February 5, 1886-The Cherokee Advocate-Fort Smith, Ark., Jan. 30-In the Federal Court, late this evening, the Jury in the case of United States vs. Blue Duck and Wm. Christie, charged with the murder of a white man named Wyrick, in Flint District, Cherokee Nation on June 23, 1884; the Jury after being out over two days and nights, returned a verdict of guilty as to Blue Duck and disagreed as to Christie, standing eight for acquittal and four for conviction.
Wyrick, the murdered man, was employed on the farm of Martin Hopper, a relative of Blue Duck. On the day of the murder Blue Duck and Christie left George Scott's house, some three miles from Wyrick's, in company, and went to Hopper's house. Blue Duck was very drunk. Christie claims he went to see Hopper on some trivial matter, but Hopper was not at home. On the road Blue Duck had spoken of killing Wyrick, and wanted Christie to take a hand, but he refused. Christie dismounted and said he would wait until Hooper returned, and while Mrs. Hopper was gone to the spring, about 305 yards from the house, lay down on the porch, while Blue Duck rode off in the direction where Wyrick was plowing. Very soon five pistol shots were heard down that way, and immediately afterward the horse that Wyrick was plowing with came dashing up to the house, with plow attached. Soon afterwards Blue Duck came up on foot with an empty revolver in his hand, and after a trip to get his horse, came back and refilled his revolver from cartridges in Christie's belt. He next shot at a boy named Billy Wolf, who came riding up about that time, after which he proceeded to the house of Hawkey Wolf and shot at him two or three times. In the meantime Hopper and Christie had gone to the field where they found the body of Wyrick pierced with five bullets all of which had passed through him. It was difficult for the law officers to say who committed the murder. Hopper was arrested by which Christie told the officers Blue Duck's where-abouts and he was arrested and jailed. The Grand Jury failing to indict him he was released, but afterwards rearrested and duly indicted.
