Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-07-02
FEW TAILS.
The Men on Trial Here Have Hard Fight.
The Men Acquitted.

The Men on Trial Here Have a. Hard Fight.
The Men Acquitted.
The trial of the men who killed Few
Tails is still in progress, and to say the
least the boys have an ugly case. From
the very beginning the prosecution has
had to labor under the disadvantage of
dealing with the race question, which
cuts no small figure in this case since
Plenty Horses was acquitted on tech
nical law point without any regard what
ever to justice. In the Plenty Horses
case the Indians expected he would be
convicted and hanged. They knew he
deserved hanging, and were surprised
and sorry to hear Of his acquittal, be-
cause they knew the bad effect it would
have in bringing to the bar of justice
the men who killed Few Tails, chief
who was highly respected by both In
dams and whites that were acquainted
with him. The prosecution we're also
hampered in making their case strong in
being unable to get One Feather and his
wife here in time to testify in the direct
Other important witnesses
were also out of the country. But
in taking rebuttal testimony their case
was very materially strengthened.
The counsel for the defense is making
an excellent fight and probably has
public sentiment on it's side for the rea-
son that great many people honestly
believe Indians have no rights that a
white man is bound to respect But this
much can be said, the ADVERTISER is in
clined to the belief that entirely too
much swearing has been done as to the
number of Indians in the country the
day Few Tails was killed. Every one
who was familiar with the excitement
that prevailed at that time all through
the settlements must admit that the
superabundance of courageonsness did
not exist anywhere as boosted Of by sew
eral witnesses. That was gallantry at
long range, and as disinterested party
remarked yesterday the defendants are
likely to be sent over the road for per-
jury, if acquitted for the killing.
The case went to the jury last even
ing and at the converting of court this
morning arguments began. Hon. w. B.
Sterling, for the state, made the open
ing argument in forcible manner and
eloquent style. Mr.. Sterling was fol
lowed by T. E. Harvey, Judge Polk and
Col. Parker-in the order named-fo1
the defense. The gentlemen handled
their side of the question in mastery
manner, and the speech of Col. Parker
was especially strong. The closing
statement was made by Attorney Gen.
eral Dollard, who closed the case for the
state in such an able and convincing
style that reflected great credit upon the
prosecution from the beginning. His
speech had excellent effect, though il
was necessarily cut short because he had
to leave on the o'clock train.
The evidence for the state in sub
stance is that there were but Few Tailf
and his wife and young babe, One
Feather and wife and daughter, and tina
they we're simply waylaid by white mer
laying in ambush on the morning of Jan
uary IL, last.
The defense does not deny the killing
but attempts to establish the fact tina
there were a band of from fifteel
to twenty Indians who were trying t.
run off some thirty odd head of horses
belonging to the defendants. The testi
mony on both sides is very strong, bu
tho state seems to have the best of tn
case. The stories told by witnesses TO
the defense is quite conflicting as to tn
number of Indians, which is not at al
surprising for the reason that everythin,
would look like an Indian about tina
time.
! Shortly after o'clock Judge Thoma
charged the jury at length, defining
their duties and calling special attention
to the many important points brough
out. Everyone regarded his instruction
to be fair and impartial. Opinions diffe
as to the findings Of the jury.
At 8 o'clock this evening the jury re
turned verdict of not guilty.