Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-10-26

-chas. WeIch Wounded.
Just at noon last Tuesday Moses
Pooler rode into Baxter at rapid
pace to inform Commissioner c. w.
Daniels of the killing of Joe Big
knife, a prominent member of the
Indian police force of the Quapaw
agency.
The killing was done by Amos
Waller, a Quapaw Indian and FORM
er member of the police force, at
the house of T. ]. Hedges and wife
about six miles northeast of Miami,
where Waller had been making his
home about three months. The
police force, consisting of Moses
Pooler, Joe Bigknife, Chas. Welch
and Bob Dawson, had approached
the house about II o'clock for the
purpose of removing Mrs. Hedges
from the reservation, intending to
bring her to this city as per orders
of the Interior Department through
the Quapaw agent. When they de-
manded admittance Vallier said
they could not come in, but as they
had orders to remove the Hedges
family at all hazards, Joe Bigknife
was ordered ahead and the police
proceeded to force an entrance. just
as the door opened and Bigknife
was crossing the threshold Vallier,
who was standing inside with a
double.barrel shot gun, fired and
the load of No. 8 shot struck Big
knife on the left side of the head
and he fell to rise no more.
The other policemen Immediately
retreated and Vallier turned the
other barrel loose at Chas. Welch,
which would likely have taken fatal
effect but for the fact that il had TO
pass through door. AS it was
only few stray shot hit Welch in
flicting slight wounds. Pooler came
to Baxter and the other policemen
went to the agency to inform the
agent and get doctor.
The only persons in the house at
the time of the shooting were Val
lier, Mrs. 7. ]. Hedges and Mrs.
Howe, neighbor. The killing was
the result of long struggle by the
Hedges family to maintain posses
sion of their homes on the Quapaw
reserve. In the fall of 1887, I. ].
Hedges and wife, Chas. p. Hedges
and wife, and Hugh Hedges, Peoria
Indians by blood, were adopted
into the Quapaw tribe. In some
way the names of the Hedges fami-
ly were few years later dropped
from the rolls and about year ago
steps were begun looking to their
ejectment from the territory. Last
May the commissioner of Indian
affairs issued instructions to Geo
S. Doane, U. S. Indian agent, to
have these persons removed from
the reservation. After several eff.
forts, during which n shooting af
fray was barely averted. T. ]. Hedg'
es. and Chas. Hedges and family
were landed over the line in Kan
sas. Chas. Hedges returned and
was then arrested and taken TO Jail
at Vinita. The penalty for this of
fense is heavy. We underst and
that few days ago Hugh Hedges
drove the police away from his
home by threats and was in Miami
on Tuesday. Mrs. T. ]. Hedges still
remains on the reservation, but we
understand she will be brought tC
this city in few days.
U. S. Marshal John Jones, Frank
Hemstreet and W. E. Donaldson
left Baxter shortly after noon Tues
day to arrest Waller. When they
arrived at the Hedges place Big
knife was dead and Vallier had
been gone over half an hour. Joe
Bigknife died about two hours aft
or the shot was fired. Nothing was
seen of Vallier until about O'Clock
in the evening when he drove into
Baxter and went before Commits
sioner Daniels and surrendered. He
was placed in Jail and on Wednes
day was taken by Officer Jones t'
the county Jail. He seemed per
fectly at ease, though possibly
little nervous.
The preliminary hearing was Sc
for next Monday at 5 p. m.
The remains of Joe Bigkuife wer'
inferred in the Peoria buryine
ground on Thursday. He was abou
IS years of age and a straightfor
ward, honorable gentleman univer
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