The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-12-29

Fflcnub Oh bdiuIiuBe iHtciCcucu anu
William Youngblood kept them at q
distance while Benge got gun and
shot Baldrldge.
The story Of this murder, as related
by witnesses ON the stand, was blood
curdllng indeed, and the result was
that the jury came very near sending
Youngblood TO the gallows. lie was
finally convicted OF murder, without
capital punishment, and sentenced 70
Imprisonment IN the Atlanta penlten-
tiary for life.
Youngblood was indicted jointly
with Benge and was placed on trial
first. After Youngblood was convicted,
Hoolle Benge and his attorneys, fear
Ing that a jury would send Hoolle TO
the gallows, was permitted to 30 on
the stand and confess his crime to the
jury and plead for mercy. This jury,
not knowing that so dIabolieal murder
had been committed, returned yer-
dict OF guilty without capital punish
ment, and Judge GIL sentenced Hoolle
Benge TO life imprisonment along with
his accompiIce, William Youngblood.
The courts attention on the next
day was call to the case OF Copper
John, a mulatto, charged with having
committed rape on a white woman
named Martha Reed, who is now dead.
The testimony before the jury
shaved that this negro had entered
the home OF Martha Reed, seized her
and accomplished his purpose in the
presence OF her two daughters, who
we're before the jury and told OF the
awful crime. The evidence further
showed that Copper John had lodged
the officers for nearly year, but upon
learning that his victim was dead he
came back to the Territory and the
officers caught him. Judge Gin SEN
fenced John to life imprisonment at
Atlanta, the jury having returned a
verdict Of guilty, without capital pun
ishment.
The next case, which was closed last
night, was that OF Joe Roe, negro,
charged with killing his brothcr.in-
law, Clark Dannenberg, also colored.
Tie testimony showed that Joe Roe
had taken Matte Vann from Rowland
/. T., TO Fort Smith, Ark, In order
that she might consult with attorneys
who were looking after claim TO
citizenship Ia the Cherokee Nation.
Late IN the evening Matte Vann
started TO walk home aud Roe and bis
brother-in-law started IN a one-horse
buggy to oyertake her aud let her ride.
When they caught up with her she
got into tie buggy and rode a short
distance. when Danneuburg tried 10
turn the horse In the direction OF Fort
Smith aud Roe grabbed tie lines and
tried 10 prevent him from doing 50.
The horse began kicking and Matte
Yann Jumped out aud ran on down
the road. Tie next morning the dead
body Of Dannenberg was found near
where the buggy was turned around
The story Of the killing vas left to
be told by joe Roe. who said that
Clark Dannenberg attacked him, hit
him with whiskey bottle and struck
40 him with knife: that he backed
up against the buggy and could get
no further; that he caught Clark by
the arm and took his own pocket
knife, endeayoring % repel him, and
struck a. CLARK. This one thrust hit
Clark IN the neck, sesering the iugu.
lar vein and causing instant DEATH
The Jury IN this case thought that
Joe was guilty OF manslaughtef. and
rendered verdict 10 that effect.
Judge t;ill has not yet passed sentence
ON Roe, but the law provides that the
punishment shall be from one 10 ten
years IN tie penitentiary. Ne the dis
eretion Of the Judge
The next case, which is now on
trial, IS that Of Spring Frog Christie.
charged with the murder Of an Indian
boy near stIllwell, /. 7. The killing,
il IS claimed, occurred over Jug Of
whiskeg that had been shipped 10 the
boy who was murdered This case Is
expected 70 consume al OF today.
In addition 20 these capital cases, a
great many felony eases have been
tried during the intervals Of court and
many convictions had.
II is remarkable that IN the North.
ern district OF Indian Territory the
people have never been known TO take
the Law in their own hands Although
a murder Is committed which seems
aendlsh, blood.thlrsty aud dIabolical
IN is nature, the people know that
the JurIes Of this district ilways do
their duty, and mete out speedy and
swift Justice to transgfessors of the
late