Fort Smith
Scene In The United States Court Room
The first Murderer Convicted At This Term

June 10, 1876-- Cherokee Messenger-- A correspondent of the Little Rock Gazette 
writes as follows from Fort Smith:
	As we entered the crowded room we saw many Wild Indians of the Kiowa, 
Comanche and Kickapoo tribes, summoned there as witnesses.  The most of them were 
massive specimens of humanity and their faces being bedaubed with red and black 
paint, attracted considerable attention.  There squaws accompanying them were 
dressed in fantastic male attire and the only way to distinguish the sex of one 
from the other was by the multiplicity of the brass trinkets worn in the nose and 
ears.  There are hundreds of witnesses attending this term of the court and the 
streets of Fort Smith are filled with strangers, making business both lively and 
profitable for the merchants.
	Three Wichita Warriors were present in the court room, testifying in the 
case of the United States versus John Valley, who is being tried for a horrible 
murder committed by him in the Indian Territory one year ago.  From Major Pierce, 
the jailer, we learned the history of the case, which may be summed up as follows; 
the United States pays annuities to a number of persons living in the territory 
and among others who received remuneration from the government as a little boy 8 
years of age, who, for a longtime had been living with the Valley's brother.  When 
the time arrived for the annuity to be paid, a man to the name of Hackett claimed 
that the boy was his son and demanded of Hoag, the Indian agent that on this account 
the money should be paid to him.  Mr. Hoag granted the request of Hackett, after the 
latter had proved his relationship to the boy and paid him the money.  John Valley 
in the evening procured a shotgun from a neighbor and heavily loading it was buckshot, 
started for Hackett's house, where he found him sitting on the porch.  He took 
deliberate aim at the object of his vengeance and discharged the right barrel of the 
gun, mortally wounding the father of the child.  He then left the man he had brutally 
murdered, saying him as he walked away, "I'll learn you how to rob my brother."
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Later

Since writing the above John Valley has been found guilty of murder in the first degree.  
The Council for the defense made strenuous efforts to convince the jury that Valley was 
insane when he committed the murder of Hackett.  The jury was out nine minutes and in 
that short length of time decided the fate of this Peoria Indian.
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Ossey Sanders is the Cherokee condemned to be hanged on the second day of next month.  
Sanders is the man whom the President reprieved and saved from being hanged with the 
five that expiated their crimes the third Friday of last April.  He is still as pious 
and religious as ever; says he thinks nothing on earth, that he never dreams of the 
executive pardoning him and that he is willing to die anytime God sees fit to call him.  
The principal part of the morning and evening with Valley cooperating with him devotes 
to religious exercises, which consist of singing and praying in his native tongue.
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Forty-nine prisoners answered to their names this morning at the jail and Deputy Marshal 
Kidd and party brought five more to be locked up with the others.  Since the opening of 
this session of the court, 18 prisoners had been convicted and sentenced--twelve for 
larceny, three for assault with intent to kill, to 40 illicit distilling and one for 
violating the revenue loss.  Nearly all the Deputy Marshals are out upon Aarons of 
arrest and the dangers encountered by them with the children of the forest are anything 
but inviting.
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Kinch West the famous outlaw and robber, with the few of his followers were captured 
near the Kansas line by Mr. Kidd and are safely placed under lock and key.  It was this 
party who attempted to rob a mail train on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Road not long 
since that failed in the attempt on account of the presence of armed men, who persuaded 
them that they were trading upon dangerous ground.
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