The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-19
How the Crimes Of Paseale and
Antley Were Brought to
Light
Antoine, While in Jail, Repeated a
Confession Made to
Him.
Inconceivable Brutality OF Pascale-
-Lynching of Little John and
Sloane-BleachingB Bones.

cured the conviction OF four Indian muir
derers, who are under sentence to be hanged
on the 10th of the month. it becomes us as
. people to investigate and carefully
weigh the evidence upon which this convic-
tion has been secured, and see whether we
should endorse the verdict of the jury that
rendered this decision or condemn it. Asto
the evidence the state produced to convict
Lala-See and Pierre Paul, know but lit
tie about. But as much of the evidence
which led to the conviction Of Pascale and
Antley was unearthed in the court over
which / have the honor to preside,
am we'll informed of its sig
nifcance and its details. Let me
recapltulate and tell how this evidence came
to light. On the fourth day of July last, at
celebration at Egan, dispute arose
between some Indians and half~breeds. The
accidental discharge of pistol III the
hand of nm Indian named Antoine Finley |
MORALLY wounded his cousin, VIM. Finley. /
Antoine was arrested and by order of the /
court was held to await the result of the /
wound he had inflicted. William died the |
next day. Antoine's examination was post
poned for several days, and while he was
held in custody by Deputy Sheriff Grant he |
became Respondent and told the deputy of
confession that Pascalo had made to him
of a murder which he (Pascale) had COM
mitted on Angel Hill. This was com
inundated to me. at once summoned
coroner's jury and we made a trip Of some
thirty miles to Ange! Hill. There, in
lonely and unfrequented spot Antoine
pointed out to us the bones of human
being, which subsequently proved to be
the remains of J. NJ Dunn, of Iowa. An
tome informed me that Pascale had told
him that he had shot the white man in the
back and dragged him from the road into
thicket; that the white man had plenty of
money and wore gold watch. / have
since procured an open-faced, Elgin move
ment, solid gold watch from a squaw
man at Dayton Creek. which is evidently
the watch worn by Dunn. Dayton Creek
is the principal rendezvous Of the 1,neas
band OF kootenais, to which band Pascale
belongs. understand that Pascale con-
fessed to this killing in Judge Marshall's
court. Antoine, in speaking of Pascale's
reputation in his own tribe, said that Pas
Gale and his mother and little sister, many
years ago, when pursued by some Blackfeet
Indians, were In hiding from their pursuers.
The little sister began crying. The moth
er's appeals and endearments proving I'M
availing, Pascale seized the child from it's
mother, dashed its brains out on a rock,
and cast its body over cliff of rocks
In one of the kootenais medicine war
dances preceding March, 1888, at Tobacco
Plains, where each brave recited his past
deeds and acts of prominence, Little John,
Sloane and Anteler, told the story how they
had killed three white men on Wolf prairie,
and had burned their bodies. Stump, an
Indian OF the same tribe, was present at
this war dance and heard the above recita-
tion. He communicated it to Mr.. Ralf
Ramsdell. who came on snow shoes to this
valley and informed the citizens here and
vouched for the veracity of Stump. The
three murderers were encamped near this
place at the time. Warrants for their ar
rest were issued and Little John and Sloane
were arrested, Anteler escaping by the
heetness of his horse. The officer having
the two Indians in charge was overpowered
by superior force. Little John and Sloane
were taken by the enraged citizens to the
bank of the Flathead river and were
found next morning hanging by the neck
to a limb of tree. 1t was currently as
serted, soon after the hanging, that both
of the Indians had confessed the deed
before they were hanged. Then the ques-
ton came, had our citizens hanged inno-
cent persons? Was tho evidence sufficient
to warrant SO grave penalty? The fact
remained that no corpse had been found,
and no person could name the victims.
The theme soon dropped from the mind of
the average citizen.
But the officers of the law were still
keeping in memory Indian Anteler and the
horrible crime he had been charged with.
just before the arraignment of Antoine.
who speaks broken English, sent for him
and asked him If Anteler were innocent of
this crime. He replied that he was guilty.
He was asked if the bones of the prospectors
were still to be seen on Wolf prairie. lie
informed me that the kootenais had told
him that some of the bones were to
be seen; but most of the bodies
had been burned by Little john Sloane and
Anteler. He had never been to the place
himself. dispatched messenger to Day
desired peace with the whites he should
point ont the remains of these men.
The next day he sent me three Indians
who conducted me and coroners jury
over 100 miles from here, where the,
pointed out two graves or holes in the
logs we're removed and the earth disturbed
the remains of two human beings were OK
posed. The Indians had piled fagots ovel
the bodies, but had failed in obliterating
the evidence of their guilt. Want of venti
lation from underneath the bodies pre-
vented perfect cremation. These remains
were found about seventy five rods apart
Underneath the hips of one of these victim
was found $50 in gold coin. About sixt,
rods from either of these place
the bones OF the third man were found
They were scattered here and there il
CHASTITY array. The wolves had had feast
The Indians evidently failing in complete
y cremating the first two bodies, had give
ire up as bad medicine to conceal the eyi
dence of their guilt. This was sight t
move the coolest heart. and methinks coui
those ladies of Missoula, who are SO indus
triously circulating petition asking til
board of pardons to interfere a sympatheti
hand behalf of these murderers, have bee
there they would be as diligently petition
ing that an implacable nemesis be dealt OF
TO these cruel, barbaric, red handed mul
ders.
At the coroner's inquest sufficient ey
dence was developed to almost with Gel
talnty identify these murdered men. The
names are Daniel Mcdonald, Beniami
Tompkins and John Cheley, whose remain
are buried in one coffin. in one grave ar
near that grave are buried what bones Il
wolves had left of poor Dunn. But for Il
accidental discharge of pistol, in Il
hands OF one of these barbarians. the pro
abilities are great that these mysteries new
could have been solved.
To the Bottom Of the Shaft.
BRUssEIs, Dec. 18.-At the Esconfiaul q
tisry at Hornu, to-day, shift of ei2hte
man had entered the cage and the engi