Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1895-09-04
TO BLAME
Jackson Hole People Caused the
Trouble With the Bannocks.
THE REDS WERE MURDERED
United states District Attorney and
Deputy Marshal Oenounee
Settlers as Assnssins.

Washington, Aug 30-The depart
ment OF justice has received from the
United States district attorney and
marshal of Wyoming the official re-
ports OF their investigation into the
Bannock Indian troubles. made by the
direction OF the attorney general. The
reports are dated August 23. The dis
trict attorney of Wyoming reports as
follows:
II have no doubt whatever that the
killing OF Indian Tanega on or about
the 18th of July was an atrocious. out
rageous and old-biooded murder. and
1t was a murder perpetrated on the
part OF Constable Manning and his
deputies in pursuance of a scheme and
conspiracy on their part to prevent the
Indians from exercising a right and
privilege which In. In my opinion. very
clearly guaranteed to them by the
treaty before mentioned. Should pros
ecution on the part of the United States
be determined on. IL would be useless
to commence IL before a commissioner
As the law now is We are bound to
bring the prisoners before the United
place of arrest. and in this case IL
would be before Mr.. Pettigrew. the
commissioner of Marysvale. / am In
formed that he is thoroughly in sym
pathy with the so-cailed settlers In that
region. and that he advised Constable
Manning and his posse that the pro-
visions OF the treaty under which the
Indians claimed the right TO hunt on
the unoccupied lands of the United
States had for some reason ceased to
be operative. Hence / think that to
cause the arrest OF these men and take
them before this commissioner would
simply result in their discharge. II
seems to me TO be a great pity that
there is no national law which can be
certainly invoked for the protection of
these. our domestic subjects, weak and
defenseless as they areNp their right
TO enjoy these privileges guaranteed
20 them by solemn treaty. TO the en-
foreement of which the honor of the
country Is pledged, and that their only
protection against forcible resistance
40 their enjoyment of these rights must
be found in the courts in the state
wherein the Juries will unquestion-
ally look upon them as possessing no
rights which a white man Is bound 10
respect"
The district attorney has been ad-
vised that the department concurs with
him in the opinion that there Is no fed
eral statute under which the offenders
can be punished.
INDIANS MURDERED.
Accompanying the report of the dis
trfct attorney Is scathing arraign-
ment of the Jackson Hole settlers.
Ax.E In. A.
deputy marshal who Investigated the
trouble. The deputy marshafs report
says that after a careful investigation
the whole AFFAIR shows that the reports
made by settlers. charging the Indians
with Wholesale slaughter Of game for
swantonness or TO secure the hides of
animals killed, have been very much
exaggerated.
During my stay In jackson Hole. .
he says, II visited many portions OF
the district and saw no evidence oi
such slaughter. Lieutenants Gardner
Parker and jackson of the Ninth Uni.
ted States cavalry, who conducted
scouting parties OF troops through al
portions. of Jackson Hole. also found
this TO be the case. In connection with
the troubles between the Indians and
the whites. spent some time inquirinf
into the causes for the unconceaiec
hostility of the Jackson Hole peopl,
against the Indians. There was liftl,
or no complaint among the settlers o
offensive conduct on the part OF tn,
Indians. In no Instance has there evei
been well authenticated case where {
settler has been molested by an Indian
The killing of game by the Indians
and by the increasing number OF tour
fus t.ta
region of big game as 10 jeopardize tn,
occupation of professional guides a
jackson Hole. 1t was decided at tn,
close OF last season TO keep the Indians
out OF the region this year. ana tn,
events of this summer are the result
of carefully prepared plans"
PLANNED TO KILL THEM.
Continuing. the deputy marshal says
III full investigation OF the jackson
Hole affair should be held the fac
would be established that when Con
stable Manning and his posse OF 2
settlers arrested party OF Indians OF
July 1s. and started with them 70
Marysvaie. he and his men did- all the.
could to tempt the Indians to try an
escape. I'm order that there might be
basis OF Justification for killing som
of them. The whole affair was, / be
fieve. premeaitated and prearrange
plan TO XIII some Indians and thus sti
up sufficient trouble 10 subsequent
get United States troops into the re
gton. The plan was successfully car
y1ed out and the desired results oh
tained. IL would. however, be but a
act of simple justice 20 bring the me
who murdered the Indians 10 tria
There are. however. no officials In tn
Jackson Hole country. state or na
fionai who win hold any Of Manning
posse for trial. Either the anti-India