The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-09
BLOODTHIRSTY CHOCTAWS
Indian Agent Benefits View OF the Acts
of Governor Jones's Militia.
An irresponsible Mob That Delights in Mur-
dering Women and Children-Timber-Cut-
ting Permit Revoked by HOke Smith.
MARTIAL LAW NECESSARY.
Agent Benuetr's Report on tho Trouble In
the Choctaw Nation.

Agent Bennetrs Report on tho Trouble In
the Choctaw Nation.
wAsHrNGToE, April s.-Secretary Hoke
Smith has received q detailed report from
agent Bennett, of the Union agency, on
the present trouble between the factions OF
she Choctaw nation. After repeated con-
ferences and such investigation as ne was
able to make the agent says he Is thorough
ly convinced that the militia. acting under
Governor Jones's orders. were the az
g~ressors. and that the other party. CON-
monty called the Locke party, IS the az
erieyed one. L0cke's men. after listening
TO the agents advice. proposed TO surrender
at once their arms If the agent conld prom
Ise TO protect them from the militia This
offer agent Bennett, of course, could not
accept. The Locke party declared hat
they were p~eacea6le, law-abiding Indians,
charged with no offense, and that they
were ready to surrender to any proper Of
ficer OF their nation clothed With autDor-
ity; that they had been unwillingiy driven
to band themselves together as u means OF
protection against murder by the militia.
which. they declared. were led by their
most bitter and deadly personal and 20
Iitical IN that the militia had muir
derously assaulted them and their wives
and children In their homes, wreckea ana
ruined their property. tneir
lives. dragged their wives, mothers ard
children from their homes, and wIse
urieyously and waDtonly wronged them.
They also said that it was not their lnten-
tien To attack the militia, but simply to
assaults and ani" oStTases. AH agent Bennett
after wsro talked with the captains
of the militia, who questioned his
authority TO inquire into the disturbances.
Governor Jones also questioned the agents
-srhf -. 10 uroaanr nr I'm mira into thA mat.
ter. which, he said. was an affair concern
ing the Cboctsw people only, and that the
United States had no right 30 interfere:
After an elaborate review of the whole
situation Agent Bennett concludes that the
calling out o. the militia by Governor
Jones 10 arrest Willis Jones was unneces-
sary and unlawful. and that the conflct
precipitated by the mem bers was the act or
a drunken, irresponsible mob. banded to-
gether as militia for the purpose OF muir
dering men. women and children. there
by removing their political opponents
and intimIdating others. liz order
TO perDetuate the power OF the
party AT present in authority; that many
of the aggressOrs were so intoxicated as 10
be unable TO sit upon their horses; that
they shot promIscuously into public ana
private buildings. occupied In some cases
by women and children, and that, In snort,
the acts OF the militia were more like those
of Wild beasts than human beings. Agent
Bennett also believes that the Choctaw 00v-
eminent Will never OrlnR THESE Wouiu-oo
murderers to a trial. but will uphold them
In their unlawful acts. and that 1t would
be assisting In q so-called judicial murder
TO permit the militia to make arrests In the
Choctaw nation. In view OF these facts. ne
strongly urges that the nation be placed
under martial law.
Secretary Smith, acting under the au-
thorIty OF the treaty OF 1865. which provides
that the United States shall protect the
Cboctaws and ChicKasaws from domestic
strife" has requested the Secretary OF war
to send a detachment of troops to the scene
of the threatened tronble. TO maintain the
peace aud protect life and property.
Still Resting on Their Arms.
PARIS, Tex, April S.-Everything is
quiet at Goodland and Antlers tonight
and there il no sign of - renewal of hostlli-
ties by either of the Choctaw factions.
The union of the followers of jackson and
Locke, placing them on an equality with
The forces of Governor Jones in point of
numbers excited much apprehension. but
neither SIDE gives any intimation of Its IN
tentions. The militia does not seem 10 be
making any preparation fer an attack on