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Fort Smith National Historic Site postcard detail of jail building with prison wagon in foreground and gallows to right
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
October 7, 1887 Execution
noose
Silas Hampton and Seaborn Kalijah were executed on October 7, 1887.  Hampton, an 18 year old Cherokee, killed a white farmer, Abner Lloyd, for $7.50 and a pocketknife. When arrested, Hampton reportedly said "Don't take me to Fort Smith; kill me right now." After arresting Seaborn Kalijah on January 17, 1887, Deputy John Phillips left the prisoner in the care of his posse: Mark Kuykendall, Henry Smith and William Kelly. Upon returning the next morning, Phillips found the three lawmen murdered and Kalijah gone. The prisoner was rearrested and found guilty of the killings.

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Last Updated: June 16, 2007 at 16:04 MST