Amos and Abler Manley were Creek Indian brothers who were implicated in the death of Eli McVay, a white man, near Eufaula, Indian Territory, in December 1880. The brothers knew McVay and were welcomed in when they stopped at his house, saying that they were looking for a place to rest while traveling.
While McVay slept, the Manley brothers shot and killed McVay. They also assaulted McVay’s hired hand, Bill Barnett. His wife ran and was able to avoid shots fired at her.
After a hung jury in their first trial, Amos and Abler Manley were tried a second time. Despite several alibi witnesses, the inculpatory testimony of McVay’s wife prevailed and the brothers were convicted and sentenced to death on June 16, 1881.
Amos and Abler Manley were hanged at Fort Smith on September 9, 1881. From the gallows, hey are reported to have confessed to killing McVay, though in self-defense.
The Federal Death Penalty Project 