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Fort Smith National Historic Sitehigh water in Arkansas River along walking trail
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
August 30, 1889 Execution
noose
On August 30, 1889 Jack Spaniard and William Walker were executed.  Both men had been found guilty by a jury of the crime of murder.  Jack Spaniard (or Sevier) shot and killed Deputy Marshal William Irwin in April 1886. The motive was to gain the release of Felix Griffin, a horse thief in Irwin's custody. Although other men may have participated in the killing, they were never captured and the jury found Spaniard solely responsible. William Walker killed Calvin Church in the Choctaw Nation in December 1888. While admitting his role in the murder, Walker claimed that he had been hired by another man to kill Church. He was to receive ten dollars and two quarts of whiskey for the crime.
Parker seated at his bench in 6th Street courtroom  

Did You Know?
The only known image of Judge Parker in his courtroom is this one from the federal courthouse on Sixth Street which dates from the 1890s. There are no photographs of the courtroom located in the former military barracks.

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Last Updated: June 16, 2007 at 17:03 EST