December 24, 1887 SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME AND CRIMINALS FROM FORT SMITH Arkansas Gazette Correspondence. Fort Smith, Dec. 18, 1887 It is the prevailing opinion out here on the border that the increase of lawlessness in the Indian Territory will induce Congress at its present session, to open that country to settlement, or at least make an effort to do so. As it now is the government is at an enormous expense in its endeavors to enforce the laws of that benighted country, and yet eight criminals out of ten are never brought to justice. The present United States Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas has held the office since October 30, 1885, and during that time has had nine deputy marshals, two posses and three guards murdered while in the discharge of their official duties, as follows: Jack E Richarson, murdered by Bill Pigeon, a Cherokee, who is still at large. William Erwin, waylaid and murdered in the Choctaw Nation by Jake Spaniard and Frank Palmer for the purpose of rescuing a prisoner he had in charge. Both are at large. F M Sweden, murdered in the Choctaw Nation by unknown parties, who will probably never be known. Sam Six-killer, murdered at Muskogee, Creek Nation, by Dick Vann and Alf Cunningham. The government paid $500 for the arrest of the latter but he broke down the jurisdiction of the court here and was turned over to the Creek Nation authorities, who allowed him to escape before trial and he is still at large. Vann was killed a short time since by Deputy Marshal Jackson Ellis. Captain William Fields was murdered in the Creek Nation by Bill Cunius, who was captured and died in jail here before his trial. Deputy Dan Maples was murdered at Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation, Ned Christie, Charlie Bobtail, Bud Trainer, and John Parish are charged with this diabolical deed, and the three latter are in jail here while Christie is still at large. Deputy John Carlton was murdered at Denison Texas, by a lawless negro from the territory, who is now in jail at Sherman. Deputy Frank Dalton was murdered in the Cherokee Nation by Dave Smith, Will Towerly and Lee Dixon. Dave Smith was killed by Deputy Cole at the same time he killed Dalton. Dixon was wounded by Cole and is now in jail here recovering. Towerly escaped and one week later killed Deputy Ed Stokery, and was himself killed by his victim and the posse he has with him. The wife of Dixon was killed in the melee with Dalton, and Deputy Cole was wounded. Towerly admitted before he died that he and Smith had for some time engaged in horse-stealing. He was killed in his father’s yard in the presence of his mother and sister. He was but 19 years old. Ben Lupson, posse of Deputy Lawrence, was murdered by a citizen of the territory and being himself a citizen of the court, had no jurisdiction in the case, hence he has never been molested. William Smith, posse, John Kelly and Mark Kukendall, guards, were murdered in the Creek Country by Seaborn Green, a young Indian who as arrested, convicted and hung for the crime. Henry Miller, a guard, was murdered by Big Chewee, a Cherokee, as Miller was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation also, Chewee was turned over to that government and a jury acquitted him. Thus far it will be seen that only one of the murderers of the United States officers in the Indian Territory has been punished under the law and that was Seaborn Green. There is a standing reward by the government of $500 each for the arrest of all murderers of deputy marshals, posse or guards who are still alive and at large, over whom this court has jurisdiction. All the deputies murdered were good, honest upright citizens. This state of affairs will never cease as long as congress allows the Indian Country to remain as it is, and the killing of United State officers will continue with unabated vigor, while murder, rapine, and crimes of lesser magnitude will increase, with the influx of outlaws of the state, who find a safe abiding place among the Indians, where no one but United States officers can molest them. A change must come, and the sooner congress takes hold of it the better. Fran Alverson Warren e-mail: [email protected] 479-369-2703 http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/