The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-06-27
SHOT DURING
CHURCH MEETING
Masonic Hall Scene of At
tempted Killing of
Condemned.
REGARDED AS TRAITOR
Spirit Left His Body for a
Time but Later Returned
to Its Own.

TAITLEQUAH. okla, June sc
Il could plainly see my body lying
ON the floor. but myself-my spirit,
or whatever you wish TO call 1t
was ct the time fluttcring over
head near the ceiling Such IN
substance was the assertion OF
Richard Fields after recovering
from "a wound supposed to be fatal
at the time II was received Tho
time was a little less than 50 years
ago, the place the lower room OF
the old Masonic hall In Tahicqunh.
Tho Masonic hall referred 10, Is
one Of the oldest buildings In tho
old Cherokee capital Among tho
time-stained records OF tho nation
there may be found an act OF tho
national council which states that
certain lots In certain block are
granted TO the Cherokee lodge or
MaAons and the division OF the Sons
OF Temperance now in oXiatonce at
this place" provided that the secret
orders build a lodge room on the
lots within two years from the date
OF the passage OF the act. The act
is dated In November. 1859. and II
seems that the lodge room or hall
was completed long before the time
OF the expiration OF the two years
limit. For many years the Masons
held their meetings In the hall, ~
also did at more recent periods
the odd Fellows and Knights OF
Pythlas. The lodge room was In
tho upper story. while the lower
room was used for public school pur-
poses and as u place OF meeting for
the congregation of the NJ. ~.
church, south Such famous Meth
odist ministers as Bishop Kava-
naugh, Revs. r.. w Sohon. John
Harrell Young Ewing. and others
occupied the pulpit at Intervals In
the days preceding the civil war.
During long and eyentful period
the old Masonic hall and church was
one OF the principal buildings In
tho town, but as changes came In
after times and the population or
the place increased larger and more
convenient lodge rooms were built.
churches were erected, and the old
hsll became printing office. a
boarding house, restaurant. dance
hall and finally storage room.
Weather-beaten and dccaylng, II
still stands, often mentioned In tho
stories OF the olden times which are
numerous and some OF them OF no
ordinary interest. Hut the incident
most often recalled by the old-timers
Is that relating to the shooting OF
Richard Fields.
Early In the seventies OF the last
century Fields. better known among
tho citizens as "Dick Halfbreed," {"
was citizen of Tahlequah. He
had served as auditor OF tho Cher
okee nation, and conducted Il NOR
camille establishment. was always
well dressed and an accomplished
horseman. but not particular popu-
lar, being OF an uncertain tempera-
mont. Two men are said to have
been slain by Fields. and one OF
them was shot down on the main
street OF Tahlequah, but he was
never convicted in the courts ana
pursued tho more or less oven tenor
OF his way until the bullet from tho
pistol OF an unseen enemy placed
him face to face with death.
Fields. or Halfbrood. saw III dur
Ing the eventrul days OF the year
OF 1872 to favor a territorial form
OF government for the Indian ter
ritory, and as this would have meant
the immediate disruption OF the
Cherokee government, he became
very unpopular. At various times
during the 70s bills were introduced
In congress having for their object
the opening up OF the territory, and
In none OF such bills was much at
tention paid TO the rights OF the In
dams. The idea seems to have been
to simply throw open tho lands to
settlement letting the original nrO.