Choctaw Crime and Punishment, 1884-1907

During the decades between the Civil War and Oklahoma statehood, Choctaws suffered from frequent murders, thefts, and assaults. This book explores two previously unexplored murder cases to illustrate the intense factionalism that emerged among tribal members during those lawless years. It focuses on the murders of Nationalist Charles Wilson and Progressives by Nationalist Silan Lewis, and uses a wide array of sources to describe a transformative period in Choctaw history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2022
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press

Between the years of the Civil War and the establishment of Oklahoma statehood, the Choctaw people faced a relentless cycle of violence and injustice. Murders, thefts, and assaults were a daily occurrence, often perpetrated by white intruders, but increasingly by their own people. This book delves into two previously unexplored murder cases to shed light on the intense factionalism that emerged during those lawless years.

Devon Abbott Mihesuah, a Choctaw historian, recounts the brutal murder of her great-great-grandfather, Nationalist Charles Wilson, in 1884. Wilson, a Choctaw lighthorseman and U.S. deputy marshal, was killed by Progressives, who were fighting for control of the Choctaw Nation.

Ten years later, in 1984, another killing spree took place, this time orchestrated by Nationalist Silan Lewis. Lewis targeted Progressives and their allies, resulting in the deaths of several individuals. Mihesuah uses a wide range of sources, including historical records and personal accounts, to weave a captivating account of homicide and political intrigue. She meticulously details a transformative period in Choctaw history, exploring the growing divides between Choctaw citizens and the increasing resistance to white intrusions, federal policies, and the exploitation of tribal resources.

Choctaw Crime and Punishment is the first book to comprehensively explore this factionalism within the Choctaw community. It not only serves as a riveting narrative but also provides a valuable analysis of tribal politics. Through these two murder cases, Mihesuah highlights the complex dynamics and struggles that shaped the Choctaw Nation during a critical period of its history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780806190341