Outlaw, Desperado. The Buck Gang rose to prominence in July of 1895. Named for their leader, Rufus Buck, the gang had five members. Sam Sampson and Maoma July were both Creek Indians. The brothers Lewis and Lucky Davis were Creek freedmen. All of them had been apprehended on minor offenses and served time in the Fort Smith jail prior to their crime spree that summer. It started on July 28, 1895, when they shot and killed Deputy Marshal John Garrett near Okmulgee. On their way from that murder, they abducted and raped a Mrs. Wilson. They killed Gus Chambers when he resisted the gang's theft of his horses. They then robbed a stockman, taking his clothing and boots and fired at him as he fled. Days later the gang raped Rosetta Hansen while they held her husband at bay. The gang was finally apprehended, brought to Fort Smith and convicted in a rape trial. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court which upheld the verdict, and the gang was to die together on July 1, 1896. The only known picture of the young gang at right is of the Rufus Buck Gang, left to right in the picture at the right are Maoma July, Sam Sampson, Rufus Buck, Luckey Davis and Lewis Davis. The execution proceeded at one o'clock with little incident. The Buck Gang were the only men to die on the gallows in Fort Smith for rape.
Outlaw, Desperado. The Buck Gang rose to prominence in July of 1895. Named for their leader, Rufus Buck, the gang had five members. Sam Sampson and Maoma July were both Creek Indians. The brothers Lewis and Lucky Davis were Creek freedmen. All of them had been apprehended on minor offenses and served time in the Fort Smith jail prior to their crime spree that summer. It started on July 28, 1895, when they shot and killed Deputy Marshal John Garrett near Okmulgee. On their way from that murder, they abducted and raped a Mrs. Wilson. They killed Gus Chambers when he resisted the gang's theft of his horses. They then robbed a stockman, taking his clothing and boots and fired at him as he fled. Days later the gang raped Rosetta Hansen while they held her husband at bay. The gang was finally apprehended, brought to Fort Smith and convicted in a rape trial. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court which upheld the verdict, and the gang was to die together on July 1, 1896. The only known picture of the young gang at right is of the Rufus Buck Gang, left to right in the picture at the right are Maoma July, Sam Sampson, Rufus Buck, Luckey Davis and Lewis Davis. The execution proceeded at one o'clock with little incident. The Buck Gang were the only men to die on the gallows in Fort Smith for rape.
Bio by: Shock
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