Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-04-15
WENT TO DEATH
MAKING MUSIC
Played the Fiddle as He Rode
to Gallows and Met Fate
With a Smile.
EARLY DAY EXECUTIONS
Witch-Killer Saved From Exc
cution by Timely Reprieve
in Nick of Time.

TAHLEQUAH. Okla, April IL
Four of the five civilized nations Of
old Indian territory used to shoot To
death those of their citizens sentenced
to suffer the extreme penalty OF the
law, but the Cherokces from an early
period used the gallows or tree.
The first man to be executed in the
nation after its organization west OF
the NJ Mississippi in 1899 was citizen
who bore the name Of Smith but, un-
like the most famous member of the
large class bearing that surname, no
Pocahontas came to his aid, and he
dauglcd at ropes end. lie was
taken to the place of execution in q
wagon I'm which he stood whilr the
rope was made fast to the limb OF
tree and the other end attached to
Smiths neck Then the team hitched
10 the wagon was driven away and
Smith was left suspended in very
thin air.
Death Ride McIodious.
Many men met death 10y hanging
I'm the Cherokee nation, some going
To their doom with great reluctance,
others with great composure, exhibit
ing no traces Of nervousness. And
there were a few who manifested
hravado to marked degree, boasting
of their bravery and facing death
with a GOODNESS that was remarkable.
But only one instance is recorded
where a man went to the gallows to
the music Of "A violin. This incident
occurred something near "A half cenl
lury ago. The name of the individual
is not known, but the story of his last
ride from the prison to the gdlloWs is
Yet related.
lie had been convicted of a capital
4 q 1,
boy hanging. The fatal day finally
came and he was made ready for the
end 1t was then more or less cheer
ful custom for the condemned to ride
seated upon his coffin IN n wagon to
the Callows, which stood I'm a depres-
sion surrounded by prairie ridges
some distance from the town OF
Tahlcquah A large number of people
had assembled to witness the eNecu-
ton, and, as the wagon containing
! the prisoner, his guards and his coffir
drew near, the lively notes of n violi
INccame audible. The condemned man
apparently very much at ease. was
seated upon the coffin and playing the
violin himself He was quite a skillfu
performer upon this instrument anC
! had made a last request that he bC
| allowed to play the fiddle" until tn,
granted and he made music until thu
i wagon was stopped, whcreupon M
handed the violin to a guard, ascende'
the gallows, made a short talk an,
was hanged.
Believed In Witches.
James Nakedhead, fullblood Chero
kee came nearer being hanged thai
any other citizen. Years ago, in tn
Flint or Goingsnake district. one o
his children, a small girl. died. 1t wa
reported that she had been bewitche
by a woman Nakedhead believed i
witches, and thot it true that tn
woman had by the use of her un
canny powers caused the death of hi
child. So, in anger, he took his gu
and, going to the home of the allege
witch. shot and killed her. He wa
arrested, tried and convicted of nun
| der. The day for execution came an
he was taken to the place where
| should occur. The rope was aboU
his neck and in another moment h
| would have swung lifeless'in the al
| when a messenger suddenly rode II
| Mt rapid gait bearing repriey
| from the principal chief of the CherC
| kee nation.
| Nakedhead was eventually free
and some years later was elected tow
marshal of Tahlequah. In after yeai
| he became member of the Unite
States Indian police force and W.
| killed while trying to break down II
y door of house in which some Law
e. breakers had taken refuge.