Born into slavery in Georgia, William Finch was stationed at Fort Sill in 1882 as a U.S. Army tailor. When threatened with punishment for a minor offense, Finch fled to Texas. Captured there, he was returned to Fort Sill. En route, Finch killed two of his captors, Sergeant Johnson and Private Grimky, and fled back into Texas.
The third soldier in the arresting party survived and alerted authorities. Finch was arrested again in Texas.
Taken to Fort Smith, Finch was tried for murder in February 1883. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. William Finch was hanged on June 29, 1883.
The Federal Death Penalty Project 