St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-17
Accused Makes 8 Dramatic
Speech in Pleading His
Cause.
Verdict OF the Jury Con-
Cured in by Spectators
in Court.
Unlikely the Destroyer Of
Cloudy Day Will Ever Be
Known.

Bay-baum-oh-che maisk-kung, known
as reles-the-mountain,
Chippewa chief. was yesterday acquit-
ted of the charge of numbering Bosh-
kin-ay-keshig, or Cloudy-Day. The
case has been on trial several days be-
fore Judge Nelson and an intelligent
jury in the United States district court.
The case went to the jury at $3.50, and
a verdict was reached soon after, but as
Judge Nelson had gone to the
depot to see his daughter off on
a train for the East. the verdict
was not reported until p. m. The
interest in the trial has been great.
Quite a number of prominent persons
visiting in the city have been in attend
ance for a short time during the trial,
and many st. Paul people have taken
considerable interest in it. The priS-
oner is remarkable Indian. After tes-
tifying in his own behalf yesterday,
&. ID. O'Brien, his attorney, told the In
terpreter to ask him if he had any fur
ther statement to make. He said yes"
and, stepping down from the witness
box and facing the jury and audience,
he began speech that, for earnestnesS
of delivery and dignitied gestlculation,
showed him to be an extraordinary
man. Deputy Marshal Gas II. Beau
lieu interpreted the speech, which was
in substance as follows:
In the past, many years ago. Invent to Wash
ington TO see the Great Father, and he gave
me advice that have kept in my head and
heart ever since. The great father told me to
be q good Indian and that by and by he
would send some of his people to live among
my people. The Great Father told me if kept
his advice he would look after and take care
of me and my people. l see white people
here who will say that have always been
the friend of the whites and treated them
we'll There are some of my people here who
will say l was better to the Indians. The
white people brought me here to see If
should be killed They have spoken against
me and l don't know what they have
said. l gave myself up to the white people
to be tried my life is in their hands. II they
find me to be bad Indian they should cut
my head off. have no bad feelings for the
white man; he will treat me right. My own
people have saio that l killed my friend. l
did not do it. If had been bad Indian
would not have tn Re courage to speak to you
as do. want my people who have spoken
against me to go home and feel that have no
i'll will towards them. A bad Indian could not
feel this way | feel towards my people and
the white people. l believe the Great Father
will take care OF me.
The effect of the speech was magical.
The audience and jury were surprised
at the earnest and frank, honest man
ner of the prisoner. His reference to
his visit to Washington is to the year
1863, when he and other Indians went
there to sign the treaty after the Indian
wars in Minnesota.
After the jury had acquitted the pris-
oner and he was discharged by Judge
Nelson, he went to the jurors before
they left the box, and with smile on
his face offered each his hand, which
was warmly grasped by each. He said
to each: Il greet YOU" After shaking
hands with all lie MADE short speech,
in which he said:
NY friends, thank you for permitting me
to go back to my wife and children, and for
giving me longer life.
District Attorney Hay and other Off
Gals, as well as number of citizens,
shook hands with the freed man. The
Indians present, particularly the wife,
children and grandchildren, seemed
much pleased at the acquittal.