Litchfield enquirer., 1872-05-02
THE CHERoKEE TRAGEDY.
 The other slda of the Story.

a
 The accounts published in the eastern papers of the terrible tragedy at Chero- kee courthouse which resulted in the kill ing of eleven persons, and the wounding of several more, throw the whole blame ot the affair on the Indians. Among our ex- changes is the Cherokee Advocate, a pa per published at Tahlequah, Indian Ter ritory, by William Penn Boudinot, oldest son of the Rev. MT. Boudinot who was educated at Cornwall, and married a Miss Gold, of that place. The editor of the Advocate, who is also lawyer, had busi- ness before the court, and arrived there just after the murderous afray. Besides his own report he gives the official report of the sheriff who had Proctor in cust.oodv. and the copy of the court proceedings in the case of Proctor. These documents charge the whole blame of the affray upon the lswless conduct of the party who ac- companied the U. 8. Marshal. The fol, lowing, is in substance. the Cherokee yer sion of the affair:
 A Cherokee named Proctor was accused of numbering Polly Chesterson at place in the Indian Territory near the Arkansas line. He was arrested and held for trial by the Indian authorities. A warrant had also been issued for the arrest of Proctor by the U. s. District court out side the Territory, and an U. s. Deputy MarshaH the pvrsun uf PrUvtor. The Indian sheriff refused to give him up but held him for trial before the Indian court. The U. s. Marshal threatened seizing Proctor by force, but took no step towards doing so, till the very day he was put on trial before Special Circuit Court, in the Indian Territory. On their way to the place of trial the U, s. Marshal and posse were joined by some of the Indians specially interested in Proctors prosecu- tion. One of these, named Slut. Becke, was the first to enter the courtroom where the trial was proceeding. No demand was made for the prisoner, but Becke told the Indian sheriff to stand out of the way, and presented double barrel shot gun at the prisoner calling him "d-d coward" The muzzle of the gun was so near Proc tor that he struck it down quickly just as it was discharged, but received ball in the leg below the knee. The prisoners guard were all armed and the firing at once became general. The presiding judge received a ball in the wrist, the prisoners counsel was shot dead, and one of the jury was shot through the shoulder. The assailants were soon driven out of the courtroom, however, and after a sharp fight of ten or fifteen minutes outside, were put to flight altogether. The Indi- ans claim that at no time was any demand made for the prisoner, no warrant shown, or the least indication given that the as- sauiting party were acting under any le gal authority. Tine Indian sheriff states that Dep. Marshal Owens, who was nor tally wounded and has since died, declar- ed that he attempted in vain to restrain those who were with him, "and that the arbitrary proeeediag of interrupting the Court then sitting, i,a the manner in aUhich tt tOas done, scas in direet disobedience of his orders" On the day after the af- fray the Indian Court proceeded with the trial of Proctor and the jury found him not guilty. la-a a5a.s.sIa.es
 We judge from comparison of both reports that the U. s. officers intended waiting for the conclusion of the trial of the prisoner before attempting his arrest, but that the enemies of Proctor, who joined the posse on their way to the court, did so with the intention of murdering Proctor under the pretence of assisting in his ar- rest. They. were in too great a hurry too do this to wait for any legal forms, or for the conclusion of the trial, and going into the courtroom in advance of the U. s. Marshals commenced the fight which re- suited in the death of eleven persons and the wounding of ten more, one of them mortally. -..-.