The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-06-13
THE MODOCS.
From General DaVis.sHiS
Purpose TO Hang the PrlsOneTs-sA
Rhetorical Indictment Of Jack.

ISt6temenI FROM GeueIdl DdFLSssu II u
Purpose TO Hang the PrisoneTs-s A
Rhetorical Indictment Of Jack.
San FRANCISCO, June 10. "A cour
martial convened at Boyles camp, Tult
Lake, Juno 9th, and tried six deserlers
A declsion will be rendered In few days
General Davis, In conversation with I
special correspondent Of the Bulletin oil
June 11th, gave the following statement
When l arrived on the field found thC
troopS engaged IN war with o band ol In
dian outlaws, murderers and wards ofthG
general government, who had revOlteG
sgainst the authority by fighting merci-
lessly, neither giving or expecting quar-
ter. then thought the cspHves taken in
the future should be executed on the spot
ss the surest and speediest method OF set
tllng tho Modoc problem. When captured
while fighting against the military forces
ol the United States and as cooperative
nation or tribe, was disposed to deal
with them accordingly. Since their cap
ture have ascertained that the authori-
ties Of Jackson county, Oregon, had found
indictments against certain members Of
the band; but have not deemed 1t pro-
per to turn them over 10 civil court be.
cause they were Waging war against the
government at the time the murders upon
which the indictments are bssedwere COM
mitted; also for the reason that after cap
ture they were the prisoners Of the gov
ernment, and not directly amCnnble 10 the
civil laws. During my command here l
have observed that citizens, when desir-
ing protection for personal property or ILL
Identification OF loss, invariably appeal 10
the authority Of the United States. But
now that the war Is over and the marGUd-
ers are csptivcs, both public and local
authorities want to take the punishment
of the offenders into their own hands.
The threats of the people and the recent
bloody act in this ueighborhOOd, when
four old, dcIencCless Caplives, en- route
from Fairchlld's ranch TO the camp, were
murdered by civilians, Indicate that a
trial by civil law would be II useless
farce. The people have a mind thst tue
prisoners are guilty. 1t Is suggested that
a military committee would be appointed
to try the criminals. II the idea was
carried out, the officers composing the
court should be ol high rank, and men
who have had no immediate connection
with the ModOc difficulty. Such q COM
mission would probably try each case
separately, require six months to perform
the work, TO say nothing Of the expense
involved In such proceedings, an immense
expense to the government Besides,
everybody, civil as well as military, knows
that the Indians Gre guilty Of murder
in the first degree and ought to hang. /
thought 10 avoid unnecessary expense,
farce Of trial, by doing the work myself.
Owing TO the dilatory manner in which
the Modocs were treated by those in
charge, in the beginning of these difficult
ties, tho Indians obtained fearful ad-
vantage over the United States, slaught-
cred so many people that the country
was aslonished, oven shocked, and now
fear they will get advantage in tho closing
scenes. This same Is fear disturbing many
citizens on the frontier. Justice has been
very tardy coming, 1t is approaching from
90 many different directions, in such ques.
tionable shapes and gsrbs that ! doubt
her success in meetiag the requirements
in the case. Tho Indians do not rccog-
nize the Jurisdiction Of civil or military
courts, because incapable OF comprehend
ing their workings. These ModoCs can
not understand what is meant by court.
They have been interrogated on that sub
ject. They would regard q court trial,
with is technicalities and testimony, as a
jugglery, and if convicted and sentenced to
death they could not DO made to un'
derstand that Justice figured in the busl-
ness at all. They believe they have com.
mitted deeds which merit death; in fact
the real murderers have nearly all expect.
ed to bo hanged. They believe the mill
tary has the power and right TO inltct
punishment. They arc cOOped up in
tents, men, women and children, guilty
and innocent, fearing massacre all the
time. They must remain In this condi-
lion for some months 10 come. had
procured a number OF chains, rope and
tackle and all the paraphernaliR Of execu.
tion, and had selected Friday last as the
doomsday. Thursday forenoon drew
up this declaration Of charges and read
them TO Captain Jack.
HEADQUARTERS DEPT COLUMBIA, IN
THE FIRLD-TULB LAKE, June, 1875
Jdck Since white men first began to
travel through or settle In the country
occupied by the ModOc people, Of which
you claim 10 be one Of the chiefs, the Mo-
docs have been known as band OF mer-
ciless robbers and murderers, The his
tory Of your tribe is filed with murders
ol tho white race. Even among your In
dian neighbors you are known as q dom
ineering and tyrannical tribe. Old settlers
in the country report as many as three
hundred murders committed by your
people within the limits Of the present
generation. Along the shores OF this
beautiful little lake, In view Of which VIC
stand, are the graves oi sixty victims
Of ModOc bar6arity, all murdered by
your immediate ancestors in the brutal
act. They werG;peaceiul emigrants; men,
women aud children passing quietly
through the country on the public high
way. For these many crimes no adequate
has ever been visited upon the
guilty, either % tribe OF individually.
On the contrary, the government has late
ly overlooked them. A few years ago,
regardless OfthGsG acts oi treachery, II
gave you reservation Of land for a home
where, il you chose, you could remain and
enjoy the annual bOunlies Of the govern
menI unmOlested. You all went upon
this reservation thus provided, and part
of your, tribe has remained there; but you
and your band, 1t seems, preferred the
warpath. You left your reservation; you
spurned the kindness Of the governments;
resisted the soldiers in the execution OF
their duties to force you back TO the rCser'
vation. YoulhRstened wal, emulatlug the
bloody deeds Of your fathers. You again
strewed the shores oI Tule Lake with the
slain victims of your bloody band. All
these victims were peaceful citizens, un-