I have been doing research on James Hazel and Jacob (given name: Joshua) Irwin, two men born in Texas bet 1848-1853, who were killed in the Choctaw Nation in September 1879.

James Hazel was a mixed blood member of the Choctaw tribe. I don't know that Irwin had any tribal affiliation, but his sister was apparently married to Hazel's brother.

Newspaper articles distributed by wire services (and available online) say the two men were apparent victims of a vigilante group acting against men suspected of larceny.

I have yet to find any other references to larceny where Hazel and Irwin are concerned, but I have found them both on trial for murder in Fort Smith (Irwin in 1871 and Hazel in 1874).

I've also found an earlier newspaper item referring to a murder attributed to James Hazel in Fayette County, TX in 1867. Since this is where he grew up, I believe it refers to him.

In fact, according to a copy of a letter recounting a family member's description of Hazel and the events surrounding his murder, he is said to have told a cousin he'd killed "about 40 men."

So far, then, I've found two.

I would think if he'd killed 40, he would have a John Wesley Hardin sort of reputation. And frankly, no one seems to have heard of him.

So I'm trying to determine the likelihood that these 40 are either a gross exaggeration or part of possible military service (though I have found no evidence thereof).

In any event, I would like to learn more about his "career" as a gunman and also that of Joshua Irwin (he was called Jacob in the wire services, but his name actually appears to have been Joshua).

I have a copy of the case file in the jacket of the 1874 murder trial at Fort Smith (Hazel was acquitted -- lack of jurisdiction; he was also tried and acquitted in Choctaw Court in Blue County, though I could not determine the reason for acquittal there as if it was given, it was written in Choctaw). I am in the process of ordering the Irwin case record.

I wonder if anyone who has done more research on Indian Territory outlaws might have run across either Hazel or Irwin in their research or might suggest possible repositories as being good places to look for more references to these two men.

Would individual county records or Choctaw tribal records be a good place to start or am I overlooking something I should be examining?

I would be very grateful for any advice as I'm just beginning to learn my way around criminal court records. Thanks.