Ned Christie one of the Territory's most dangerous outlaws, who fought the United States marshals for years before he was slain. In one clash with Heck Thomas, Heck shot away the bridge of his nose and shot out of his left eye.
Ned Christie (1852–1892) was a prominent Cherokee statesman, blacksmith, and gunsmith elected to the Cherokee National Council in 1885. Wrongfully accused of killing U.S. Deputy Marshal Dan Maples in 1887, he became a legendary fugitive who resisted surrender, believing he would not receive justice in federal court. His five-year evasion—known as "Ned Christie's War"—ended when a U.S. marshal's posse used a cannon and dynamite to destroy his fortified home, killing him on November 3, 1892.
Key Facts and Background
Life and Career: Born December 14, 1852, in the Cherokee
Nation, Christie was a respected member of his community, serving as an advisor
to Chief Dennis Bushyhead.
The Accusation: After Deputy
Marshal Dan Maples was killed in 1887, suspicion fell on Christie, despite him
being elsewhere in Tahlequah. Evidence suggests another man was likely the
shooter.
Resistance: Christie maintained his innocence and
refused to surrender to U.S. authorities, leading to a long, violent conflict,
during which he was protected by local community members.
The Siege:
On November 3, 1892, a posse of 32 men, led by Marshal Jacob Yo, trapped him in
his home near Wauhillau. After cannon fire failed to destroy the cabin, they
used dynamite to set it on fire, shooting Christie as he emerged.
Legacy: 26 years after his death, witnesses identified someone else as
the murderer, vindicating Christie as a, sometimes, wrongly accused man who
fought for Cherokee sovereignty against federal overreach.