The evening times., 1895-10-29
SETTLERS WILL Be TRIED
Massacre Of Bannock Indians
Will Be Legally Avenged.
ACTION OF MR.. HARMON
He Has Proceeded With Great Cau-
tiOnand Secrecy In the Matter, Fear.
ing II Defeat of Justice, and Arrests
Have Been Made Under Indictments
Found by the Grand Jury.

The settlers In Jackson's Hole, Mon., who
deliberately murdered number of Ban-
mock Indians, now stand In a fair way to
be brought to trial and conviction.
The long delay of the Government in
accomplishing the arrest of the alleged
mudcrers of these peaceful Indians has
been the subject of more or less adverse
criticism.
Those familiar with every move in the
matter here say that the Government in
stead OF being criticised In the matter
deserves cODImcndation.
Under Il treaty entered into by the Unit
ed States blythe BaDnock Indians these In
dians were given the right to hunt on the
reservation set apart for their use. This
right WIS given in lieu of rations OF an
annuity which the Government would 9TH
erwise have 10 pay.
Subsequently the legislature OF Mon
tand passed a game law prohibiting hunt
ing thin the bounds of The territory be-
Nv cen certain dates. As the Bannock In
dian reservation was wholly within the
Territory of Montana the State authori-
ties construed the hunting privileges aG-
corded the Hammock Indians by treaty
rights 10 be in conflict " it'll the State
laws.
Within the past few years the borders
about the Bannock Indian reservation, as
on all frontiers OF civilization, have be-
come infested with a rough element OF
the community, who, in Montana, taking
advantage OF the States construction of
the game laws, have sought an opportunity
TO become involved In troubles with the
Indians.
SOUGHT OPEN CONFLICT.
In pursuit OF this object, they invaded
ts..,, ft..r nd
when expelled by the Government au-
tboritics as having no rights on the reser-
walton ana as usurplng the rlghis oil the
Indians. they have sought open conflict
with the BannOcks, alleging that the In
dians were violating the game laws of the
State of Montana in hunting during the
prohibited season.
In this way speck OF war was started
with the avowcd purpose of cncroaching
upon the hammock reservation and ulti-
mately dcpriving the indians of it.
When appealed to, however, the Attor-
Dey General of the Cuited States decided
that the treaty rights of the Bannock In
dians with the United States were su-
perlor to the State laws OF Montana regard
ing hunting, as the hunting laws had been
enacted after the treaty had been en-
tered into.
The state authorities were then called
ton and to arrest and convict, IL pussi-
h)e, the murderers of the Indians.
The question of jurisdiction between the
Federal authorities and the State off
ciais, came in here, and the State auihori-
ties, it is said, rs they sympathizel with
the intruders against the Indians, showed
no disposition to move actively iu the
matter.
Attorney General Harmon, at this point
in the proceedings, stepped in and directed
the United States district attorney for
the district of Montana to proceed prop
crly in the matter.
PROCEEDINGS WERE BEGUN.
Doubt was expressed in high official
circles as to his right to do that which
the State authorities should do, but had
shown no disposition to do, and after an
exhaustive examination OF the ia ws certain
statutes We're found under which pro-
ccedings were begun.
These proceedings had to be conducted
in the most quiet unobtrusivc manner, or
else it was believed they would prove
fruitless.
The United States district attorney was
instructed to inquire into the personnel of
the grand juryeand TO quietly summon his
witnesses before il that indictments might
be procured.
1t was feared that il the gra nd Jury were
aware OF the contemplated action OF the
government influences might be brought to
bear upon it to prevent Indictments be-
ing returned, as the entire white popula-
ton Of the country was In sympathy with
the State authorities and opposed to the
Indians.
Witnesses, too. it was feared, would he
spirited away, and thus there would be no
evidence 20 lay before the grand jury. Even
after indictments were found 1t was be-
lieved that efforts would be made to spirit
away the alleged perpetrators of the muir
ders, and thus prevent arrests being made.
All these reasons. cumulatively consid
cred, induced Attorney General Harmon to
proceed with great caution and secrecy In
the matter, and now that the marshal has
made the arrests under indictments found
1t may not be improper to state the facts
as to why the Attorney General has pro-
ceeded with such apparent siowness and un
Obtrusiveness In this matter.