Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-24
VOL. XVI


Paul Pioneer, Of the trial Of those Indians
who had been arrested for having partici-
pated in the murderous attacks upon the
whites. Four hundred and nincty-eight
cases have been disposed Of, as many as
forty cases having sometimesIbeen attend
ed to in a day.
The prisoners were brought in, chained
together by the feet, in pairs, some cases
eight at a time, and the charges which were
preferred by General siblsy, read to them
through the interpreter, Antoine Premier,
and then, after being exhOrted to tell the
truth and not equivoeate, each was asked
as to the extent OF bis participation in the
Outrages, and, if necessary, Witnesses were
called against him. Then, if there was
any doubt as to his guilt, or as to his being
a willing participant in the outrages, he
was allowed to call Witnesses in his favor.
lAbout tFS-thirds Of the accused admit
ted that they fred at the whites, butinsist-
ed that no one was killed thereby. The
One-third who did not admit having fred
at all, presented a series of reasons for not
having done il, which would have done
ereditEtO crowd waiting to be exempted
from druft The old men had been too
weak to do any fighting the young men
had been too frightened Some had been
hiding; some eating, Oneslept through all
the atrocities, and some Of the hardest old
sinners had conscientious scruples because
they were members of the church
The atrocities which were proven on the
trial were almost too horrible for belief
Women had been brutally murdered, girls
had been outraged, and the most fendish
cruelty manifested in acts that would
shame the devil. Against one shrivelled
up old man, two boys testified. The re-
port says:
" The old wretch was made to stand up
looking cold and impossible, and as stolid
as a stone, the boys likewise standing op-
posite, gazing at each other for a moment,
when one Of the boys said al saw that
man shoot man while he was on his
knees at prayer" and the other boy said :
" l saw him shoot my mother"
"There was a subject for a painter The
beholders could scarcely keep their hands
from the throat Of the mummy.
"All ages have been represented, from
boyish fifteen up 10 old men, scarcely able
to walk or speak, who were " fifty years
old, to use theeIpression Of one, "a long
time ago, and then they stopped counting"
Two Of these old gentlemen were once
brought in together, who were direct op-
posites in physiognomy-the face of one
running all to nose, which terminated
sharply giving him the pointed expression,
while that Of the other was perfectly fat
and about two feet broad, and fully illus
trated what always considered as IA
ble,) the fact Of persons being in existence
who eouldn't open and shut their eyes and
mouths at the same moment. This speci-
men was apparently asleep the whole time
with his lower jaw down, and as closed
eyes was his normal condition, he had to
be punched up every two minutes, when
the president Of the commission was inter-
rogating him, as he wished to look in his
eyes, SO that his rat trap was kept in con-
tinual motion, eyes and mouth alternately
opening and shutting with jerk.
Another Weazen-faced, shaggy haired,
lank specimen Of many winters, with green
goggles looked more like the devil than
anything human; should have run from
him in the night had he been a "good In
dian" in times Of peace, in a reasonable
probability that he was satsnic-horns and
a tail were all that were necessary to make
the personihcation.
But the greatest case of all was negro
who turned States evidence. he confess
ed to having been in the fight, but said he
was forced into it. BE had wonderful
memory and power Of observation, which
were made use Of by the court.
aNot the least thing had escaped his
eve or ear. Such an Indian had q double
barreled gun, another a single barreled,
another long one, another a short one,
another lance, and another one nothing
at all. One denied that he was at the fort.
Godfrey saw him there preparing his sons
for battle, and reeollected that he painted
the face Of one red and drew a streak Of
green over his eyes. Another denied that
he made q certain statement to Godfrey,
which he testified to. "What,p said God
frey, adon't you recollect you said it
when you had your hand upon my wag-
ON, with your foot resting on the wheel y
To another whom he charged with ad-
mitting that he had killed child by strik-
ing it with his war spear over the head, and
who denied It, he said: Don't you remem-
Der Of showing me the spear was broken,
and saying that you had broken it in
striking the child2" To another, he said
he had alame arm at New Ulm, and could
not fire gun, and who had such bad CUR
that he could not have fred if he desired,
he replied You say you could not fire
and had bad gun. Why don't you tell
the court the troudle7 ] saw you 60 Il
take the gun Of an Indian who was killed
and fire two shots and then you borrowed
mine, and shot with it; and then you made
me reload it, and then you fired again"
ATRoc1oUs.-A FayaI correspondent Of
the Gloucester Advertiser, who dates OF
board the United States gunbOat Kearsage
says:
1.-THE captain of one of the ships which
was OuEHSu Dy ln6 piEaUe AldDahh was OF
board Of our vessel to-day. He says mos
Of the vessels burned by the pirates were
Whalers. One Of them had been out near.
ly three years, and had full cargo of oil
There were upwards Of twelve ships burn,
ed; one Of them showed fight, and they
blowed her all to pieces-not soul va:
saved. Such wholesale piracy on the higf
seas is enough to make ones blood chill il
his veins. Our boysare highly indignant
Welong to get our clutches upon her, and
if We do pity them, for we shall not spare
them. We are bound to find her, and
can assure you we will give no quarter
overheard one Of the captains say that the
crew on board Of her are much dissatisfied
and it would not take much to make then
/ rnuiinvu y