The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-08-02 00:00:00

1 - CASE OP 111111 MER.,
IntoUtinnicer" Aweless Niter
arra. 461, of May Ill.]
•
The United States' Court for this District ad-
journed on Saturday afternoon last. On Priddy
morning commenced the trial of the United Stales
e. eke-we-chi-rah and Who.ran-jiii•koh. two
Indians of the Winebago tribe, on an indictment for
the murder of John Blottenburgh suit Clement
Autry Riggs, two soldiers of the United Stated,
stationed at Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, iu
the Mississippi.
The first witness introduced on the part of the
Government woes soldier, by the name of Jacob
Hough, wbo testified that, on the morning of the
21st of March, 1820, Blottenburgh and Riggs
went out of the fort for the purpose of procur-
ing timber for ramrods; that considerable alum
was excited by their non-appearance at the roll-
call at noon, and snuck more by their absence in
the evening. The witness, with Andrew Peeling.
another soldier, was sent out early next morning
in search of the missing soldiers. and having pro-
ceeded about three-fourths of a mile from the foe.,
found their bodies. They were shot, scalped.
and one of them (Blottenburgh) had been cat in
the left side with an axe.
To fix the guilt on the Prisoners an Indian of
the same tribe, named Je-ro-galsUres next called.
He stated, through Interpreters,: that he was
with the Prisoners near Fort Armstrong, when
two men were killed; that when they discovered
these soldiers they were about one-half or three-
fourths of a mile from the fort; that Che-ws-clia-
rah and Who-rsh-jin-kali crept up within eight or
ten yards, and tired ; they then ran up to the
soldiers, scalped, and, he believes, struck one of
.them with an axe.
The case was ably argued to the Jury by
• William L. D. Ewing, Esq. fur the Prisooere,
Colonel Leavenworth for the prosecution.
The Jury retired from the bar, and after an
absence of half au hour, returned with a verdict of
Guilty.
On Saturday the prisoners were brought to the
bar, and received the following sentence :—That
they should be closely and safely confined in some
prison in this district, until the 14th day of July
next ; on which day. between the hours of vine
o'clock, as, and six o'clock, p.m., they should be
taken to some place tor execution, and respectively
hung by the neck until they are dead.
These unfortunate Indians were brought down
from fort Armstrong, last fall. by Colonel Leaven-
worth, late commandant of that post, and deli-
vered to the civil authority at Edwardsville, and
from that place were transferred to the Belleville-
gaol. At that time they were hearty robust men ;
now they are scarcely able to stand or move. So
great was the difference in their present and former
appearance, that Colonel Leavenworth considered
it his duty to inquire into the cause. This was
dime in the presence of Henry Conner. Esq. Mar-
shal of this district, Major Biddle of the army,
and a number of the most respectable citizens of
the town.
Upon being interrogated, the Indiums complained
very witichnf their treatment while at Belleville;
they stated that, during the last inclement winter
they had no fire ; that no bedding of any descrip-
tion had been furnished them ; and that they hod
been compelled to lie upon the hard floor, with only
their blankets for a covering. According to thetr
account, they have generally received, fur their
daily allowance, only a small piece of corn bread,
Of the size of a small biscuit, and half that quail.
tity of meat; and at one time. for three days sad
nights, received neither food nor water. Do we
call ourselves a Christian nation ? Do we boast of
our humanity—oar justice ? Were these men in
the custody of American people and America..
laws ? If this is true, in what do we differ from
those of the Spanish Inquisition, or ourselves from
those nations which we are pleased to call barbar-
ous and uncivilized ? Should we be weighed in the
balance, we are fearful in this instance of our hu-
manity we should he found wanting.
For the honour of our country, for the honour
of human nature, we trust this statement is exag-
gerated ; and for the honour of St. Clair county,
we hope that sonic inquiry will made upon this
proceeding.
After Judge Pope had pronounced sentence
upon the prisoners, Cah-rah-mah•ree, an aged chief,
who with five of his tribe had attended the trial,
came forward, and addressed the Court in substauce
as follows:

" Father-1 came down from my nation to this
place, to attend the trial of Che-wa-cha-rah and
W ho-rah-j in- kah.
" You are an American, Father-1 claim to he an
American also. When 1 give my hand to you, 1
give it to our Great Father (the Prevident), and call
the Great Spirit to witness the sincerity of my de-
sire that peace may exist amongst us ; bat 1 have
trot the same potter in my nation As you, Father,
have over your children here (pointing to the mul-
titude), which causes me great sorrow. Wherever
Cali-rah-mah-ree is there shall always be a clear
sky, no clouds to disturb our peaty. When 1
came down here, I had hoped to find that Che-wa-
chs-rah and Who-rah-jin-kah had been better treat-
ed, but my heart is oppressed at the cruelty that
they have received. 1 did hope that pity would
have been found for them, and that mercy would
be *hewn them. But let peace be between us. 1
look up to our Great Father, as 1 do to the Great
Spirit, for protection.
"My father-1 carne here to see justice, but 1
find tione—Cah-rah-rnah-ree is honeat—he speaks
what he thinks—he shakes you for the last time by
the hand."

_ Last week, at Alresford fair, Lambs sold at
from 10s. to 18s ; Ewes. 225. to 255.; Wethers,
24.. to 30s.

At the annual fair at Broad Oak. on the Dicker,
Chiddingly, prices were full 30 per cent. under
those of last year; best two-tooth wethers fetched
only 435. ; lambs, 7s. 6J. to 14s.

COAL MARKET, AUGUST 1.
Ships at Market. Ships Sold. Pries.
6111 Newcastle
121 Sunderland
2 Yorkshire
1 Scotch coil , 1 *qv's', .—s. Od. to 365. 6d.