Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-08-27
RET ALA 10 N.
GEN. CAEcLIN AFTER A BOHE-
MAN or THE PRESS.

MAN or THE PRESS.
Chenook the Object OF his Wrath--Ar.
bitrary Use Of Military Power
"Peppersass" and Cider toe much
for q Soldier and Half-Breed.
Especial Correspondence Of The 1'rs6une.)
|, FORT YATES, D. T., Aug. 25.-For the
past few weeks since the departure of
Gen. Sherman from Fort Yates, things
have been comparatively quiet, nothing
having occurred to ruftie the even tenor
of military affairs until last week. Mr..
James Nolan, who was employed by Per-
kins, Robbins & Go. during the past fall
and winter, and for some years COM
pany sergeant, 18th infantry, and who is
we'll known in Bismarck, was arrested
by Gen. Carlin for selling intoxicating
liquors to soldier and half breed In
dian, and confined IN the post guard
house for thirty-three hours. Mr.. Nolan
has been at Fort Yates more or less for
some years past and fully understands
the inside workings Of matters at this
post, and was perhaps as conversant with
the status of affairs during the recent
troubles between the Indian department
and the military, as any civilian at Fort
Yates. During the rast two months or
more series of articles have appeared in
the Fargo Argus signed "Chenook," and
evidently written by some party thorough
ly posted in reference to Standing Rock
and the way matters have been conducted
for some time back. These articles were
at times rather severe, cutting and slash
ing at the post commander and others in
rather a regardless way, the writer seem
ingly knowing what he was talking
about. So notorious did these articles
become, that every one in the northwest
interested in any shape at Fort Yates or
Standing Rock, looked for their appear
ance with anxiety, especially the military
at that post, to whom they were an 'eye-
sore" and a gentle reminder 'sthat things
are not always what they SEEM" 1t was
suspected by the officers at Yates that Mr..
Nolan was the veritablc Chenook and the
author of these troublesome dispatches.
From whence they derived such a sus-
picion it is impossible to state, unless the
surmise be correct that lie was the only
Individual IN Bismarck that understood
the exact nature Of the case at Yates, then
under discussion. At any rate tue young g
Lieutenant that "intervicwed" Major Ed
wards and Gold V West, Of the Argus, and
endeavored to unearth the mysterious
Chenook, will say that he knew as much
before the interview as he did two. hours
later when, he met Mr.. West on the street
and pat the question direct, "Who is
Chen0pk ?'' the answer to which is, now
a Standing joke at this post. MIR. Nolan,
desireus Of resuming business at Stand
ing Rock, left Bismarck early last week
for this place and had been upon the
reservation but q few hours before he was
placed hors aW combat by an armed guard,
vanquished and carried away IN igno-
miny to a felon's cell, much after the
manner Of a similar escapade of one
"Charlcs O'Malley, the Irish dragoon."
The charge against Mr.. Nolan was that
he had sold spirituous or intoxicating
liquor to a soldier and a half breed, and
this occurred at the time he was in the
employ Of Perkins s. Robbins at the In
dian traders store. It seems that at Fort
Yates the employee is responsible for the
acts Of the employer, instead of vice versa,
which is good common law in all other
parts Of the United States and England.
The military prerogativc may be super
ior to the common usage of this country
and England for centuries back, a ques-
tion which in this case the district court
Will be compelled to decide at Its coming
term provided the graod july find an in
dictnlent. Mr.. Nolan was incarcerated
thirty three hours and finally taken
to bismarck carefully chaperoned by
Lieut. c.. st. John Chubb, 17th infantry.
The Two witnesses were taken up at
the same time. The special instructions
given Lieut.. Chubb was that he bring the
case before U. S. Commissioner Cushman
at least Lieut. ChuGb so stated to Judge
Corey, to whom he stated the case and
was met with the remark, "lt's perhaps
better you have brought the case before
Mr. Cushman, for if the case is as y0u
state, l should certainly discharge the
man." The two witnesses. upon arrival,
made affidavit that they bought cider Of
Mr.. Nol;l.l, the clerk of Perkins & Rob
bins, and when asked if anything was
e;t in it, responded that they put in some
'pcppersass" that was in a bottle on the
counter The witnesses were let go un-
til the examination should take place,
and at the time set for the examination a
government wagon drew UP at the coun-
ty Jail andethe haH breed and soldier
were pulled out not yet over their de-
bauch, but j.l Il semi-intoxicated state
taken,to to the commissioners office TO give
evidence against Mr.. Nolan. This op-
portunity was not, however, accorded
them, MI. Nolan having waived examina
ton and was put under three hundred
dollar bonds. After this disposal! of the.
case, Lieut.. Chubb approached Mr.. No:
Ian and remarked that Gen. Carlin would
stop his prosecution if Nolan would
make an affidavit that he was not Che
nook This conversation was repeated
in sub stance before witnesses. MIR. No.
Ian very naturally declined, as Chenook'>s
business seemed 10 L,m rather irrelevant
r., t),;- cacn Hn was told however that