New-York tribune., 1895-08-31
THE BANNOCK MURDERS.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DENOUNCE
THEM AS ATROCIOUs OUTRAGES.

DELIBERATE CONSPIRACY TO STIR UP TROUBLE
-cowARDLY SLAUGHTER OF AN OLD MAN-No
HOPE OF PUNIsHING THE MURDERERs.
Washington. Aug. 3O.-Acting Attorney General
Whitney to-day made public two reports received
by the Department Of Justice in response to
inquiries regarding the Bannock troubles in Wy
oming. United States District-Attorney Gibson
Clarke, for Wyoming. reports as follows:
/ have no doubt whatever that the killing Of
the Indian Ta-Ne-Ga-On. on or about July
49, an atrocious. outrageous and cold
blooded murder and that 1t was murder per-
petrated on TIE part Of the constable. Manning.
and his deputies. In pursuance of scheme and
conspiracy on their part TO prevent the Indians
from exercising right and privilege when is, In
my opinion. very clearly guaranteed 10 them by
the treaty before mentioned. Should the prose-
cution on the part OF the United States be &c
termined upon 1t would be useless to commence
II before commissioner. AS the law is now, we
are bound to bring prisoners before the United
States Commissioner nearest to the place OF ar
rest and in this case 1t would be before II. Petit
grew the Commissioner at Marysvaie. / am In
formed that he is thoroughly in sympathy with
the so-caled settlers in that region, and that he
advised Constable Manning and his posse that
the provisions Of the treaty under which the
Indians claimed the right to hunt upon the un-
occupied lands Of the United States had. for some
| reason, ceased to be operative: and hence think
that to cause the arrest Of these men and take
them for hearing before this Commissioner "ouiu
simply result in their discharge.
1t seems 10 to be great pity tnat there IS
no National law which can certainly be INVOKED
for the protection OF these our domestic subjects
weak and defcnceess as they are, IN tnelr flght
TO enjoy those privileges guaranteed 10 tneni by
a solemn treaty. TO the enforcement OF wnicn tne
honor of our country Is pledged, and tnat thelr
only protection against forcible resistance TO their
enjoyment of these rights must be f9und In the
courts Of the State wherein the jurfes Will I'M
questonably look upon them as possessing no
rights which white man Is bound TO respect
The Distr.ct-Attorney has been advised that
the Department concurs with him In the opinion
| that there is no Federal statute under which the
offenders can be punished.
The second report comes from the United
States Deputy Marshal of Wyoming. who says
that from personal investigation he Is satished
that the reports made by settlers charging the
Indians with wholesale slaughter or game TOT
wantonness or for the hides Of the animals nave
been much exaggerated. He asserts that when
Consta BILE Manning and his posse Of twenty-six
settlers arrested party Of Indians on July ID
and started with them for Marysvale, he and his
men did all they could to tempt the Indians to
try to escape in order that there might be
basis of justification Tor killing some of them
He says that from Manning himself he learned
that none Of the horses Of the escaping party OF
Indians were shot. Notwithstanding his order 10
that effect but that at least six indians were
was killed; Nimits. boy of about twenty, was
wounded so that he could not escape. and the
others got away. Constable Manning said to the
Deputy United States Marshal: The old II l.
ian was killed about 200 yards from the
trail. He shot in the back and oled 10
death He would have been acquitted had ne
come in and stood his trial, for he was an old
man. almost blind, and his gun was not nj 10
kill anything"
The Marshal states that when the body oi
this old. sick blind man was found, after lying
unburied in the woods for about twenty DAYS, IL
was seen that he had been shot four times IN
the back. The boy. Nimits. who was wounded
was shot through the body and arm He was
left on the ground where the shooting occurred
and remained there. living on some dried meat
for ten days He crawled for three nights 10
reach a ranch Of a man friendly to Indians and
was seventeen days without medical attendance.
The whole affair was, in the Marshals opinion.
"a premeditated and pre-arranged plan 10 XII
some Indians and thus stir up sufficient trouble
TO get United States troops subsequently into the
region. and ultimately have the Indians shut out
from Jacksons Hole.