The Capture of Cherokee Bill, 1895: A Poker, a Birthday and a Bargain for a Badge

Crawford Goldsby, "Cherokee Bill," with the deputy U.S. marshals who captured him. University of Oklahoma.

After Ernest Melton was murdered on November 9, 1894, the outlaw Cherokee Bill — Crawford Goldsby — stayed out of reach into the new year. Catching him took a carefully laid plan, a former deputy marshal and Bill's feelings for a girl. This account comes from a site bulletin of Fort Smith National Historic Site.

The bargain

Ike Rogers had been dismissed as a deputy for sheltering wanted fugitives at his home. Short of money, he asked to be reappointed, and U.S. Marshal Crump promised to consider it — if Rogers helped catch Cherokee Bill.

Crump knew Rogers was well placed: his cousin was Maggie Glass, the girl Bill was infatuated with.

The trap

On January 29, 1895, Maggie's 17th birthday, Rogers invited her and Bill to his home. Both were suspicious, and Maggie asked Bill to leave; he refused.

All afternoon and evening Rogers tried to take him. Bill refused to set his gun aside, and refused whiskey — which Rogers had secretly laced with morphine. He slept lightly, waking whenever Rogers came near.

The arrest

Only the next morning, when Bill seemed about to get away, did Rogers succeed. As Bill lit a cigarette from the fire, Rogers struck him on the back of the head with an iron poker, dropping him to his knees. Rogers and his neighbor Clint Scales wrestled him until they got handcuffs on. Bill begged to be let go, offering horses and money; they refused, tied his feet with baling wire and put him in a wagon for Nowata.

• On the road, Bill broke his handcuffs; Scales had to jump from the wagon to keep hold of his pistol, while Rogers, riding alongside, kept Bill covered with a double-barreled shotgun.
• At Nowata, Bill was chained into a cattle car of the Arkansas Valley Railway.
• At Wagoner, the deputies Dick and Zeke Crittenden joined the escort. When a photographer asked for a picture, Bill threw his arm around Dick Crittenden — reaching for his revolver. He missed it, and said later that if he had got it, some of the officers would have ended up in wooden overcoats.

Before Judge Parker

The party reached Fort Smith, and Bill was held in the federal jail. On February 8, 1895, he was indicted for Melton's murder and pleaded not guilty before Judge Parker; the trial was set for February 26, 1895.

More: Crawford Goldsby, alias Cherokee Bill.

Sources

Based on "The Capture of Cherokee Bill (Site Bulletin)," Fort Smith National Historic Site, National Park Service; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The bulletin says Bill eluded capture for "three months," but its own dates run from November 9 to the morning after January 29, so no length is given here. At Wagoner it says the Crittendens "joined Smith and Lawson," who are not otherwise introduced. Photograph: University of Oklahoma.