The Van Buren press., 1873-07-29
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
Special Dispatch to the Republican,
THE MoDoC TRIALS.
SAN Francisco, July II

THE MoDoC TRIALS
SAN Francisco, July II,
The Military Commission appointed to
try Captain Jack and others concerned
in the murder of Gen. Candy and DR.
Thomas, the Peace Commissioners, have
concluded their labors. They met At
Fort Klamath on the 9th inst. and clos
the proceedings OH the 9th. The yer-
dict is believed to be that the accused
Indians are guilty Of the charges, altho'
nothing is known yet Of the decision of
the Commission. The main facts con
nected with the massacre are so well
known that no detailed account Of the
evidence is necessary. The Modocs ar
raigned were Captain Jack, Schonchin,
John, Boston Charley, Black jim, Sho-
lecks and Bonchew Whatever findings
may have been had in their case will be
sent immediately to Gen. Scofeld and to
Washington, and will not be given to
the public until action has been taken up.
them by these authorities. The witness
es for the prosecution were /, F. Riddle
the interpreter, and Mrs Riddle, his In
dian wife, Peace Commissioners Dyar
and Meacham, and the Modocs Shack
Nasty Jim, Steamboat Frank, Bogus
Charley, Hooka jim, and William. The
evidence showed that, from warnings
given bv Hooka Jim to Riddle previous
to the meeting. there was every reason
to believe that the Peace Commissioners
would be attacked. Riddle and Mrs
Riddle SO informed the Commissioners,
who, however, determined to proceed to
the place The Indians who were found
at the council tent were eight in number;
Capt Jack, Schenchin, John, Black jim,
Ellen's Man, Boston Charley, Bogus
Charley, Shack Nasty Jim, and Hooker
jim. Three other Indians, bearing guns,
came out Of the rocks shortly after the
firing commenced The evidence cstab-
lished thai after the delivery Of the
speeches by Capt Jack, Gen Candy, DR..
Thomas, and Mr. Meacham, and while
Schonchin WAS speaking, Captain Jack
cried, "IIetchetw call ready " and
fired at Candy. Ellen's Man also fired at
Candy. Schonchin shot at Moacham
Hooka Jim chased and shot at Dyar;
Boston Charley shot Dr. Thomas. The
parts played by the other accused lndi-
ans were not so prominent Sholocks
knocked Mrs. Riddle down and attempt
ed to take her horse, while Shack Nasty
Jim, Bonchew, and Ellen's Man, all
three of whom came out of the rocks,
chased Riddle. When Mrs Riddle was
struck Capt Jack order Sholoeks to let
her alone The evidence OF Shack Nasty
Jim and the other Modoc witnesses for
the prosecution who were present at the
massacre corroborated what had been
sworn to by Riddle and his wife, Dyar,
and Meacham. They further testified
that they had heard Captain Jack and
Schonchin talking over the matter some
ten DAYS before the massacre, and also
on the day previous to and on the morn
ing of the event They all admitted that
they knew Of the purpose to II the Com
missioners. AT the end of each wit
ness $ testimony the evidence was read
to the prisoners, who were asked II they
wished to ask any question, but they III
varably declined to say anything
The accused Indians had no counsel,
and seemed to rely entirely for justice
upon the Commission. Evidence Tor the
defence commenced on the third day,
when, at Capt. Jacks request, Dave,
Nose, and Scarfaced Charley were bro't
ia, iroued, to testify. Nothing OF any
immediate advantage 10 the prisoners
was developed by their testimony. which
was merely narrative Of the sayings and
doings of the klamath Indians IN con
ncction with the Modocs since the begin.
ming of the trouble The sum OF their
testimony was that the Modocs were in
cited to resistance by the Klamaths.
Dave and Nose, among other things,
swore that La Lakes, u klamath, told
them that the soldiers wantedto get Jack
out for the purpose Of making peace, and
that they would then burn him
Captain Jack made long speech IN
his own defence He said that before
the trouble he was living near ireka and
was good Indian" so known to all
the whites, lived like the whites, subsist
ed upon what he could kill and catch, and
never begged, He denied any response
bilitv for the war, and declared that he
always wanted to live at peace. he was
finally driven to the lava beds by the at
tacks made by the soldiers on his peo-
plc. While in the lava beds he still de
sired peace and, because he advocated 1t,
the other Indians would call him 'squaw
He also said tat he knew the whites would
hold him responsible for what was done,
as he was the chief.
The above contains the substance el
all the testimony, both for the prosecu
ton and for the defence, which was
fortbcoloinr during the trial.