The Tobler brothers murdered Frank Cass and A.P. Goodykoontz near the Sac & Fox Agency in the Indian Territory in 1885. They were quickly arrested, convicted, and sentenced to death.

*Atchison Daily Globe, Atchison, Kansas, November 22, 1888
Murder Avenged
Joe and Jake Tobler Hanged At Wichita, Kan., For Double Murder
They Put On A Forced Appearance Of Bravado and Ridicule Offers of Religion
They Take Plenty Of Stimulants, However - Their Bodies Go To The Wichita Medical Society
Wichita, Kan., Nov. 22 - Jake and Joe Tobler, two colored men twenty-three and twenty-one years old respectively, were hanged yesterday morning at the county jail for the murder of James[sic] Cass and John[sic] Goodykoontz three years ago in the Indian Territory. When asked upon the scaffold if they had any thing to say each responded quickly “No,” and the drop fell at 10:25. They were pronounced dead in less than four minutes.
The execution was set to come off between nine and twelve o’clock and even before the earlier hour parties accompanied with the necessary credentials were touching the electric bell lightly at the jail entrance. By nine o’clock most of those who expected to witness the horrible sight were present. The crowd numbered eighty-four consisting of deputy marshals, doctors in the interest of science, newspaper representatives, the weekly editors as well as alleged correspondents. To these must be added Rev. Gates of the First M.F. Church, Mr. and Mrs. Cole and Mr. Harper, a ministerial student. The people moved around the jail in a quiet manner talking in a low tone. There were great fears that the condemned would break down and make the sight more sickening. There was considerable inquiry as to how they had spent the night and the jailer answered that they had been rather nervous, scarcely sleeping an hour, and that after 3:30 in the morning. They took spirits, but it was not hard to discover that their merriment was made with no little exertion. Shortly after nine o’clock Mr. and Mrs. Cole and Mr. Harper gained admittance to the prisoners’ cell. They sand a number of religious hymns and offered prayer. This at first seemed to be a little amusing to the prisoners, but they soon put on a sober face. For a moment at the close they seemed much concerned, but that species of sadness was soon brushed away. Again they were joking each other about their bravery, each wanting to bet that the other would make a “fool” of himself.
They lighted cigars and walked nervously about the cell and called for stimulants and it was given and soon after they were asked if they wanted to see the other prisoners. They replied affirmatively and were soon in charge of Sheriff Hays and Deputy Metcalf and went into another department to say good-bye to the boys. As they passed by the cells they were met with ready hands that trembled for the moment more than theirs. It was “How are you, Joe and Jake; do you think you can stand it?” The answer was usually “Yes, O Yes, we ain’t scared.” Having seen all they were taken to their cells. The moments went slowly by - minutes seemed hours - and at times a breathless silence prevailed.
Charles Howard, of Topeka, had charge of the execution. He was assisted by Joe McClellan, sheriff of Kingman county; W.A. Jarrett, Caldwell; Jack Stillwell, of the Indian Territory; Deputy Metcalf and Henry Dillard, of Topeka. The death trap seemed the central figure to gaze upon. It was in the main corridor, was said to be after an improved plan and warranted to do its work well. It rested upon the gallery running around the corridor twelve feet above the floor. The trap separated in the center by means of a toggle joint which could be sprung easily by a lever.
At 10:18 Deputy Howard beckoned for the jailer to open the door, leading to the cell of the doomed men. This was sufficient evidence that the final moment was near at hand. He was accompanied by Jarrett and McClellan. The prisoners were released from the cell which had been their home for over three years and stepped into the hall.
They were informed by Howard that the hour of execution was at hand and as an officer it became his painful duty to read the death warrant and see that they be executed according to law. This statement was answered by a light smile that seemed to be manufactured with great difficulty. As the officer read the warrant Jake drooped his head and fanned himself with his hat. Joe turned his face up and with a cynical expression his eyes seemed to be wandering about the heavy irons of the jail. As the deputy read, “And you shall be hanged by the neck until dead,” his voice faltered. The deputies seemed more touched then than at any other time, while the prisoners seemed to view the situation more seriously than ever before in the presence of any one.
The reading they finished they were given a stimulant and started for the scaffold.
They were joined at the door by Mrs. Cole and husband and Mr. Harper, who led up the stairway to the gallery of the corridor and to the scaffold. They were followed by Dillard and Howard Metcalf, then the prisoners, then Stillwell and McClellan. The doomed men had a firm step and a glance would be unable to detect any recollections of mental agitation. A closer observation, however, revealed a mighty conflict in the hope of presenting a bold appearance. Reaching the scaffold the prisoners and deputies stepped upon the trap.
Their arms had not been sufficiently tied and the work was completed, and as Stillwell was pinioning Joe’s legs, he hastily drew up one foot and tried to reach it with his hands, forgetting for a moment they would never again obey his wishes. He did not speak, but the deputy understood what it meant, and in a moment had the shoes off. This caused Jake to think of making similar preparations, and he rested against the iron railing while Metcalf relived him of his boots. So much by way of the superstition that it is a dishonor to die with one’s boots on and means bad luck for the next world. Again they are standing over the center of the trap-door and the deputies commence to pinion their legs. At this moment Mrs. Cole announced prayer in behalf of the souls so near eternity. Hats were removed and many pale faces could be seen at that moment. She prayed in a most fervent manner. Jake seemed little concerned over the situation and looked as stolid, impudent and daring as ever. Joe’s eyes became moist, his lips trembled and he showed evidence of weakening. He seemed to fear a breakdown, and looked back at Stillwell, who advanced, and was told to “stop that woman.” The deputy whispered the same to the lady, who conveyed the desires of the prisoner to her husband, and a minute later and she had closed. Deputy Howard said: “Now, boys, if you have anything to say you can do so now.” The answer came first from Jake, in a gruff and positive manner, “No.” This was followed by Joe, who, in a more subdued tone, replied, “No.” The deputies drew from their pockets the black caps. As they were being put on Joe, in a low tone, said “Good-bye.” They were soon adjusted and the nooses were next. The trembling hands of the deputies soon had them in place.
The prisoners again simultaneously said “Good-bye” and worked their hands as though they wanted some one to clasp them. The deputies shook them by the hands and stepped back, Stillwell to the lever and McClellan with his hand on the key. They were beckoned by Howard to go ahead. A number of the spectators turned their heads and could not witness the drop.
The key was removed and the trap sprung at 10:25. The drop was four and one-half feet. Jake never moved a muscle, being dead from the moment of the drop. Joe at the end of fifty seconds drew his shoulders slightly forward. His pulse was 81 at the end of the first minute, whole that of Jake was 88. During the second minute Joe drew up his legs twice. At the close of the second minute the pulse of Joe was 92; of Jake 91; third minute, pulse of Joe, 110; Jake, 117; fourth minute, Joe 122, and light; Jake 123, and very feeble. At the end of the fifth minute their pulses were too weak to be counted, and at the end of the sixth minute County Physician Rentz pronounced them dead. They were allowed to hang fifteen minutes. Few of the spectators left before they were cut down and placed in their coffins. At the undertaker’s they were viewed by hundreds of people. The bodies were turned over to the Wichita Medical Society.

Hi Diron

Thanks for posting this interesting article. People back then certainly had a morbid fascination with the minute details of execution. One thing I've always wondered about. If the hangman calculates too long a drop, the likely result is that the prisoner will have his head torn off. Witness what happened to "Black Jack" Ketchum. But if the drop is too short the prisoner will slowly strangle to death. I've read accounts where it took nearly an hour for death to occur in some hangings. Why didn't some law enforcement officer present at such a botched hanging simply shoot the dangling felon and put him out of his misery? This would seem to be the charitable thing to do.

--meursault, who assumes Diron got the letter he sent.

Is the Jack Stillwell the scout and Indian fighter Jack Stillwell of Beecher's Island? Thanks, Roger

Regarding the misery situation where a hanging victim was not immediately killed by a snapped neck, I have seen first-hand accounts (can't recall where) that on occasion, law enforcement officers had offered to put the victim out of his misery, but was halted by the executioner as the death warrant was very specific that the person was to be executed by hanging and not by any other means.

The Jack Stillwell[sic] referred to in the above article is indeed the famed Simpson Everett "Jack" Stilwell of Beecher Island fame. In the mid-1870s, he held a deputy U.S. marshal commission out of Fort Smith, Arkansas and then, in the mid-1880s, he was holding a commission out of the District of Kansas after the federal jurisdictional lines had changed in the Territory. Oklahombres Inc. President Roy Young has done extensive research on Jack Stilwell and his more notorious brother, Frank, who was killed in Arizona by the Earp faction.