Court Records

Today’s post is from a book of court records abstracted by Lucille Brimage. It is available for purchase from the library and contains hundreds of divorces, adoptions, and other cases. Today I’ve shared some of the murder cases. They are written in slightly different formats from year to year, but most contain the names and dates. For some of the victims this might be the only “obituary” that can be found.

 

Blue County, Choctaw Nation

Circuit and Chancery Court Records

August 23, 1858- March 6, 1879

 

Thursday, November 17, 1858. A true Bill was found against Robert Newberry for the murder of Pashikuhi.

4^th Monday of February, 1859-Case #1- Choctaw Nation vs. Enyhinlabe for murder. (verdict written in Choctaw)

Case#12- Choctaw Nation vs. Wilkerson Talley for the murder of William Jenks. 1 April 1859, acquitted.

September 4, 1866- William Billy for murder.

March 1875- Case #217-Joseph Moses for murder, pleaded not guilty. Witnesses were Sibby Taylor, Ellen Taylor, Joe Hommah, Thompson McCarn. (verdict written in Choctaw, dated 2 March 1875)

Case#39- Sylvia vs. Jesse Moses for murder, entered June 7^th, 1875. Transferred Augusts 2, 1875.

Case No. 9- Cordelia Wilson vs. James P. Hazel for killing Rufus Wilson, entered April 6^th, 1874. Acquitted April 18, 1874.

Case No. 26- the Choctaw Nation vs. John F. Donly, for killing John Lafferty, entered Jan. 4, 1875. Acquitted Jan. 1875.

Case No. 40- Choctaw Nation vs. Jefferson D. Folsom, October 6, 1879. Charged with killing Cornelius Hays. He was discharged and released from custody, December 2, 1879. Simeon Turnbull, County Judge Protem.

Case No. 55- Choctaw Nation vs. Edmond Gardner, April 27, 1880 charged with killing Granny Rachel. Case was transferred to Circuit Court of Blue County, Choctaw Nation May 5, 1880. Isham Walker, Judge Protem.

Case No. 16- Choctaw Nation vs. Moses Loring was filed October 29, 1883. J. P. Folsom, prosecuting attorney. Murder of Buddy Loring. The case was committed to the District Court for trial, September 21, 1883. G. W. Gardner, Judge.

Case No. 17- Choctaw Nation vs. Nakne Habi, Joshua Allen, and Reason Charley, October 30, 1883. Murder. Case discharged September 23, 1883. G. W. Gardener, Judge.

Case No. 28- Calvin Beams vs. Erastus Willis was filed May 5, 1884. Charged with the murder of Charley Beams. After examination of the witnesses which were introduced he was found not guilty of the charge. He was acquitted May 20, 1884. H. B. Couch, Judge protem.

Case No. 40- Benjamin Turner vs. Lawson Loring, August 18, 1884. W. W. Hampton, attorney for the prosecution for killing Allen Webster.

Case No. 52- Robert J. H. Bryant vs. Willie Wilson and Luci Wilson, July 6, 1885 for the murder of Lewis Bully.  

August 1885, Case No. 26- Choctaw Nation vs. Jesse Belvin, charge was murder.

Case 583- Choctaw Nation vs. Moses Loring, murder, Jackson Stewart. Witnesses, McKinsey Holton, Martha Lewis, Simon Factor, Peter Thopots.