The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-04
AFTER THIRTEEN YEARS.
The Murderer Of French Indian in South Da-
kota Passes Through the City.

river agency 10 South Dakota, who had in
charge one Frank H. Palmer, who is
charged with numbering one Paul Ira
maine near Fort Sully, d. T., NOW South
Dakota) in 1878.
Palmer was identified and arrested in
Bonhomme, Tex, about three weeks ago
and information being sent to the Chey-
enne river agency, the sergeant and cor
poral above named were sent to identify
him and take him back to the scene of his
crime for punishment. Corporal Dean
recognized Palmer the moment he laid mis-
eyes on him, having served with him in the
Seventeenth infantry from 1876 till 1879
To the corporal the EAGLE reporter is
indebted for the following informa-
ton with reference to the details
of the crime. Palmer" said he,
Joined the army in Green street.
New York in the latter part of 1876 and
was one of what was known at that tina as
the Custer avengers. When he joined our
company and regiment in the spring of
IoTI he became a general favorite as he
seemed to be well bred, highly educated
and very handsome. He is undou btedly
a member of some good New England
family as he spoke with a genuing New
England accent when be first came to the
regiment, and it is probable that his
parents, If they are alive, do not know
what has become of him, as he never
wrote home while in the army, doubtless
ashamed to tell his parents that he had
joined the service and of course it is very
improbable that he would have written
to them since the murder was committed.
Many noble youths, it seemed, Joined
the army Immediately after the massacre
OF Custer out of a spirit of chivalry to
aVenge the death of the dashing general,
ana 1t was always thought that Palmer
was OF this class. His popularity in the
regiment ana his soldierly qualities led
MIN to promotion and he was
appointed corporal and sergeant and
sergeant major, respectively. These pro-
motions gave him the swelled head, and
he became fearfully dissipated. He not
only patronized the suffers barroom quite
frequently, but would leave his quarters
after taps and wander to little ranch
Kept near by, by a discharged soldier
named Haskell, which was regular gam
oIlng den where Indian scouts, half breeds
and soldiers made their rendesvouz. One
night, soon after pay day, he went to the
ranch and took band in game of poker
raul Iramain was also in the game, with
Two or three others. Palmer lost all the
money he had and SIS extra which Ira
main had lent him. Towards morning all
were IN highly intoxicated condition ex-
cept Tramain, who was reasonably sober. |
and who had won all the money, about |
500 in all Palmer and Tramain got into |
quarrel about the money lent by the |
latter to the former, and Tramain, who |
was a stoutly built French Canadian with |
indian blood in his veins, attacked Palmer |
and gave him severe pounding. When |
Palmer arose he swora that he |
would get even with Tramain |
or that, but nothing more
vas thought of the matter and all separ-
ted. Tramaine was found dead in the
bottoms west of Fort SuIly next morning
With bullet hole through his head and
'almer was found missing from his
ost. Suspicion was sttached to him at
nee and upon investigation it was learned
t Fort Pierre few days later that Pal
ler called at ranch there next morning
iding Tramaine's horse and that he had
old Tramaine's winchester to the rancher
Dr. 81 and breakfast for himself and his
orse That was the last seen of him and
is said that the government spent in
he neighborhood of $4,000 to secure his
rrest as the indians were loud in their
of hostility against the
oldiers on account of the murder and
Tere only appeased by the commanding
Ulcers promise to find Palmer and mete
ut justice To him at any cost
About three weeks ago Palmer arrived
4 BONN NINE from Lincoln county n NJ
nd proceeded to bowl up. He seemed TO
ave lots of money and aroused
le suspicious of the officers
-ho watched him closely. In
ne of his drunken orgies one night he I'M
osomed himself to friend who was dis
pating with him and told him the whole
DRY of his Dakota crime in ''strict conf
ance," of course The friend proved to
: an officer whom the Bonham police put
1 his trail to find out mis- true character,
I'D the next morning be opened his eyes
the county Jail He had broken a saloon
indow the night of his arrest, and for
lis he was sentenced to thirty days in the
unity Jail in order that he might not get
way from the officers until they had time i
communicate with the South Dakota
Ulcers. 7
The civil officers in South Dakota had ]
record of the crime, but they referred !
e matter to the military officers at Fort G
lily, and they in turn communicated '
it'll the commanding officer of the Seven /
enth infantry, who is now stationed in /
Q far west. But while the crime was a
tied on the records of that regiment,
me of the soldiers were in the regiment
the time of the murder. The military Z
thorities at once went to trace the old s
mrades of Palmer and found Sergeant b
ard and Corporal Dean at the Cheyenne /
yer agency, or, more properly speaking J
,rt Bennett. just twelve miles from the I
ene of the crime. Owing to the changes I
at have been made in the Dakotas and I
e removal of the regiment to another 5
ate, the length OF time that has elapsed t
d the hardship that will be encountered f
getting the testimony of those who c
re in the ranch the night Palmer made
e threats, it is said 1t will be a hard !,
after to convict him, but Corporal Dean d
is the rancher who bought Tramain's y
7olver is still there and thinks he can b
Entity Palmer. II he can't be convicted 4
murder he will be convicted of deser- q
n. Palmer was questioned by an EAGLE u
porter last night, but he was surley and
'uld not vouchsafe any answers to inter- T
Satorles.
CAUGHT WITH BLANKETS, ETC :