Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-29

WANT0N AND UNPROVoKED MURDER OF THE IN.
DIAN-THE DEATH OF HIS MURDERER CLEAR
CASE OF LYNCEING.
The following report, forwarded by General
Sheridan to the War department, shows that
| the killing OF the son OF Chief ChaveneauX wa,
a "anton and unprovoked murder by reckless
hati-drunken teamster ard that the fate of the
murderer was clear case of lynching:
FORT GARLAND, COL, Oct. 1a, 1880.
Assistant Adj3HGnt General Headquarters De.
pdrtntent Of the Missouri:
Sir: l have the honor respectfully to submit
the result Of conversation between Capt. Pol
lock. 23d Infantry, and myself, In regard to the
affair at Clines ranch on the evening OF Septem.
Der 80. 1850. Capt Pollock says:
Ion my return from Aiamosa where 1 left
the commission, to my station on the ncom-
pahgre, arrived at Cline'S ranch, on the Cin-
ma1on. about II o'clock a. 10. September 80, the
Gay after Johnston, ali Indian, the son of Chay-
eneaux, one OF the chief men Of the Uncom-
pahgre Utes. was shot and killed by freighter
belonging to an OK train camped by the road
side five or six miles east Of Chne's. / passed
the OK train without noticing It. but nv ser
geant, On coming into camp at Cline's, reported
10 me that some CT the men belong
Ing to the train told him OF having been
fired into ty Indians the night previous
and of their having returned fire. but did not
credit it., and paid 10 further attention to it.
But in the course of an hour or two afterwards
Ctaveneaux, with another Indian came riding
up to Cline's. Mrs. Cline and her daughter
| iCliDe being at Ouray) met him at the door and
| shook hands With him. and said. How do you
Go?' After a few minutes Mrs. Cline AID
daughter came In somewhat excited, saying
| that ChaveneauXs son had been killed. ChaTe-
neaux and the other Indian then came In a1d
| got something TO eat. Chaveneaux, while
| speaking OF the affair, cried like child at the
| loss OF his SOD. In about dn hour MI Hoyt and
| Mr. Holmes. with some more Indians arrived
| from the agency. A guard OF Indians was then
| placed across the road at Cline'S house. aud ali
parties and trains coming either way were
Whieh the % trouble '' occurred. IRE ''" The In In.
! dlans knew the train TO which the men
! belonged who did the shooting, but at
| which man it was They finally. under the su
| pervision OF Mr.. Hoyt and Mt. Holmes arrested
three Of the men TO hold until Mr.. Berry, the
| Indian agent with military guard aud dn In.
| dian who could identity the man, shouldarrige
| The three men were placed In Clines house and
watched by the Indians during the afternoon
IL was dark, or after. when Mr. Berry, the guard
| and other Indians arrived, Capt. Cline c6mtag
| with then: the guard. as understand, having
| instructions to accompany the Indian agent,
| arrival OF the latter, he turned the prisoners
| over TO the guard for safe keeping during tue
| night. During all this time the Indians seemed
| 10 me to be acting with the utmost forbearancs
| and calmneSs, desiring nothing but the pu l.
| ment OF the individual who had committed me
| outrage upon them. Ny understanding is that
| the man who shot and killed the Indian was a
| stranger In this part OF The country and this
was his first trip over the road, and t was stated
| by parties who saw the men connected with this
train that they were under the influence OF
| liquor; and It is said by those who saw the
| Indian who was shot, and those with him, that
| they were perfectly sober. Coming to the testl.
| mony OF the Indians themselves. IL seems to De
| straightforward and trustworthy. The Indian
! who was with Johnston when he was killed
| measures OF the distance between Johnston and
the man who killed him, making 1t about Is or
! 20 feet. The I1dians were mounted, they turned
theif fofseS TO leave, and Johnston fell deal
rom a NH his ,h horse aft after having gone about a
upon the white men or quarrelng with
| them MIer Cllne's arrival at home in
| being turned over 10 the military guard sSnt:
| fTelghters belonging to other trains which were
| stopped Bear the house Came to Captain Cline
| and requested that lie turn the prisoner {tnat
! is. the guilty Cne,) over TO them SAYING 'tniL
| they would deal out justice TO him without fur
!her delay remarking that their property
| to be placed IN Jeopardy by an irresponsol-
| party like him. This Cline, OF course, refused
to do The n,I military guard kept the prisoner
| tation was held-at which were present n
Berry, the agent; Mr.. Meachan OF the u.
commission; Captain Cline, Mr.. Hoyt,. NJ
| Gone With the prisoners. The individual 10
was identified by the Indian who was praseas
at the shooting. The ,ethers were released by
| common consent, the Indians saying, as ia
| dersrand. that they could go on to Ourav
] with their wagons, and would not be disturbed.
ha nu 1aey Mee So n nes9as ta bhey
| 1t was then decided, after further dallOeration
| and at the suggestion OF the Indians, that tha
| Dc taken 10 CiCy 10r
| Trial by the civil courts for murder, and that
| Capt. Cline. Mr.. Hoyt, Ny. Holmes and one H.
| dian named Harry. should take charge OF htm
| and conduct him there; consequently the officer
| in charge CT the guard was directed by NJ
| Berry TO turn the prisoner over to Capt. Cline
| and party for that purpose which was accord
| having been discharged and completed, 1t re-
| turned to its proper station. Capt. Cline anu
| party then started with the prisoner for Gun
| bison city, MIR. Holmes and the prisoner, eacl
| on horseback, Immediately followed by Caps
bSssaE GsssS Ssnna ard the daa 5agg Hsy Gas
proceeded about three miles, they were jumpei
| from behind some bushes by twenty-five or
thirty Indians, wen armed who caused the
| prisoner to di3mOunt and took him away, aud
| compelled the party who were escorting him to
turn back and go towards the agency, not
he aeeny and Ghe d not get ame on n 81
| the next day Mr. Holmes, who was In advance
and beside the prisoner at the time he was
| with the Indians when they took the prisoner
| This fact together with the request made upon
| Capt Cline by the freighters the night before,
and. further, that it Is well known that there
among the Utes leads me 70 believe, and do
mg sev fa that sbs theSe eTsoD @en sbSS
not escape punishment, A't and that 'nusy they
| encouraged and assisted the Indians to
lynch him. What OF this affair 1 did
length with MI. Berry, Mr.. Meacham and Capt.
| Cline. believe that whatever disposition was
| made OF the prisoner by the lynchers was done
| quickly most probably he was shot, as the cap
tuTe OF the prisoner occurred about II O'Clock
n, about 30 miles from the agency, and at
| O'Clock the same evening some of the Indians
| engaged in it were at the agency. Since the at
| tair the Indians have been as quiet and peace
| able as at any time before. They seem to be
| perfectly contented and satisfied. There is
no excitement about the agency. 1
| found no excitement until came
| down the road and in the vicinity
| OF Sagusche, and that is based entirely upon
| the report OF the case made by jackson, the
| man who had charge Of the train In which the
difficulty occurred. am well satisfied that there
| will te 10 further trouble. unless 1t should be
| brought about by aggresSions upon the Indians
| by the whites. With the light before me, can
| not look upon the matter otherwise than as a
| wanton and unproyoked murder or the Indian
by reckless, half drunken teamster, and tnaJ
| the late OF the murderer Was clear case Of
| lynchfEg, which, as much as it is to be deplored
| Is not an uncommon occurrence throughout the
country, in the midst Of civilization and en-.
| lightenment"
The man jackson, who was in charge OF the
train: has told different stories about the affair;
| ne told me that the Indians did not fire at his
party; TO others he has said they shot twice. He
mas claimed relationship of nearly every kind
10 the man who was killed; he told me he was
| one or his men or bOyS He has aiSo said tnat