, 1870-07-12
AN APPROACHING CURIOUS
TRIAL
The Murder OF q British officer ON
the missouri In lS17-Ecnsa nism
Satd 10 be at the Root OF II.

8he HtKsouEt In lS07-EcMsAn ninm
satd TO be at the Root OF It,
si0uz City tfOsa}. Jans e. corre.p0nd<nss Of Tx
| Ns1c IoTE Times
In the early part Of the summer of 1867 the
steamer Octayia was making u trip from st.
Louis, No., to Fort Benton, Montana Terri
tory, under charge Of her owner, Captain John
L. Barge, now Of the steamer Emilio La
Barge. Captain speare, an officer Of the
destined foT Fort Benton, from Nv Which, 1 pisee pss'
he contemplated making an extensive
tour through the mountain regions.
Captain Speare had seen hard service In
1ndia and in the CHmean war, and WAS
On leave Of absence, taking tho tour for the
benefit OF his health. He was suffering from
wounds received in active service, and tho
journey had had marked effect upon his
general health. The pure air ard tie noyel
scenes Of the Wild country in the northern
portions Of the United States through which the
Missouri River runs had tended to e1hilarate
him, and health md sigor were fast returning.
He is spoken OF Us having been very
courteous, affablo gentleman, and was ap-
parently very much liked by all Of hin fellow
patEengeIs. Possessed OF ample means, he
the e1pen.Ae Of the projected tour.
o.. the boat WAS detachment OF rec1uits
lor tno United States army in command OF an
officer: One night, after the boat had paused
70 Eort Baford and WIS nearing Camp Cooks
| -~-~ S0-~ "eo S@GA OP HS q p11Ce HQGT6 [QefG
vas reason to apprehend an Indian attack.
toho vas tied mp to the bank because il is in
possible for boats to run by night On the Mis-
souH. In consequence Of the apprehcnsions
o. az assault sentinel was stationed at the
stern OF the boat with instructions to halt any
BODY OF men approaching tho boat on the
| shorc, and to fire il they refused to
halt ut tho third challenge. This mans
post was ncaE the texas Of the boat-th.t is,
! smaller cabin above the main cabin, Sey.
| nfAl OfticnfH rf fHh hort hal md iut. thn;~
state-rooms in the texas, and Lad retired for
tho night. Captain Speare and Mr, Joseph
| La Barge, one OF the pilots OF tho boat, came
up last. Capt: speaEe WaA passing to his state
moment to close the batch over the stairs
leading to the texae, noticed the sentinel awav
from his post, leaning against corner OF the
texas. AZ Captain Spaare was in tho act OF
stepping into his room, tho sentinel stopped
quickly forward, and, without challenging or
tain srea1e instautly. The soldier was AZ
rested and tried on the boat, before a drum
head court~ma1tia1 for the offence, but, owing
to somo technicality, was acquitted and
restored to duty. On the trial, the o0lcers Of
the boat, who we're in their rooms in the texas,
and All. Joseph La Barge, the pilot, testified
that they hoard no challenge But General
6ol. Meredith, Of Indiana, who, with Governor
Green Clay Smith, o. Aoutana, VAS passen-
ger on the boat, and who was in tho main cabin
N,t,t,re1- -et1 T. uss ~ ntaII y enauenee'
d;as.t;ut;ag 4E ~ taenus t q tne deceased we're
..e throu,, mitth H. ~ q !ne t1a and they
ton ohts;nsd ~ - nav tq;.i tth;ai, :. " asning-
t;tna nnfora tna c;s;i oa. Enih T. u a 70 ne tMs
Scntenlar feCo t1,a so1i1;o. - ~ ~ ny 1ny ~
T,T1v ~ Con,usn, , ~ T1sn,;a.4, plna,e william
d-1rara1 ~ Eprt nnfor1 1Jen.n s,sa tmnlais, ~ was
~. $500 - ~ u:.ou, "uelo w company
Ma,.h.1 "a a. a!ie 1she, 20 me onteo States
TanItan' nv mat no naH oeen IN connnement at
tL;.I III IaA9eA ieInos9, ever slnce. ats
ia4a ~. ~ ras Fluffy .aKs pace AZ yelmhlon, Ia.
Tou TH iS,,,;.;', y w untea STATES District
Ioan. me bfltish Goyernment, actqsted BY
the zeMons regard 1or the persona! rights Of
us citizens Ihlch has always characterized it,
naH aas1gned couhse! In alu pt the prosecution.
dehe1al Mefeuitb, captain Ia Barge and 9TH
efs coenHant OF the facts have been sun-
mqned. ---..--
Dark as this mysterious affair appears even
At superficial rleT, there are circumstances
conneeted H1th II which lend to it trsgic in
teteat, anu make It appear still more dark. It
IL confidently expected By many that the ap-
p1oa3S;ntne tlA VIII pc ene OCCASION OF tho nn.
Iassnng oI gFeat mystery It is asserted
that II VII ne then proved that BaIIy, in firing
as nc ha, N1fhont challenge, Was acting under
orders OF the officer commanding the detach-
Z CA4AA IlQEAF4llEB. 1QQ8 lxSl&f statement