The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-02-26
INDIAN TREACHERY.
1dr. C. Becht the Defendant in a Charge
| of Selling Liquor to Them.

Mr.. G. Becht leaves today for Portland
to be tried before Judge Bellinger for
selling whisky to Indians. The facts of
the matter are best related by Mr.. Becht
himself in the following letter:
Mr.. EDIToR-I desire to say a few
words concerning myself and the Indians
which you have not touched upon. The
affair you mention in Fridays issue
under the caption s'Indian Desperadoes''
happened when [ was doing business in
the valley. But what happened here
the other day, I will explain through
your valuable paper to avoid misunder-
standing:
On the ed of February, in the after
noon, two big Indians came in my front
room before noticed them, as 1 gen.
orally lock the door when see any of
them coming, to save trouble. They
shut the door behind them and wanted
wine. told them that I could not give
any wine to Indians, as the law would
not allow it, but they could have soda
water or sarsaparilla. But they insisted
on having wine and would not leave
until they were given some. 7 had
nothing within reach to defend myself
and without any arms [ could not risk
putting them out. So after talking to
them for quite while trying my best to
get them out and telling them to leave,
but without any success, let them have
some of my lightest wine just to get rid
of them They reported me and now I
am in trouble about it. Without further
comments everybody can see the right
and wrong of the thing. At any rate
that kind of business ought to be stopped.
As long as such fellows have chance to
make money in such rascally way they
will do so, and any honest man, who
wants to make an honest living, is in
danger of getting in trouble. To my
great satisfaction / am assured by every
body in this town who knows me that
that they would never believe that
would have given any wine to Indians if
1 was not forced to do so. / want to
express my sincere thanks to the many
friends who all offered me references and
bonds as soon as they heard about the
trouble. Respectfully,
CHAs. BECHT.
Mr.. Becht had a preliminary examin-
alton by Mr.. ]. M. Huntington, the
commissioners, recently, who bound him
over to appear before Judge Bellinger
for selling whisky to Indians, and the
trial will probably take place tomorrow.
Mr.. Huntington was seen by reporter
this morning. He says that Mr.. Becht
admits taking 80 cents for the wine
given the Indians, but it does not follow
necessarily that there is any intent in
this to break the law. Mr.. Becht is a
man whose every appearance indicates
that he is upright and honorable, that
he conducts business on business prin-
ciples and has accumulated whatever
fortune he possesses honestly. The
affair seems to be another of those put
up jobs which is rendered possible by
an obnoxious law, Mr.. Huntington
himself condemns this law in strong
terms and believes it should have no
place on the statute books. The same
ends can be accomplished, he says, by
making it a penitentiary offense for an
Indian to buy whisky off the reserva-
ton, and like offense for white man
to take whisky within the reservation.
This will put an effectual stop to In
dians drinking whisky, and no unfortu-
nate white man will be roped in by
their treachery.