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Fort Smith National Historic Sitepostcard detail of jail building with prison wagon in foreground and gallows to right
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
August 6, 1886 Execution
noose
On August 6, 1886 Kit Ross was executed for the crime of murder.  On December 20, 1885 he shot and killed Johnathan Davis. Though wounded, Davis chased Ross for seventy-five yards and wounded him twice before Davis began to weaken from the loss of blood. Davis died that night. Citizens gathered a reward of $150 for Ross' capture and six weeks later he was apprehended.
map of Indian Removal routes  

Did You Know?
All five of the southeastern tribes forcibly removed on the Trail of Tears had routes that went through Fort Smith, Arkansas. Those that were removed by water went on the Arkansas River and from Fort Smith they crossed the river and entered Indian Territory.

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Last Updated: June 16, 2007 at 15:54 EST