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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Fort Smith National Historic Siteearly 20th century postcards of Fort Smith
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
January 30, 1890 Execution
noose
On January 30, 1890 George Tobler was executed for the murder of Irvin Richmond. On the night of April 30, 1889, Tobler attended a dance in the Choctaw Nation. Richmond was also there, with a woman that he and Tobler had previously fought over. At one point during the evening a shot was heard and Richmond, who had been playing the fiddle, fell from his chair mortally wounded. No witnesses saw the murderer, as he had fired the shot from outside the house, pointing the gun through a crack in the wall, but circumstances pointed to Tobler. Although he left a written statement declaring his innocence, Tobler told a fellow prisoner that he dreamed of the man he killed the night before his execution.
reproduction of keelboat on Arkansas River with first fort soldier reenactors  

Did You Know?
Fort Smith was established on Christmas Day, 1817. Approximately 70 Rifle Regiment soldiers arrived by keelboat after a long journey on the Arkansas River.

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Last Updated: June 16, 2007 at 17:33 EST