The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-30
CHEROKEE DEATH
PENALTY, MOOSE
Shotgun Method of Shoot
ing Only When Impossi-
BILE to Hang Condemned

Special TO The World
TAHLEQUAH. July ga great
deal OF mention has been made OF
the custom among several Of the
indian nations OF old indian terri
tory OF executing those convicted OF
capital punishment by shooting. II
has been stated quite often that
when verdict OF guilty had been
returned by the jury sentence was
pronounced and then the defendant
was given his liberty until the date
set for the execution, when he was
told to report and be duly slain. Such
custom ala not prevail among the
Cherokee, though during recent
years some persons unfamiliar with
the laws and regulations OF this ma
ton have stated otherwise. The APP
proved manner OF executing those
condemned OF capital punishment In
tho Cherokee nation was by hang
ing. In tho early times, before the
formation O: government under a
constitution, II Is probable that HOme
other method ot execution was IN
use. but never In the nation after IT'S
establishment In the west. II is said
that the first man 10 suffer death by
hanging was executed somewhere on
or near the present site OF Table
Quah, and occurred soon after the
removal from beyond the Mississippi
river, in 1899. There was no gal
lows. but there were many big
trees with limbs nt the right height
from tho ground. Consequently,
when the time for the hanging
camo n rope was tossed over a limb
and secured. The other end waa
placed about tho condemned mans
neck and the wagon upon which ne
had been standing was driven away,
leaving him dangling In the air.
Thereafter, when the nation had
been divided into districts, persons
condemned to be hanged were exc
cuted in the districts wherein their
offenses had been committed. Zach
district had its hanging tree until
gallows were built and during tho
passage OF some decades quite a
number OF persons made their exit
from this life at the end OF the
rope.
II has often been n subject OF re-
mark that since the admission Of
oklahoma TO statehood there have
been no members OF the Cherokee
nation executed. In fact, very few
OF them have ever been placed on
trial for shooting or killing. II has
been said that while during the days
OF their nation some or the citizens
slew each other, bravlng the gal
| lows In consequence, they ceased 10
slay after the new order began
Some have advanced the opinion
that fear of the new method OF exc
cution, the electric chair, caused n
sudden cessation of the fatal use or
.
| the cnuse there have been only n
| few instances wherein the 1ndia|s
are supposed to have slain fello"
members of their nation. When srv-
ernl years ago two men were found,
at different dates, mYsteriously SLAIN,
the supposltion gained ground among
persons familiar, as they were
/ thought TO he, with the "old-time
Ifull-bloud Indian method OF killing
that only Indians were concerned In
| the murders, but no clues were ever
! forthcoming and the mystery at
tachng to eacc case IL IA deep today
as It was on the morrow after the
| discovery OF the bodies.
As in the annals OF the white men,
so in those OF the Cherokees, there
are Instances OF narrow escape
/ from the hangman's moose. In one u
/ the districts a man who had bten
condemned to die by hanging Rntu-
ally had the rope around his neck
and the sheriff was just on the point
OF drawing tho trigger when intclli-
gence arrived that the chief OF the
nation had been pleased TO grant n
pardon. Several years ago there were
living at least three men who were
said TO have had similar experiences
and ono of them was yet among the
living at recent date. All Of them
had given up hope and were well
pleased when they were informed
that there would he no hanging SO
far as they were concerned.