◆ SpookStack

: + Smith took it upon himseif to direct the private investigation and aiding him was Henry Koan, 4 henasome, _ pogular Osage who wae credited by eteanvtlaaupith kaving noavers tn Teer 4115 GuUpac Weibil dad Vieim pro Gi ve pee a “"int& the future and forete! events. ‘ He§was, in other words, an unoilicial * “medicine man.” ; : SW hether the invettigation of Smith and Roan got close to the solution 61 * ‘the jong series of murders will never . be known. For one day Roan’s lifeless ‘body was found in a canyon, slumped over the wheel of his car. The “evil spirit” had claimed anctnrer. ; oo iBBNRAGED, Wil Smith went before . : the Tribal Comncil ard demanded that the murderer be tracked down .., and killed. When-he was greeted with , ‘the old ‘superstitious cxplanation: “Evil Spirit,” he roared out: we: “No! There is no evil spirit excent ‘one in human form!” “Name hirn. Dare name him!’ ‘the Tribal officers demrnded. | “But Will Smith knew he dared net to IPE WOE DOD IRN UN HOON ITN RW N HO they sat in the living room of their luxurious home, that unicss tne Tribal ‘Council acted immediatc!;, he would + ass Stes . v the reservation in a sicie of terror. Midnight drew near and Mr. and Mrs. ome’ ~ Smith retired, as did the. dcmeatic aeweaint Wattle Rroaokshire a pretty white girl. ke, AUR Se A pe ey L Bb A-few minutes after midnigh« there was i dent explosion; a great sheet cf fl-me en- eloped the house. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as well s their maid, were blown ints eternity. >L-*sThe Tribal Council knew it musi act at last. ‘2Already twenty-seven Indians’ had suffered ,wiolent deaths and not one of them had been , golyed. The Tribal Chieftain said: ‘* We must appeal to the white father in ‘ Washington. Our people, once peaceful and ‘Ghappy, are afraid of their lives. They dare not : move from their homes and no one knows when he ‘will be called to the Happy Hunting Grounds.” 19 > Director J. Edgar Hoover of the Bureau of glavestigation sent out several special agents with -\word that the murderer or murdercrs must be _Sfound, Sincg it was plain no Indian would dare 2apenk: his rda thoughts to’an agent, in fear of 3 + éonsequénces, tlie agenta must disguise them- >4gelves. ang the purpose of their visit. ~ elo. of aiel agent tptosed ae > Sa eG A pay Pe AB SY PUES oe ;@medicine man, claiming to be in search of rela- - stiyes: who had moved to Oklahoma several years - before. He made a lot of medicine, consisting most- 38] “éf sweetened water, and was taken in by the 9 Indians, ,visited:in_their homes, attended their sane met i tase Sail iced i gel web sae speak. He told his wife that night, as . ‘speak and name the ficnd whe held - eaienal ceremonials. Not only did this | agentact as amedicinemanin - ‘ actually dispensing the aweetercd ot ‘water, but he also served as medicine, « [| | man in the Inner Circle and Tribal} g |. Councils, helping the chieftains to make plans for the administration | of their tribal problems. a It was thus that the agent came ‘| to learn of an amazing condition... : on the reservation. It so happened ti time of the first transition from squal to great riches and profligacy among t' there were in the region many notcri nals who were fugitives from justice. “ rone out via tha “aerranavina ¢hat BVeit Ole, Wid UN -Frapeving, tial stretches of country, dotted with nuin yons, provided an ideal haven: fer wanted by the authorities. me AMONG those who fled to the reserva *" were thirty-two criminals wanted the police of various cities for bank train rebberies. They formed the nuc of a spectacular gang of murderers. bers and pillagers almost without pari in the nation’s criminal history. ca _. These outlaws looked with greed: ., cious eves upon the new wealth of th. : But how to get their hands on it’ The: not strike out for it, for fear that the 4 ee ment might discover their presence on tz reser. vation, But a leader came aleng to aic-v a> the way. Who he was—the master mind beh...- that long series of murders—was to be revealed in an unexpectedly dramatic way. i ne special agent, posing as a Texar cowman quick on the trigger, became friendly with uone: of the outlaws. They met regularly ina clutnae of woods cutside of Pawhuaka, Oklahor.:. CHAE. vinced that the agent was another ‘"y,itivjt?” they reluctantly took him into their confidence except for one thing: they didn't inferm himtot the identity of their leader. oe But one night the agent was ordered ny ‘the, geng to deliver a letter to William Hale. middle-aged, heavily built, affecting a iia air, Was known_as the “King of the Oaaze.” He had drifted into the territory years bufors fr¢ ' Texas, an uneducated cow puncher ane cathe thief. But by his domineering persona ty [2 took over 45,000 acres of celect grazing ad. That much the special agent knew, . must know more about Hale. He cate? sealed the letter and read its contenta {t wé letter from one “Blackie” Thomnesn y bea - Sank robber confined in the Ca.ue thi Stated enitentiary. ackie wanted some Bhipey-—"ors Vil talk.” Carefully reséaling i eekey- re? agent delivered itto Hale. > .. °° 3. | aE “What are you hiding from,” sai Hats. F “New York—bank job,” the ar~ lied. S O. K.,” said Hale. “¥ie'll os% sou pleniy