The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-11-20
KEPT HIS PROMISE.
CWichita (Kan) Correspondence Chicago
Record

tNlchlta than5 Correspondence Chica go
RecordD
Jim Running Deer, a Choctaw In
dian baseball player, was legally exc
cuted near Chelsea. I. T.. on Friday
for a crime he committed some three
years ago. Since the time of his being
sentenced and the date of his execu-
ton he has been roaming about over
the country playing baseball with a
band of Indians. He has neither been
under guard nor bond. All the assur-
ances that the officials of the ChOctaW
nation had of his return was that he
had given his promise, which was suf-
ficient
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 viii miss
the Indian more than a ne else. It
is quite a common thinC Choctaw
indians TO come home to be shot. It
seems to be a trait of 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 Beers white
sweetheart. Jessie McAdams. She
stood by at the time and acted as sec
Ond for the duelists She smiled when
Standing Elk fell dead within q few
PAGES Of her feet, for she said she
really liked Running Deer the better,
although she mated to say 50 before
the fight. Immediately 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 COM
mitted for her sake. She tried to get
the husband pardoned, but the old In
dian judge became Disguised with her
actions and ordered her out of his
presence while he was talking to the
murderer. AS a result of a few mo-
ments' talk the old judge gave Run
ming 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 just dues. Running
Deer gave his promise.
Then he and his bride went away
from the ChOCtaW nation and never
once again visited it until last week.
He went into the ChilIOco Indian
Baseball club as pitcher. and for three
summers pitched winning games for
them. During the winter he and his
wife spent their tine in Florida, where
he played ball on d winter team. Last
week he showed up at Chelsea a few
days prior to the date set for his exc
CUtiOn. He employed an Indian lawyer
to try to get a repTieve, but the Indian
JuuSe IeLuSeu TO stay Ilit eAeCuIlOii,
having made all the preparations prior
TO the Indians appearance on the
scene.
On Friday morning a great crowd
assent led 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 III an appearance. They talked
among the Indians just as if nothing
was going to happen, At the appoint
ed hour the sheriff placed a white
bandage before Running beers eyes,
caused him to kneel in front of an
open grave and wait for the final shot,
which soon followed. THE once mighty
ball player fell into the grave after
the first shot from the sheriff's rife,
and the last act in this tragedy had
been carried out.