The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-18
THE ACoUIrTAL OF gwILoos.
Citizens of Whatoom Enragcd Over the
Escape of the Indian Demon.

Escape of the Indian Demon.
Fairhaven Herald, March IS
The party OF horsemen led by George NJ.
Brown, which started in pursuit of George
Swiloos, the Indian murderer of Moses
Younkin, arrived at Lummi little ahead
OF George and his party, but had no boat
to cross the river. George and his party
seeing the horsemen, ran their canoes
aground on the opposite side and hur-
riedly waded ashore. An alarm bell was
sounded. and large number of Indians
came to the rescue of the murderer
Horses were quickly provided, and he was
soon galloping away, presumably toward
British Columbia. Public sentiment
is very bitter toward C. C.
Thornton, Indian agent of the
Tulalip agency, for the part he
took in depriving the gallows of its own
in the trial. He was in the court room
almost constantly during its progress, in
consultation with the managers of the de-
fendant's case. Sub-Agent Hurley, of the
Lummi reservation, was an important
witness for the state. He related to the
prosecuting attorney most conclusive evil
dence of Georges guilt soon after the muir
der. When the case came to trial he came
to the prosecuting attorney and informed
him that he dare not testify. Another
witness for the state said that he had
wife and children, and that it would i'm
peril their lives if he testified TO the
truth. There were numerous instances
where the witnesses for the state
were kept from the stand by the
intimidation of the Lummi Malta. When
the prosecution rested it had a case, but
the door for perjury is always open
and it is not the fault of the district at
torney or any one else that the siwash
neighbors of the red devil on trial, tremb-
ling with fear for their own lives in case
of mis- conviction, perjufed themselves to
prove an alibi and give drunken tiend
good character for sobriety and decency.
There is heap of iniquity behind the
scenes in this case. Indians who have
feared the discharged murderer for years,
who have long known of his drinking
habits and desperate character when
drunk, swore that he was a quiet peace
able, industrious and temperate man.
They did so because they were threatened
by men of influence among them that If
they told the truth their cayuses
and cattle, hogs and dogs, sheep,
ually diappear and something worse
than weeyil, hop lice, potato
bugs or grasshoppers would get into their
crops. They were, in fact, advised that it
was important for tNir welfare not to
let such a little matter as a white mans
oath prevent them from saving the neck
of the tough tyee of their tribe, whose
only offense was the killing of paleface.
And so they swore falsely or swore not at
all. The whole matter is bad business.
There is do doubt that Swiloos was guilty
of the crime. He was tried before Jury
OF his peers" and they would have been
justified in stretching the law a little. if
necessary, to stretch the murderer's neck.
But they were sworn to decide upon the
law as interpreted and evidence presented,
whether red or white, and so doing, the
verdict could not have been otherwise.
Whatcom Reveille, March Is.
The jury which rendered the verdict in
the Swiloos murder trial. or at least those
who have been in Whatcom since that re-
markable verdict was rendered last. Satur-
day, have had ample opportunity to feel
the sentiment of the citizens. Wherever
they have appeared they have been treated
with the utmost contempt, and but few of
the restaurants in the city, if they dis
covered who they were, would furnish
them with meals. One of the jurors went
into Nolte Bros. wholesale meat market
for the purpose of purchasing some meat,
and was unceremoniously told to depart,
as his money was not wanted. Three
others yesterday, accompanied by
two ladies, entered the Palace
restaurant, and after their meals had been
placed before them the proprietor learned
who they were, when he at once told them
that their patronage was not wanted and
for them 10 Immediately take their de-
parture. Still another waited on NJ. M.
Clothier for the purpose of having some
notary work done, and informed that gen.
tleman that the reason he had doubts as
to Swiloos' guilt was because blood was
found in the pocket of the boy. He was
informed that if he was as big a fool as
that for him to go somewhere else and get
his work done. All over the city they
have met the same reception.