The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-06-18
THE WINNEBAGO INDIANS.


10 the Editor CT the HERALD:
Having just returned from the
the Winnebago Agency, deem it
proper to give some information to
the public concerning Eve mem
bers Of that tribe, now In prison
under charge OF murder:
On the evening of the 10Th ult.,
two citizens from Cunning county
arrived at the Agency and reported
that Oscar p. Munson had been
murdered on the 10Th of last
month, in Wayne county, just be,
yond the boundary Of the reser-
/ yation. The citizens of Wayne
and Cunning counties suspected
that the murder had been commit
ted by Wennebagoes. The next
MOI ming after we received this in
formation, the chiefs and many OF
/ the tribe assembled, and the po-
lice brought forward five young
men who were suspected of hav
ing committed the dead. We pass
ed some hours in examining wit
| nessess, some Of whom were Ind
ians, but could obtain no testimony
that we thought would warrant us
in sending them to Jail. On the
! following morning, we received
further information which led US
to believe that important testimo-
ney could be had, by sending for
| the herders some miles away, who
| had charge Of the cattle belonging
TO the Agency. A messenger was
sent for them, and at the same
time the five young men under
| suspicion were again sent for
They came; accompanied by the
chiefs and their friends, making
no attempt to escape.
After examining the herders
and some other witnesses, each
separately and apart from the 9th
ers, we learned that the five young
men accused had been seen on the
18th of last month at Logan Creek,
about 6 or miles from the place
| where the murder was committed,
and again the next evening on
| their way home, about s or 3 miles
from the Agency. On considering
all the testlmoney obtained, we
came 10 the conclusion that It was
| sufficient for committing them for
! tuther examination by Judicial au-
| thority- l directed that they
should be put into the log Jail at
| the agency, and a guard OF police
| men should be stationed the: e.
No attempt was made to rescue
them, and few days afterwards,
the Sheriff of Cummings county
came with proper authority to de-
mand them. Agent White went
with them. accompanied by the
| SherlE and others to West Point,
where they were carefully examin-
ed by Probate Judge, and COM
mi,ted for trial ] understand that
| they are to be kept in Jail at Ere
mont until the time of trial. A
la ge proportion OF the Winnebago
tribe are deeply grieved that such
g charge should rest upon any of
their members, and perfectly will
ing they should be punished ac-
cording to law If founi guilty.
/ OF SOAClAIAS a'-NsS Al oh.y ~ WV
! young mep Of the tribe have been
| dissatisfied with their chiefs. who
| opposed their efforts to become
| civilized, and have adhered to
their old supersti;ious, ana manner
Of living
A paper asking permission for
the formation of q civilized band,
was gotten up by the young lien
and signed by go persons. being
large proportion of the mail
adults in the tribe This paper
being presented to me, called for
O. meeting Of the signers and ask
ed them to express freely what
measures ought to be adopted in
the present crisis OF their affairs
/ They spoke of their desire to live
| and dress like white men, their
disposition to work for living,
and there earnest wish is that the
| Chiefs should all be removed from
Office becslse. they stood in the
way of impro. emeRts and ciyiliz-
| alton
! The resolutions which follow
were then adopted by them, and
the names Of $50 were signed by
their request.
| We will do all in our power TO
support the laws for prevention
| and punish meat of crime, and to
| deliver up those who steal or muir
der, Oc commit sEy other crime.
! Nv e will SO far 81 We are able
| dress like white people.
we will work ind0striouslv in
tilling our land, and in cutting
and hauling timber, TO build our
| houses.
we will consider the attendance
Of scalp dance punishable Of
fence. and will report to the agent
those who are engaged in it.
We request the Superintendent
| and Agent to appoints new set of
| Chiefs, because those now in Office
will no promote our civilization.
The Superintendent and Agent
are fully satisfied that the chiefs
| ought to be removed. in order that
| good conduct may be observed
and crime prevented or punished
There are good and true men in
the tribe, and the Agent is now
engaged in making a selection of
them for chiefs am policemen.
| Every effort " be made to
/ promote among TIA, - 3 peaceable
/ demeanor, with honest and indus.