Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1897-04-30
Murderers of the Spicer family
Confess.

6OGnOflCleS nave secured concession
from the two Indians at Standing
Rock Agency who have been suspect
ed of completely in the Spicer murder
case. These two Indians are Paul
Holy Track and Philip Ireland, who
are known to have had some of the
property that was stolen from the
Spicer place at the time of the murder.
Among the articles taken when the
murders were committed was peculi-
ar gold ring engraved with the initials
of Mrs. Faldron who was one of the
victims of the crime. Shortly after
the murder IN Indian at the agency
saw the ring in the possession of Holy
Track, who had tried to dispose of it
without success.
This fact led the authorities to sus-
pect Holy Track and his companion,
Ireland. and after the confession had
been secured from Caudott, the authors
tiles devoted their energies to getting
the facts in the case from the two
young Indians in question. 1t was
believed that these two boys had hap
pened at the Spicer place and had
found the other two Indians there and
had been induced to keep quiet, partly
through fear of being suspected of
having been concerned in the murder,
and partly through hope of reward.
The property that was stolen was di-
vided aud the ring fell to the posses
sion of Holy Track and his efforts to
dispose of it led to the final detection
of the real criminals.
Candott's confession was believed
to be only partially true, as he natur-
ally tried to shield himself. He ac-
cused his companion, Black Hawk, of
having instigated and carried out the
crime alone and unaided. This state
ment was disbelieved and it was
thought, from all the facts in the case,
that both men were implicated. The
confession which has just been secured
from the two boys corroborates this
theory and duplicates all four in the
crime, although the boys are only
probably accessories after the fact,
.they having been on the scene of crime
and agreed to keep quiet about it, in
consideration of a share Of the spoils.
After the property had been divided
up11y o,,1 TNo1 nd 1vao% 1,o.,l, f.>
the reservation and the other Indians
who were the actual murderers, went
out into the wild country on Grand
river, where they expected to remain
until the matter had blown over and,
if they were suspected, to claim that
they had not been near the place
where the murder was committed and
thus prove an alibi. Their arrest on
the charge of stealing was unexpected
by them and. interfered with their
plans.
The two boys are now in the guard
house at Fort Yates and will be
brought up to Williamsport to testify
at the preliminary examination of the
other two Indians. Their testimony
will break down the stories of the
other men and the entire tale of the
crime will then come out. AS far as
testimony is had now, it shows that
Black Hawk and Candott had been on
a spree for several days and had run
out of money to buy more liquor.
They were desperate and knew that the
Spicers were supposed to have money.
1t is probable that Black Hawk pro.
posed the crime and the other man
aided in it's execution.
Black Hawk has the appe arance Of
a fiend and appears absolutely with.
out conscience. The appearance Of
the premises where the murder was
committed, at the time of discovery OF
the crime, showed that the murderers
had been disturbed just as they were
about to begin to conceal the bodies,
and the coming of the two boys who
have just confessed would account fol
this.
Later-According to the story as
now secured Black Hawk killed
Thomas Spicer by shooting him in the
back. Caudot called to Mrs. Spice1
that Spicer was i'll and as she ran out
he stabbed her with pitchfork. Tho
two boys who have been taken to
Winona, killed Mrs. Waldron, all old
woman of 80 years, and Black Hawk
killed Mrs. Rouse and the babies.
The four then rifled the place and
skipped. The excitement at Winona
is intense and the authorities are
watching for an opportunity to get the
two Indians away from jail where they
are confined at present to the Jail at
Williamsport where the other Indians
are confined. If the residents OF
Winona get hold of the boys there will
be a lynching. The facts thus secured
establish the perpetrators of the crime
beyond any doubt.