Does anyone know if there were newspapers that would have information from Ft. Smith, AR in 1885? My Gr Grandmother Charlotte Birdsong lived in S.E. OK. She was a witness to the murder of her son by a US Marshal by the name of Grant Johnson. Charlotte was taken to Ft Smith to be a witness in the trial before Judge Parker but was murdered herself before she could testify. I found her listed in an old Funeral home book in Ft. Smith. Date of death was 2 March 1885 and buried the same day in Oak Grove Cemetery in Ft. Smith. Cause of death was listed by the US Marshal office as pneumonia. A US Marshal also paid for her burial but his name was not listed on the record and the family didn't have the option of taking her back home for burial. I would like to find a newspaper that might have an account of the trial so I can get more information on what really happened. Are there court records from Judge Parkers cases? Is there a record of people buried in Oak Grove Cemetery and is Charlotte Birdsong listed. It would be nice to know the location.
Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, Gloria