169 that he was successful in the last, killing the murderer of Stem & Lepperman and recovering all the stolen property. The mur- derers consisted of 3 Kickapoos (one a little boy) and were sur- prised in & at their homestead on the False Washita about 7 miles above Fort Arbucle. The kickapoos themselves executed the deed on this murderer in accordance with the decision of a secret consultation held with their Chief and the Officer present; the other murderer escaped but will be destroyed by the Kickapoos who were in hot pursuit. The boy is young and innocent but told all. I regard this one of the most important affairs ever happen- ing on the frontier and the result will be most beneficially felt hereafter. Personally you have been made acquainted with the extreme complexity of this murder & of the measures adopted by me which has brought it to a satisfactory result. To Lieut. Tree's exertions & the men under him I owe all of success in his last scout. All is perfectly quiet and I anticipate few if any more depre- dations about here for a long time. Yours in haste H. W. MERRILL Br Major Comg Maj R. S. Neighbors Indian Agent Texas
No. 127 LETTER FROM H. W. MERRILL TO ROBERT S. NEIGHBORS
Fort Belknap Texas March 30 54
Maj. R. S. Neighbors Dear Sir,
I send you the following extract from the Chickasaw Intelligencer of March 28th brought over by Lieut Tree. "The Brothers Wilson" we are requested by a correspondent at Fort Arbuckle to state, that Meredith the younger of the brothers Wilson is now with Capt. S. G. Simmons U. S. A. at that place, he was brought in by a Kickapoo by the name of N. John-
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