed an Indian lawyer to try and
get reprleve, but the Indian Judge re-
fused to stay the execution, having
made all the preparations prior to the
Indians appearance on the scene.
On Friday morning a great crowd
assembled around the execution ground
and waited for the final shot to be fired.
Running Deer came alone to his death
scene, but later his white wife put in an
appearance. They talked among the
Indians just as IL nothing was going TO
happen. At the appointed hour the
sheriff placed a white bandage before
Running Deer's eyes, caused him to
kneel in front of an open grave and
wait for the final shot, which soon fol-
lowed. The once mighty ballplayer
N into the grave after the first shot
Ion the sheriff's rife. and the last act
of this tragedy had been carried out.