The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-01-17
Two Indian Braves Engaged in
Duel.
ONE OF THEM WAS KILLED
Other Delivered TO Justice Is Publicly
Shot and Wife Snatched Gun from
Sheriff and Sends a Bullet
Through Her Heart.
Through Her Heart.

Fort Smith, Ark, Jan. From
the Indian Territory, the scene of ro-
nance and rudeness, where the red
man governs under forms OF law Dor
rowed from his white neighbor. comes
word OF a gruesome tragedy which
could scarcely have happened else
where.
Jim Running Deer has been shot to
death by the sheriff for the crime of
having killed his rival in love in d
duel. His wife killed herself by his
grave,
| Jim Running Deer was a young
man, and so was his rival, Standing
Elk. They both loved the same wo-
man, and she white woman. Jim
Running Deer was a preferred sutton,
for he had been at CarIislC Al t-,-e--e
had played on the football team.
But the girls preference for him was
not SO strong as to lead her to for
bid outright the attentions of Stand
ing Elk.
About a year ago there was
dance. at Eufala at which the two
men met. The girl was there too.
and it was there the quarrel took
place. The men at once adjourned
to the street beside the dance hall
and there an informal duel was
fought. Standing Elk fell dead at
the first fire.
YOUNG PAIR LIVED HAPPILY.
In few weeks the young woman
married Running Deer. The pair
lived happily for IL time, unconscious
OF the trouble in. store for them.
While the mere fact of the death of
Standing Elk would under ordinary
circumstances, have not caused any
particular connection, the fact that |
Running Deer had killed him in a dis |
pute over a white woman made the |
matter serious The Indian author |
tiles, usually Indifferent about such |
matters, arrested Running Deer
When arraigned the young man
frankly confessed his offense, obvious
OF the appeals of his weeping wife,
The old Indian Judge as promptly |
sentenced him to death. This was
on Nov, Z, 1899. The was
fixed for Nov. Z, 1900. Then Run
ming Deer was released. with orders
to appear for execution on the day
designated.
On the morning of the 9TH of No
vember last, as Running Deer arose,
ate breakfast as usual, and then
calmly informed his wife that on that
day he must die. She begged, plead
ed, wept and raved, but in vain.
When the brief proceedings in the
court room were at an end Running
Deer raised his PROSTATE wife from
the floor on which she lay in a swoon
and handed her over to her father.
who stood in the crowd.
Then Running Deer walked out OF
the court room with his arms folded.
to the side OF the open grave which
had been dug for him. He was
quickly blindfolded and then he kneIt
by the grave. The sheriff stepped
back a few PAGES and aimed carefully
at the piece of white paper pinned
over Running Deer's heart
STRUGGLED WITH THE ExECUTIONER
As the shot rang out Running
Deer fell upon his side and rolled
over on his back. From the court
room a piercing scream was heard.
for the report 1.-THE rifle had brought
the young woman back to her senses.
Breaking from her fathers hold she
burst through the ring of persons
5 surrounding her and fed to the exc
cution ground.
Meanwhile Minnie Running Deer
had reached her dead husband 5 side.
She lifted his head. but there was no
light in the closed eyes. Then she
turned To the sheriff.
Murderer She screamed. point
ing her finger straight into his face.
The sheriff turned 10 go, but she |
was W on him ike the wind. As he
made 90 move away she grasped his
rifle. There was a struggle. but she
was left III possession Of the weapon. |
Then a SECOND shot rang out and
Minnie, too, lay dead upon the
ground.
Thus ended the romance OF Minnie
Morrison and her handsome Indian