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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Fort Smith National Historic Sitenewly sworn-in young US citizens and their families raise the garrison flag
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
January 14, 1887 Execution
noose
Four men were executed by the federal court at Fort Smith on January 14, 1887: James Lamb, Albert O'Dell, John T. Echols and John Stephens. Lamb, 23, and O'Dell, 26, received the death penalty for the murders of George Brassfield and Edward Pollard. These men happened to be the husbands of Lamb and O'Dell's mistresses, both of whom were pregnant by them. A jury convicted Echols, 35, of shooting and killing John Pattenridge in a quarrel over a cattle deal. In May of 1886, Stephens, 28, used an axe to kill Mrs. Annie Kerr, her sixteen year old son and Dr. James Pyle. Stephens' motive was apparently escaping prosecution in a larceny case, as the Kerrs and Dr. Pyle were to appear as witnesses against him.
Interior of jail cell with box for prisoners to visit with their lawyers  

Did You Know?
The conditions at the federal jail at Fort Smith were so horrible that it received the nickname "Hell on the Border." Up to 50 men were crowded into one large cell with limited ventilation and poor sanitary conditions.

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Last Updated: June 16, 2007 at 15:53 EST