Joe Henry CLOUD

© Stilwell Standard

September 5, 1902

Submitted by: Wanda Elliott

Last Friday evening, near Bunch, about 14 miles south of this place, Joe Henry CLOUD was shot in the back of the head and killed instantly, by whom, no one seems to know for certain.

It seems that Thos. RATTLINGGOURD, who lives on 14-mile Creek, in Tahlequah District, went by Joe CLOUD's house in this district, near Hungry Mountain, in going to Bunch for his load of whiskey and persuaded Joe to go with him after the liquor.
When they got to Bunch, the agent could not show up anything for RATTINGGOURD, but there was a box there for Largen CHRISTIE, and he told the agent he would take that and paid the express on it; and handed the box up to Joe CLOUD who was on his horse at the depot, and Joe rode off with the box, but had hardly gotten out of sight when CHRISTIE came up and asked for his box, and the agent told him some fellows had just took it out.
CHRISTIE mounted his horse and said he would catch them and take it away from them, and it was not long before a shot was heard in the direction CLOUD, RATTLINGGOURD and CHRISTIE went.

That was late in the evening, and the next morning CLOUD was found laying beside the road dead with a bullet hole in the back of his head, and a jug of whiskey standing close by his dead body.

His remains were brought to this place and buried in New Hope Cemetery last Saturday evening.

This is a deplorable affair and is greatly regretted by the friends and kindred of Joe and the aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. James CLOUD, who have the sympathy of all our people.

[Correction - Friday, September 12, 1902] It was Henry RATTLINGGOURD and not Thos. RATTLINGGOURD with Joe CLOUD at Bunch when the latter was killed the other day. RATTLINGGOURD and SANDERS, both young, are under arrest, but the supposition is that Largen CHRISTIE did the killing.

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