Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-07-16
A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF.
How the Chootaw Trials We're Conduo'eu
\ statement of Jones's side.

DOlDIGuly 6ApIceSCo A'' '' Il.
Interference Of the government IN the
execution Of the nine Indians sentenced
TO be shot on August 4.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
CBoCTAw NATION, TUsHKAHoMA,
INDIAN TERRITORY, July 5, 1898
Hon. Hoks Smith, Secretary Of the m
terror of the United States, Washing
ton, d. c.:
DEAR SIR:-On July 2, 1898, a mes
sage from Assistant Attorney j. l. Hail.
of your Department, was received al
Iushkahoma, desiring to know II had,
as Governor, power TO commute the SEN
tence of any one convicted OF muroer
and sentenced 10 death under the laws
Of this Nation.
To this message answer was returned
10 the negative.
Col. Faison was advised that there
was no law or constitutional provision
authorizing any such course.
However, after fully discussing the
matter with Col. Falson a conference
was had with Hons. w. Wilson, Ma
tional Treasurer, and Jacob Is. JACK
son, National Secretary, in regard TO
the matter, which has been so suddenly
presented, IL being almost upon the eve
of the time fixed for executing the
death penalty upon the parties sent
enced to death as aforesaid.
As result of said conference, have
arrived az the conclusion that 1t would
be advisable and polite to have the ex4
eontion of the aforesaid parties stayed
by the Judge Of the court in which SAID
parties were tried.
There is no Law authorizing any such
action on my part, or on the part OF the
aforesaid Judge, but am satisfied that
the Judge aforesaid will accede to my
request and grant the stay OF execution
desired.
Under the treaties with the United
States, the Choctaw Nation Is secured
in the unrestricted right of self govern
ment and full jurisdiction over persons
and property within its limits, tn so far
as may be compatible with the Consti-
tuition OF the United States and the
laws made in pursuance thereof, regu-
lating trade and intercourse with the
Indian tribes.
Under this guarantee laws were pass
ed for the punishment Of crimes, in
cluding that OF murder and for indlct-
ment by fair and impartial grand
iury, OF persons charged with murder
and other crimes and for trial after in
dictment Of persons charged with crime
by Jury OF twelve men fairly and i'm
partially selected from the body Of
the district.
haN pkot
plants must have been made TO your
department that the trial and conYic-
ton of the parties aforesaid was due to
political courses, methods and combina-
tions; and that the trial and conviction
OF said parties was unjust and not In
accordance with law, and that the con-
victiOn was secured, not through fair
and imprrtial administration OF justice,
but through political prejudice, spite
and bias. Without the attention OF the
authorities Of the Choctaw Nation
having been called to such statements
or complaints, 80 that an opportunity
might be afforded them TO refute such
calumnies for such they are, in time to
avoid present complications, an intima-
tion amounting practically to a COM
mand is conveyed to me, desiring stay
OF sentence OF said parties, pending an
Investigation of such baSeless state
ments by your department; this almost
on the verge of the execution Of the
said sentence.
Under our simple system OF admins
tering Justice, there can arise no poSsi-
bility OF a conviction being had through
mere political prejudice, or political
causes.
An these parties were regularly and
duly indicted by grand jury, tried by
petit Jury of twelve men, ably repre-
sented and defended by counsel and
convicted in accordance with law.
All the proceedings against these
parties had been held strictly as pro-
vided and prescribed by law and the
assurances given TO yOul department
that said parties should be fairly and
impartially tried In strict conformity to
law has been faithfully carried out and
compiled with.
However, being anxious and desirous
of presenting and fostering smicable
and friendly relations with the United
states through your department, and tc
ascertain where the line will be drawn
when the United States, through its de-
partments, will cease from interfering
with the execution and administration
OF our laws, so that we could Rovern
ourselves intelligibly and feel assured Of
the effective and moral support OF the
United States in the enforcement OF
our laws and the punishment of crime,
and ascertaining II the autonomy OF the
Cboctow Nation would be respected
and fully preserved and upheld, con-
cluded as herein advised you 10 request
the Judge OF the aforesaid District
Court TO STAY execution Of sentence un-
Iii August 4, 1898, so that the fullest
investigation could be made by you,
and the evidence and proceedings had
in our court on the trials OF
the parties aforesaid could be obtained
and forwarded to you; assuring you that
we court and challenge Investigation,
without fear or favor; this course is fur
ther deemed advisable In Justice to my
people and TO myself, feeling certain
that You will be fully and amply con-
yinced that in these cases justice has
been dealt out to the parties fairly aud
impartially by our courts and that they
had meted TO them a merited and de-
served sentence.
Kindly permit me to call your atten-
ton 70 the fact that II these parties
have been convicted without authority
at law, or without due process Of law,
the courts Of the United States have
ample power to protect them.
Very Respectfully,
w. n. JONES,
pripcinel Chief ChOctaW Nation.