Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-03-16
JACK LOYAL.
ONE OF THE INDIAN PRISONERS
MURDERED!

Last sunday morning, when the
Sheriff opened the Jail door, to look
after the Indians confined there for
murder, one Of them was found dead.
He had been beaten to death with a
club, by his fellow-prisoner, and pre-.
sen.ed horrid spectacle. On Tues.
day, we visited the Jail with a person
who could converse somewhat in III.
Winnebago language. Our friend in.
quired about the particulars Of the
murder. He appeared to make no eff.
fort at concealment; but said that Hau.
kau-kau was great liar; had talked
very saucy to him; had accused him of
drinking gaeat deal Of whiskey, kill
ing many white men, sc. They were
sitting on the floor by the stove at the
time. He siezsd stick Of wood and
killed him. Such was the amount of
his story. He laid the body out on
the back, and spread his blanket over
it; in which situation it was found 10
the morning.
The story Of these Indians is a sad
one-and the conduct Of the whites, as
connected with that story-does il
tighten or darken the shade? First
In defiance of the laws Of God and
man, couple of men establish them
selves near the Indians, for The pur-
pose Of selling them aOhisky-a pois-
on, and the vendors knew i, TO be
poison. These white men knew tina,
in doing this they were perpeirating a
grievous wrong, for which, to human
view, there was no excuse. We leave
them TO answer for it at the bar Of God.
Second--The Indians purchase and
the two white men and
a child, commit other enormities, burn
the dwelling, and retreat. They were
gully Of murder. For doing this they
had no reason, excuse or apology. A
due regard for the safety of society
compels justice 10 draw this line. The
Indian knew when he purchased the
liquor, what the effect would be, if
drank, as well as did the man who SOLD
j. to him. He knewit was a poison,
the taking of which might lead him
10 shed the blood Of his brother. When
he lifted the cup TO his lips, he nigh,
have said, by this sign-I commit
murder The wrong doing Of the
white man did OF nike the act ofihs
Indian right.
Third-The three Indians are tried
by the laws ofthe land, and convicted
and Standardization reprieved, again
and again;-then a writ Of error is
granted by the Supreme Court;-ons
Of the Indians is then set at liberty by
the Governor;-the Supreme Court
reviews the case in January, 1874, and
afirms the decision Of the District
Court, and says, in effect, that the In
dians were guilty wreiches, and OF
right, ought TO be hung, "on the l2th
Of September, ls43," some four
months before! Then the Governor
sends the uncommon request 10 them,
TO choose whether they would be hung
according to sentence, LAST SOFTEN
Der, or be sent 10 the Penitentisry
during life! Now, we do not know
how it might be with an Indian, but
most white men would have less fear
of, and greatly prefer tina past hanging
10 the future imprisonment. This
matter is so ridiculous, and at the same
time so serious, that one is at loss TO
know, in treating Of il, where is The
line ofpropriety. Before the Govern
or's proposition is made known 10
them, the stronger Ladian murders
the ,ceaker an has ceHt What will be
the next incident in this horrid trag-
edy:
We would ask orr Supreme Court
Of Justice, and our Governor also, oil
what are lG'Cs, without penaifies' snc
Of what use are penalties unless those
penalties are enforced !? II our laws
are merely good adrice, perhaps the
course pursued in this matter IS the
best one 10 impress the fact on ihe
minds of the People; but, il they are
what they purportto be-LAws-harc-
ly better plan could have been deyis-
cd 10 lower their dignity and hr'ng
them into observation-disclosures lows
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