| in return for testifying against McCurtin, was not prosecuted and Mc-_
Curtin was convicted and sentenced to die, Before his execution, he
admitted that he had originally suggested the plot and that he had
killed McClain but he said that Fry had willingly joined him and had
killed Blakely, He also attempted suicide prior to his execution by
eating glass and though his life was saved he had swallowed enough
that he had chest pains until his execution, He was hanged by the
U. S, District Marshal at Van Buren on June 2), 1870, After sleeping
soundly and eating a hearty breakfast, he became extremely nervousx
and dressed himself with difficulty, It was necessary to drag him up
the scaffold and after the black cap had been lowered over his face,
he began reeling and it- was necessary for him to be supported until
thé trap fell, His neck was not broken by the fall and he strangled
for 18 minutes before being pronounced dead, Over 2,000 persons had
gathered to witness the execution and the crowd was ereatly disappoint
ed when the Marshall decided to conduct it privately behind the jail
walls. However the top of the scaffold was above the walls and the
crowd managed to see the affair until the trap fall,
CONSTITUTIONALISE, Augusta, Ga,, July 10, 1870
in return for testifying against McOurtin, was not prosecuted and Me-
Curtin was convicted and sentenced to die. Before his execution, he
admitted that he had originally suggested the plot and that he had
killed McClain but he said that Fry had willingly joined him and had
killed Blakely, He also attempted suicide prior to his execution by
eating glass and though his life was saved he had swallowed enough
that he had chest pains until his execution, He was hanged by the
U.S. District Marshal at Van Buren on June 2), 1870, After sleeping
soundly and eating a hearty breakfast, he became extremely nervousx
and dressed himself with difficulty, It was necessary to drag him up
the scaffold and after the black cap had been lowered over his face,
he began reeling and it was necessary for him to be supported until
thé trap fell, His neck was not broken by the fall and he strangled
for 18 minutes before being pronounced dead. Over 2,000 persons had
gathered to witness the execution and the crowd was greatly disappoint
ed when the Marshall decided to conduct it privately behind the jail
walls. However the top of the scaffold was above, the walls and the
crowd managed to see the affair until the trap fall,
CONSTITUTIONALIS? , Augusta, Gas, July 10, 1870
in return for testifying against McCurtin, was not prosecuted and Mc-
‘urtin was convicted and sentenced to die, Before his execution, he
admitted that he had originally suggested the plot and that he had
killed McClain but he said that Fry had willingly joined him and had
killed Blakely, He also attempted suicide prior to his execution by
eating glass and though his life was saved he had swallowed enough
that he had chest pains until his execution, He was hanged by the
U. S, District Marshal at Van Buren on June 2h, 1870, After sleepipg
soundly and eating a hearty breakfast, he became extremely nervouse
and dressed himself with difficulty, It was necessary to drag him up
the scaffold and after the black cap had been lowered over his face,
he began reeling and it was necessary for him to be supported until
thé trap fell, His neck was not broken by the fall and he strangled
for 18 minutes before being pronounced dead, Over 2,000 persons had
gathered to witness the execution and the crowd was greatly disappoint
ed when the Marshall decided to conduct it privately behind the jail
walls, However the top of the scaffold was above, the walls and the
crowd managed to see the affair until the trap fal,
CONSTITUTIONALIS!, Augusta, Ga,, July 10, 1870
uum for teatitying anni
GUSTEIOIOULIS, sigue, Oty Sly 1, 1D
“Me CURTIN, Amos
McCurtin, a full-blooded Chockaw Indian, who resided in the Choctaw
Nation, Indian Territory, had been baptized into both the Methodist
and the Presbyterian religions, In September, 1869, he and his
friend, William Fry, also a Choctaw, drove their own wagon past the
one in which James McClain, a half-breed Choctaw and James Blakely,
a black man, were draving a wagon loaded with domestic goods valued
at about $100 from Scallyville to Boggy Depot, McCurtin suggested
to Fry that they kill the other two men and steal the contents of
their wagon and they made cam a short distance akead, ‘When McYlain
and Blakely caught up with them, they joined them at the camp, That
night both McClain and Blakely were shot and killed and their bodies
left by the side of the road. Fry was arrested the next day and said
that he had declined to take part in the mrders and that McCurthn
had awakened him after xhe had retired and told him that he had killed
McClain and Blakely, He said that he hadhelped dragg the bodies into
the brush because. he was afraid of McCurtin, McCurtin was captured
two days later and was wearing McClain's bloody trousers at the time
of his arrest and was also carrying McClain's gun and rifle, When
- McCURTIN, Amos
McCurtin, a full-blooded Chockaw Indian, who resided in the Choctaw
Nation, Indian Territory, had been baptized into both the Methodist
and the Presbyterian religions. In September, 1869, he and his
friend, William Fry, also a Choctaw, drove their own wagon past the
one in which James McClain, a half-breed Choctaw and James Blakely,
a black man, were draving a wagon loaded with domestic poods valued
at about $100 from Scallyville to Boggy Depot. McCurtin suggested
to Fry that they kill the other two men and steal the contents of
their wagon and they made cam a short distance akead. ‘When Mc°lain
and Blakely caught up with them, they joined them at the camp, That
night both McClain and Blakely were shot and killed and their bodies
left by the side of the road. Fry was arrested the next day and said
that he had declined to take part in the murders and that McCurtain
had awakened him after xhe had retired and told him that he had killed
McClain and Blakely, He said that he hadhelped dragg the bodies into
the brush because. he was afraid of McCurtin, McCurtin was captured
two days later and was wearing McClain's bloody trousers at the time
of his arrest and was also carrying McClain's gun and rifle, When
the bodies were discovered, they had been partially devoured by
hogs and both McCurtin and Fry were taken to Van Buren, ark.} where
they were charged with the murders inthe U. S. District Court, Fry,
McQURTIN, Amos
McCurtain, a full-blooded Chockaw Indian, who resided in the Choctaw
Nation, Indian Territory, had been baptized into both the Methodist
and the Presbyterian religions, In September, 1869, he and his
friend, william Fry, also a Choctaw, drove their own wagon past the
one in which James McClain, a half-breed Choctaw and James Blakely,
a black man, were draving a wagon loaded with domestic goods valued
at about $100 from Scallyville to Boggy Depot, McCurtin suggested
to Fry that they kill the other two men and steal the contents of
their wagon and they made camp a short distance akead, When McClain
and Blakely caught up with then, they joined them at the camp, That
night both McClain and Blakely were shot and killed and their bodies
left by the side of the road, Fry was arrested the next day and said
that he had declined to take part in the mrders and that McCuriin
had awakened him after xhe had retired and told him that he had killed}
McClain and Blakely, He said that he hadhelped drag the bodies into
the brush because he was afraid of McCurtin, McCurtin was captured
two days later and was wearing ae bloody trousers at the tine
of his ee and was also carrying McClain’ 5 gun a rifle, When
evine teen! art ally devoured by
Buren, Ark.} where
the bodies were disco
Hogs and both McCurtin and’Fry were taken
they were charged with the murders in the US. Distrist court,
cu os sed
