Moore was a 28-year old from Missouri who had, the previous year, stolen from cattle from a man in Arkansas. Chased by the man’s neighbors, he fled into Indian Territory. The search for him was joined by Captain Irwin, a former U.S. marshal, and John Spivey.
When the search party closed in on Moore, he opened fire, killing Spivey and wounding Irwin. Moore was captured and jailed in October 1874.
On trial before Judge Parker, he was convicted and sentenced to death. Along with five other men convicted of unrelated murders, James Moore was hanged on September 3, 1875.
The Federal Death Penalty Project 