These legal documents, filed from 1858 to 1859, relate to the case of the United States vs. John J. Baxter for selling liquor to Indians. Baxter was accused of selling whiskey to members of the Cherokee tribe between June and October of 1857 in McGee County, Kansas Territory. Baxter was indicted in October of 1858 by the U. S. District Court for the Kansas Territory, Third District. The majority of the Cherokee Nation was forcibly relocated to Oklahoma from 1838-1839, resulting in thousands of deaths. They were given 800,000 acres in the southeast corner of Kansas, but few Cherokee settled there. Pages 20 and 21 list Thomas Baxter as defendant. Thomas is included on several subpoenas ordering him to testify in the case of John J. Baxter. Documents additionally list T. R. Roberts as a defendant along with J. J. Baxter for Baxter's forfeigted recognizance, or bail. (See item 444760 for related documents)
Kansas Memory
Kansas Historical Society
United States versus John J. Baxter for selling liquor to Indians - 8