The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-11-27
Indian Exeeution-Eanging Of Jacob

--D From the Green Bay Advocate. .,-..
-Four miles from Green Bay, commences
the rdSefvatioti of the sOheida Indians
Within that reservation, no state or United
States laws have any force-the tribe pah>
l9hing offenders by the laws Of the Bible
Que month ago, one Jacob PoTless, aged
81, and formerly a member of Capt.
Meade company in the 32d tCol Iiowe's
reginlentt with malice and intent aiore
thought. In his own house, drew rife
aud shot Abraham ,Antone, formerly Of
the 81 cavalry killing him instantly-the
only witness TO the cruel deed nbeing Pow
less young wife He was, immediately
apprehen6ed, and a council summoned for
Lis trial, Jacob Doxtater, Sr., officiating as
judge. The Counsel for the prosecution"
were Chiefs Baptiste Doxtater aud John
Cotneiius; the counsel for the defense
consisted Of Henry Cooper, Peter Denny
and George Doxtater. Twelve of the
chiefs acted as jurymen. The principal
witness against Powless was his wife-the
rules oi.evidence in the Circuit Court of
Onedla' Offering no bar to wife appearing
against the husband. She told her story
In a straightforward manner, the CROSS
questioning failing to elicit anything that
would change it ia the slightest The the
DRY OF the defense was that OF -insanity-a
plea not altogether unknown IN y hite tens
pies OF Jnstlce-and as the prisoner had at
tempted the life of others previously, it
was not baG one that is, it tended TO
show kind of consistent insanity. He
was arraigned for wilfuRy violating one of
the ten commandments, fThou shalt not
kill, and after fair trial lasting one
week-atter eloquent speeches had been
made pro and c0n-he was found guilty
and sentenced to be hung Taken to this
city and placed in the county jail for safe
keeping, he remained here until Thursday
afternoon, Nov. 18th, when he was taken
t. the settlement" els sht miles from this
ety, the next day at 2 clock, being set for
his execution. -'''. IL q
At the hour appointed, pretty much all
the tribe, lnciu ing the women, assembled
on the crest of the hill, on the west side Of
the Episcopal cemetery at the foot Of which
tae swinging paraphernalia" was placed.
Ihe chiefs. with the exception of one or
two, were present, while one was mounted,
saemed'to take charge and give commands,
which commands were promptly attended
to. A hollow square was formed-s detail
of Oneidas, armed with guns and bayonets.
officiating as guards. AT one O clock on
Ftiday, the prisoner was brought down in
wagon to the scafold, dressed in white
Rev. Mr.. Goodenough, the Episcopal mis-
sionary there, aud then several came for
ward including the prisoners wife and
mother, to shake hands and say good bye
As be sat on his coffin in TIE wagon not
trace of fear-not an emotion was Exhibited
but there he sat, sustained 40 doubt with
that stoicism and seeming indifference, SO
common to the red man. Shortly after be
assembled the scafold-a construction sim
liar to that used In states where hanging
is permitted-and sat on = chair. looking
around him with the utmost composure
On expressing desire to see the inside ,f
has cotin, it was opened, when he eooiy
surveyed it, appearing perfectly satisfied
With its construction. He then arose and
81 Oke In his native tongue. the translation
of which Is as follows. Between each SEN
tence there was pause: -s
My friends, wish you w0ald e1l!uat
yourselves better than l havo. :..s-
Let whi>key alone
'1fyeu do, you won't be in my situation.
There Is Il rope around my neck.
Add 1t don look we'll.
~ on look better without it.
II ask my mother aG1 sisters not to shed
tear over me- -'5h-'+
II am prepared to die.
u ask my Heavenly Father to forgive
my bad deeds.
Il trust the Lord will forgive me.
Oncn ogWegon sCofegwa ncn,Ceratoa.
(Now, bid you good bye
His hands and feet we're then tied, and
he was told that be had but four minutes
more time left. Ie then, in \ low, gutter
al voice, repeated the Lords prayer in the
musical language Of the 0nerlaS. MI.
Goodnnugh commenced reading the ~.r-
vice, during which the prop vas knocked
ont and Jacob Powless was on the confines
of eternity. He struggled bat little, sl
thorgh it is probable his neck was not
broken. After hanging af.c-n minutes.
the body wa. cut down, placed ia the cof.
fin, and buried immediately in oorner o.
the cemetery.
The crowd, many of whom were from
Green Bay, Denere and other places, di.
persed, and stranger passing that wsy
haitian hour after would little suspect Of
the tragedy en,cted 80
As is generally known hanging |. pro-
hibited in Wisconsin, but our laws do not
cover Indian reservations. This i. the STE
ond case of hanging by the tribe, Pctor
Green hsyiDg been hung about twenty two
year. ago, there, for killing his children.
The same stolid, stoical, indifferent man
ner of Posless was shown by his relatives
and the whole tribe. His wife MAS within
ten feet of the galIows when he was launch
ed into the world beyond; not a tear
dlnned her eye-not usclc contracted
NOT shade OF sorrow rested apon her
fea ures-snd yet who csn say that the
pangs of grief Ecre not tuEsing st her
heart strings.
For the informstiol Of other than local
readers, nc will state that the tribe Of On
edas are all civilized-that is, they are di-
vided into membership between the Meth>
od;st and Episcopal churches. They have
their customs, their traditions, and N nannsc
their own matters entirely. In the whole
affair, none but Oucids. participated, from
the Judge, jury and counsel down Msny
Of their young men, hare been educated
ia the best colleges, and close observer
would hardly suspect that the Oneida.
eere once met1bcrs Of the war'lke confed
eracy known as the lroquoi.. Part Of the
tribe remain IN New York s ate. near tkc;r
long Council hou-e"-.hie the balance
remain here cul.ivating the soil, and turn