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Fort Smith National Historic Site postcard detail showing top of federal courthouse building on 6th Street
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
July 25, 1894 Execution
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On July 25, 1894 Lewis Holder was executed having been convicted of the murder of his hunting and trapping partner, George Bickford. The body of the victim was found with a shotgun wound in the back in the San Bois Mountains, Choctaw Nation. Deputy marshals arrested Holder after he had been seen with Bickford’s team of horses and wearing his clothing. While Holder admitted to killing his partner, he insisted it was in self defense. The jury failed to agree and rendered a guilty verdict on September 19, 1892. An appeal to the Supreme Court did not succeed in overturning the conviction.

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Trail of Tears Routes

Did You Know?
The Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, (Muscogee) Creek and Seminole Indian tribes were forcibly moved to Indian Territory on what became known as the Trail of Tears. The Arkansas River served as a water route to Fort Smith where they received supplies before crossing the river into Indian Territory.
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Last Updated: June 16, 2007 at 21:22 MST