The Green Forest tribune., 1896-06-04
The Fl. SMITH u. S. COURT.
UNLESS CONGRESS iNTERFEsEs rRsrEsst.
TORY WILL SOON GOVERN ITSELF.
The Jurisdiction To Be Moved After the COMING
August rerm-Noies and Comments


mt to change the law which removes
the jurisdiction over the Indian conn
try out of the hands of the court of the
Western District Of Arkansas. the Ter
ritory will have the governing of itself
after the coming August term Wheth-
er the change will be a wise one for the
Government remains to be seen. but
those in a position to know the coDt}i-
tions and the probable effect of such
change, think it will be very great
mistake.
The Court, as it has been conducted
Tor tWentY-one years, is noted through
out the length and breadth of the ma
ton as the most rigid enforcer of the
laws extant. While the Indian Coun.
try has been hot bed of crime for
these many years, yet mob violence has
been stranger there, for it is a recog-
nlzed fact that justice, whatever it is.
can always be had in Judge Parker's
court. 1t is always the lack of the en-
forcement of the laws that causes any
country to be terrorized by mob law.
The population of the Indian Terri
tory, that is, the rank and file of it, is
not the class of citizens who would take
an interest in the enforcement of the
law. large per cent Of the popua-
ton of the Territory is made up of in
truders there who have but little re-
spect for good government. AS for the
Indian bloods, there are but few of
them who are competent to sit in q
court of justice. Hence, it will be al
most an impossibility to make up ju.
ries in that country that are honest
and competent enough to enforce the
law
The juries as they are made up now
in the FIT. Smith court are, for the
greater part, the very best class of cit
liens in this country and they know
nothing Of the various cases they are
to sit upon until th~ law and evidence
are placed before them, and they have
no friends to reward nor foes to punish.
Nothing but sense of justice prompts
them to act.
The expenses of the court are met by
the general government, and Arkansas
has equally as just claim upon the To-
cation of this court as any other section
could have. Statistics show that this
court, considering the amount Of busi-
ness, has been the least expensive
court in the Government.
The argument used in favor of NOV
ing the jurisdiction is the expenses and
loss of time to the people of the Terri
But this is very feeble excuse for jus
tice is always supposed to cost much
and there should be but little consider
ton for expenses when compared to
just and rigid enforcement of the law.
The secret of the desire for the re-
moval that is held by the people of the
Territory is 70 keep from having to deal
with Judge Parker and the Arkansas
Jurors. A good story was recently tola
the writer by Deputy U. S. Marshall Ct.
P. Lawson, which illustrates to dem
onstraton the estimation in which the
average citizen Of the Indian Country
holds the Jurors from this State.
Mr. Lawson is one OF the very best
men on Col. Crump's force, AID has
dealt with some of the toughest men
who ever perpetrated crime in the
Territory. He was one of the chief in
struments 10 the capture of the famous
Cherokee Bill. Among the many cap
lures he has effected was that of the
notorious Jim Dyer at Waggoner several
months ago. jim was not q bandit,
but the evidence showed that while he
had been going about in the guise of an
ordinary citizen he bad planned some
of the most gigantic schemes for rob
berries, which were put into execution
by confederates. Jim had to be Knocked
down Will, pistol and hand cnfled be-
fore he would consent to be taken to
Ft. Smith, but he earnestly proclaimed
Innocence and declared to Mr.. l.. that
a fair trial would vindicate him, and
that he would.soon be a free mar.
In due time the trial came on and
Jim was given Is years. Soon after he
was returned to jail and before he was