Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-06-19
About The Modocs.

GIN. DAVIS ENPLAISs-IHE INpiAN-
OUGHT ~ BE HANGED-A COURT TRIAL
AJUCoLERr.
Gen. Davis. in conversation with a
special correspondent Of the san Francisco
Bulletin. on the l0th inst, gave the fol.
towing statement
''tvhen I arrived nn 49, s>I.i C,ulL the
troops engaged in war with = band Of In
diaus, outlaws and murdcrers. wards OF
the Government, who had rcvol,ed against
its authority. They were lighting mcrci-
lessly, neither giving nor expecting quar-
tiers. | then thought that captiye- taken
In the future should be executed ou The
spot, As the surest aud specifies, method OF
settling the Modoc problem: when captur-
eli while fighting against the military tor
ces OF the United States, and "a, sepaI ate
nation aud tribe was disposed to deal
with them accordingly. Since their cap
ture have ascertained that the authorities
OF Jackson county, Oregon. have found
indictments against certain members II
the band. | did not deem it proper to I Iru
them over 10 the civil courts because they
were At war against the Government al tn.
time the murders upph which the indict-
meuis are based, were committed; also,
were prisoners OF the Government and not
directly amenable To civil law-. During
my command here | have observed That
the citizens, when desiring protection FOR
person and property or Naturalization Tor
loss. invariably appeal to the authority OF
the nted States, but now that THE war Is
over and the marluders captiyes, 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 the neighbor-
hood, when four old defeuceless captiYes,
on route from Fairchild's ranch to this
camp. We're murdered by civilians, ildi-
cate that trial by civil law would be use
less farce. The people have made up their
minds that the prisoners are guilty. Ii is
suggested that a military commission be
ordered To try the criminals. Ii the idea
is carried ont the officers composing the
court should be ofhish rank and men who
have had no immediate connection with
the Modoc difficulty. such commission
would probably Try each case separately.
Ii vii. require about six months TO perform
the work, TO say nothing Of the expense
involved in such proceedings Ia the Gov
eminent besides everybody. civic as well
"a military. knows that the Indians are
guilty OF murder in the first degree and
ought 10 be hanged. thought To avoid
the unnecessary expense of the farce Of n
trial by doing the work myself.
Owing to the diiatory manner in which
the Modocs were treated by those in charge
at the beginning of these difficulties the Iu-
dians obtained the fearful advantages over
us. They slaughtered so many people
that the country was astonished. even
shocked, and now fear they will get adj
vantage in the closing scene. This same
fear was disturbing the minds of the cti-
zens Oh the frontier. Justice has already
been very tardy and its coming is ap-
preaching from so many different direc-
tons, and in such questionable shape and
garb, that doubt her success in meeting
the requirements of the case. The Indians
do not recognize the jurisdiction of civil or
military courts, because they are incapa-
Bile Of understanding their workings These
Modocs cannot comprehend what is meant
by court. They have been Intercepted
on that subject. They would regard a
court trial with its technicalities, testi-
mony etc, as kind of jugglery, and if
convicted and sentenced to death, could
not be made to understand that Justice
figured in the business at all. They be-
lieve they have committed deeds that merit
death; in fact. are real murderers have
daily expected to be hanged. They be-
lieve the military have the power and right
to iniiict punishment.
The murders and arrests occurred in Ore.
gOn and California, and the case is badly
mixed.-My proposed course would have
settled the question. By single stroke
the gordian knot was to be cut. The In-
dams are cOoped up in tents. men, women.
and children, guilty and innocent, fearing
a massacre all the time. They must re-
main in this condition Of suspense for
months. had procured lumber, chains.
rope and tackle and all the paraphernalia
of execution, and had selected Friday last
as the doomsday. Thursday afternoon
drew up this declaration of charges, and
read it to Jack later in the day.
Headquarters Department of Columbia,
In the field, luke Lake. Col, June ~.
Jack Since the white men first began
to travel through. or settle in the country
occupied by the Modocs, a people OF which
you claim to be one of the chiefs, the Mo-
docs have been known as band of merci-
less robbers and murdsrers. The history
of your tribe is filled with accounts of
murders Of the white race. Even amOung
your Indian neighbors, you are known as
q dominesring and tyrannical tribe, Old
settlers in the country report as many as
three hundred murders committed BY