ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Indian Justice: A Cherokee Murder Trial at Tahlequah in 1840

2002

Synopsis

In Indian Justice, Grant Foreman presents John Howard Payne’s first-hand account of the trial of Archilla Smith, a Cherokee charged with the murder of John MacIntosh in the fall of 1839. The Cherokee Supreme Court at Tahlequah (in present-day Oklahoma) found Smith guilty and sentenced him to die.

Occurring immediately after the Cherokee Removal to lands west of the Mississippi River, the trial involved people on both sides of the bitter factional controversies then raging in the Cherokee Nation. Payne’s account of this important Indian case first appeared in two installments in the New York Journal of Commerce in 1841.

In his foreword to this new edition, Rennard Strickland places the case in historical and contemporary context, exploring the evolution of tribal court systems and Indian justice over the past century and a half.

Suggested Reading

Cherokee Nation and Tahlequah

The Cherokee Nation, world-famous for its turbulent and colorful past, is home to the second-largest American Indian tribe in the United States. This fascinating visual history spans 14 counties of northeast Oklahoma, from the Arkansas River to the Kansas border, and features the capital, Tahlequah....

View Details

Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography

"Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography" by Tracey Stewart offers an intimate and comprehensive look into the life and legacy of Payne Stewart, one of golf's most charismatic and beloved figures. Authored by his widow, Tracey Stewart, with the assistance of Ken Abraham, the book provides a deeply p...

View Details

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.