Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves

6. Gunman's Territory

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 [First Page] [76], (1) Lines: 0 ——— 15.28pt ——— Normal * PgEnds: [76], (1) 6. Gunman’s Territory T he year 1884 had a major impact on Bass Reeves’s career as a peace officer in the Indian Territory. He was involved in several deadly shootouts with outlaws, and he had a tragic incident happen in his camp on one of his trips—he shot and killed his cook. Bass Reeves’s family had grown larger by 1884. The 1880 census for Crawford County, Arkansas, listed his children as Sally, 16; Robert, 14; Harriet, 12; Georgia, 10; Alice, 8; Newland, 6; Edgar, 4; and Lula, 2 years. There would be three more boys born during the decade. Reeves sent a note to the U.S. marshal on January 28, 1884 from the Patterson and Foley General Merchandise store at Eufaula: Hon Frank Boles Dear Sir Please hold the following Writs issued for the following parties George Barr Intr 4 Gall Liquor one Jessie Introducing 2 Gall W and sold it Witnesses Colbert Lasley Chir wi La Mar du All the above parties are Creeks I have them in charg Issue the writ and hold until I come Yours Truly [signed] Bass Reeves 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 [77], (2) Lines: 34 to 62 ——— * 43.28pt PgV ——— Normal Page * PgEnds: PageBreak [77], (2) On February 7, 1884, Bass Reeves swore out a warrant for the arrest of Mitchell Bruner, a Creek Freedman also known as Michael Grayson, who had murdered his brother Josh Bruner on September 1, 1883. Before Reeves could arrest Bruner, the principal chief of the Muskogee Nation, J. M. Perryman, interceded by writing a letter to the John Tufts, U.S. Indian agent for the Five Civilized Tribes at Muskogee on October 18, 1884: Hon J Q Tufts U.S. Indian Agent Muskogee I.T. Dear Sir. The friends of one Michael Grayson Colored Citizen of the Muskogee , desire me to say to you that said Michael Grayson committed Murder of his own brother sometime ago and was tried before the Criminal Court of Eufaula Dist. and was released and now for the same crime a warrant had been issued by authorities of the United States at Ft Smith for his arrest and trial before the U.S. States Court. I would refer you to the fact of his citizenship in the Muskogee “statue book” Chapter 7 and Article 2nd there his name is recorded and his bro Josh Grayson he killed. I would be glad if you will explain this fact to the proper officer at Ft Smith, that said Grayson may not be arrested by the U S deputy Marshals any longer. Very Respectfully [signed] J. M. Perryman Princ Chief M N This problem of jurisdiction in criminal cases would continue to arise until the Indian Territory became the state of Oklahoma, and would became prevalent again a century later, in the 1980s, when Indian tribes were granted police powers in Oklahoma. Agent Tufts responded by writing a letter to Marshal Boles concerning the matter: Gunman’s Territory 77 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 [78], (3) Lines: 62 ——— 4.0pt P ——— Normal PgEnds: [78], (3) Union Agency Muskogee Oct. 20, 1884 Hon W Boles U.S. Marshal Ft. Smith Ark Dear Sir. I enclose herewith letter of Chief Perryman which explains truly. Both Mitchell Grayson and Josh Grayson were adopted by act of council with others and can be found on page 58 of the Laws of the Muskogee Nation. If this is the charge for which Mitchell Grayson is wanted, the warrant must have been issued on the statement of some parties who know nothing of the action of the council. (action of Council was prior to 1880) Yours Truly [signed] Mr. J Tufts U.S. Ind. Agt The Creek Indian Nation was also known...