been known as “Hell on the Border”. It had been located under the courtroom and marshal’s office and was two large rooms about 29 feet by 55 feet each. The prisoners were allowed to mingle with each other in these two large spaces. The jail resembled a dungeon. It could hold up to 150 prisoners. There were white men and negroes and Indians all mingled together. Bedding was moldy and the place had smelled like urine and feces. Hell on the Border was a good name for it. Thankfully it was now empty and cleaner.
In 1877, a new three story brick jail was built for $75,000 next to the courthouse. Each floor had 24 cells, 5 by 8 feet, each having 2 iron cots, one over the other. Each cell had an iron door. The lower floor was designated “Murderers’ Row.” Judge Parker sentenced 172 men to be hanged, but only 88 were eventually hanged. Of the 88 who were hung, 39 were white, 26 were Indians and 23 were black.
Complaints against outlaws had to be made in person in Fort Smith. So if the complaints were by someone in Indian territory, they might have to travel two hundred miles to file it. Warrants were then sworn out and accumulated before taking them to the U.S. Marshal’s office to be served. An estimated 90 percent of the wanted men were murderers, cattle rustlers and horse thieves. The murders may have been committed in a bank robbery or a train robbery or in the process of theft. Many of them already had a reward offered for them. Sometimes, a marshal would arrest someone out in the territory and had to write to the marshal’s office to get a writ issued by Judge Parker before bringing them in to the jail.
It was common knowledge that Bass could not read or write before he married Jennie, but he managed to get others to write his letters requesting writs. He would also have someone read him the writs that he was serving. After arresting someone on a writ, he would find someone to identify them to make sure he had arrested the right person. He never arrested the wrong person. Over time, he had a good enough memory that he could identify enough words to be able to do his job. What he lacked in training to read and write, he made up for by his memory. He had never been accused of being stupid. And his wife, Jennie, who had been taught to read and write, was gradually teaching him.
Marshal Boles told Bass: “I have 11 warrants here that need to be served and the parties brought back to Fort Smith, live or dead. I have a warrant for Chub Moore, a white man who killed a negro who raped a white woman, One Eye Hanna, a Creek Indian wanted for murder, Jedick Jackson and John Bruner and Frank Buck, who are colored and wanted for horse thievery, Jim Mack, a Chickasaw, wanted for larceny, John Hoyt, A. Smith, and J. M. McConnell, all whites, and Alex Baker and Daniel Dorsey, Creek Indians, all for introducing. Of course, if you run into anyone else you know is wanted, or the Lighthorse have arrested anyone you want to bring in, we will pay you the fees on them. There is a $1,000 reward each for Jackson, Bruner and Buck.”
“All right,” Bass told him, “I will get after them as soon as I get a new cook and get all my gear loaded at the livery stable. Frank Pierce will be my posse man on this trip. I don’t see needing any more than that.”
After finding a cook, Bass hit the long trail to Indian Territory one more time.
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