James Arcine – Cherokee Murderer
The annals of the American West are etched with tales of conflict, survival, and justice – a tapestry woven with threads of bravery, hardship, and, at times, brutal crime. Among these narratives emerges the story of James Arcine, a Cherokee man whose actions in the 1870s led him down a path of infamy and ultimately to the gallows at Fort Smith, Arkansas. This is the story of James Arcine, a man whose life was forever defined by a single act of violence.
In the rugged landscape of the post-Civil War era, the region surrounding Fort Smith served as a melting pot of cultures and jurisdictions. The town itself, a bustling military outpost on the border between Arkansas and Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), was a strategic location and a hub of activity. The area teemed with soldiers, settlers, traders, and members of various Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, who had been forcibly relocated to the territory decades earlier. It was in this environment that James Arcine lived, a member of the Cherokee Nation whose life would soon become intertwined with the tragic fate of a Swedish immigrant.
The year was 1872. Henry Feigel, a Swedish laborer, embarked on a journey from Talequah, the Cherokee capital, to Fort Gibson, a military post located in Indian Territory. Feigel’s reasons for traveling remain lost to history, but his journey would be tragically cut short just two miles outside of Fort Gibson. It was here that he encountered James Arcine and his companion, William Parchmeal. The encounter proved fatal. According to later accounts, Arcine and Parchmeal ambushed Feigel, opening fire upon him. But the initial shots were not enough. Arcine, driven by a motive that remains chillingly unclear, then proceeded to bludgeon the defenseless laborer with a large stone, ending his life.
Parchmeal, who would later become a key witness in the case, claimed to have been a reluctant participant, paralyzed by fear of Arcine’s violent nature. He asserted that he stood by helplessly, witnessing the brutal act, fearing that intervention would make him the next victim. After the grim deed was done, Arcine callously robbed Feigel, taking a paltry sum of twenty-five cents and stealing his boots. He then boasted about stealing the boots from a dead man. Feigel’s body was discovered in the brush the following day, a stark testament to the brutality of the crime.
The discovery of Feigel’s body triggered an investigation, and suspicion quickly fell upon James Arcine and William Parchmeal. However, despite the strong suspicion, no arrests were made at the time. The investigation stalled, and the case remained dormant for thirteen long years. The lack of immediate justice underscores the challenges of law enforcement in the complex and often lawless environment of the American West. The vast distances, jurisdictional ambiguities, and cultural complexities often hindered investigations and allowed criminals to evade capture.
The case was far from closed, however. In 1884, U.S. Deputy Marshal Andrews reopened the investigation. His persistence and dedication led to the discovery of new evidence that firmly implicated Arcine and Parchmeal in Feigel’s murder. Armed with this new evidence, the Deputy Marshal finally brought the two men to justice. In 1885, thirteen years after the crime, Arcine and Parchmeal were arrested and transported to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to stand trial before Judge Isaac Parker, the infamous "Hanging Judge."
Upon his arrest, Arcine presented conflicting accounts of his age, perhaps in an attempt to mitigate his culpability. He initially claimed to be 33 years old, implying that he was 20 at the time of the murder. Later, however, he claimed to have been only ten years old when he killed Feigel, a transparent attempt to portray himself as a child incapable of fully understanding the consequences of his actions. This inconsistent testimony further damaged his credibility and highlighted his desperation to escape punishment.
In contrast to Arcine’s shifting stories, William Parchmeal offered a full confession. He not only admitted his involvement in the crime but also led U.S. Deputy Marshal Andrews to the exact location where the murder had occurred, providing crucial corroborating evidence. Parchmeal’s confession painted a damning picture of Arcine as the primary instigator and perpetrator of the crime.
Despite his attempts to portray himself as a youth, Arcine’s efforts to secure leniency proved futile. His appeal for clemency, made directly to President Chester Arthur, was denied. The evidence against him was overwhelming, and the gravity of his crime demanded justice.
On June 26, 1885, James Arcine and William Parchmeal faced their final reckoning. Housed in the Fort Smith jail, they spent their last hours in prayer and song, chanting in the Cherokee language. This act of spiritual solace suggests a moment of remorse and perhaps a desire for forgiveness before facing their fate. They were led from their cells to the gallows, where they were executed for their crime. Their hanging marked the end of a long and arduous journey through the justice system, a journey that began with a brutal act of violence on a lonely road in Indian Territory.
The story of James Arcine serves as a grim reminder of the harsh realities of life on the American frontier. It highlights the challenges of law enforcement, the complexities of inter-cultural relations, and the enduring consequences of violence. While the specific motivations behind Arcine’s crime remain shrouded in mystery, the legacy of his actions continues to echo through the annals of history, a cautionary tale of a man whose life was irrevocably defined by a single, fateful decision.
The narrative of James Arcine, the Cherokee murderer, is a stark testament to the turbulent times of the American West, a period characterized by rapid expansion, cultural clashes, and the often-brutal pursuit of justice.