Last updated: April 4, 2024
Place
Gallows
NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
Second Fort
Amenities
3 listed
Accessible Sites, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Wheelchair Accessible
Why execution by hanging? At the time, hanging was considered the most humane method of execution. When done properly, the neck is broken and death comes quickly.
Murder, rape, treason, and obstruction of an execution were the only federal crimes with an automatic death sentence. In Fort Smith, 81 men were hanged for murder and 5 for rape. Crowds in the thousands came to watch the earlier executions. Two years after Judge Parker arrived, a fence was erected and executions became private. In order to attend an execution, individuals had to get permission from the U.S. Marshal by providing a reason to be there. Those who attended executions included reporters, clergy, medical personnel, and family members of both the victim and the condemned.
The current gallows are a reproduction based on images and historic records. The original gallows was destroyed by the city of Fort Smith in 1897. It was deemed no longer necessary due to changes in the Federal Court's jurisdiction.
Executions 1873 - 1879
August 15, 1873
John Childers
October 10, 1873
Tunagee, alias Tuni Young Wolf
April 3, 1874
John Billy
Isaac Filmore
John Pointer
January 15, 1875
McClish Impson
September 3, 1875
First execution under the tenure of Judge Isaac Parker.
Edmund Campbell
Daniel Evans
Samuel Fooy
Smoker Mankiller
James Moore
William Whittington
April 21, 1876
Gibson Ishtanubbee
William Leach
Orpheus McGee
Isham Seeley
Aaron Wilson
September 8, 1876
Samuel Peters
Osey Sanders
John Valley
Sinker Wilson
December 20, 1878
James Diggs
John Postoak
August 29, 1879
William Elliot Wiley, alias Colorado Bill
Dr. Henri Stewart
Executions 1880 - 1889
September 9, 1881
William Brown
Abler Manley
Amos Manley
Patrick McGowen
George W. Padgett
June 30, 1882
Edward Fulsom
April 13, 1883
Robert Massey
June 29, 1883
William Finch
Martin Joseph
Te-o-lit-se
July 11, 1884
John Davis
Thomas Thompson
Jack Womankiller
April 17, 1885
William Phillips
June 26, 1885
James Arcine
William Parchmeal
April 23, 1886
Joseph Jackson
James Wasson
July 23, 1886
Calvin James
Lincoln Sprole
August 6, 1886
Kitt Ross
January 14, 1887
John T. Echols
James Lamb
Albert O'Dell
John Stephens
April 8, 1887
Patrick McCarty
October 7, 1887
Seaborn Kalijah, alias Seaborn Green
Silas Hampton
April 27, 1888
Jackson Crow
Owen Hill
George Moss
July 6, 1888
Gus Bogles
January 25, 1889
Richard Smith
April 19, 1889
Malachi Allen
James Mills
August 30, 1889
Jack Spaniard
William Walker
Executions 1890 - 1896
January 16, 1890
Harris Austin
John Billy
Jimmon Burris
Sam Goin
Jefferson Jones
Thomas Willis
January 30, 1890
George Tobler
July 9, 1890
John Stansberry
June 30, 1891
Boudinot Crumpton, alias Bood Burris
April 27, 1892
Sheppard Busby
June 28, 1892
John Thornton
July 25, 1894
Lewis Holder
September 20, 1894
John Pointer
March 17, 1896
Crawford Goldsby, alias Cherokee Bill
April 30, 1896
Webber Isaacs
George Pierce
John Pierce
July 1, 1896
The only men to be executed at Fort Smith for rape.
Rufus Buck
Lewis Davis
Lucky Davis
Maoma July
Sam Sampson
July 30, 1896
George Wilson, alias James Casherago