Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-17
HANDSOME Elk WAS
A BAD MAN TO ARREST
Trial of an Indian That Is Calling
For More Than the Usual
Attention.
HE FIRED ON INDIAN POLICE
He Then with All the sioux Cum
ming Evade Arrest While
Continually Taunting
His Pursuers.

Chamberlain, April 12.--Not since the
trial In the United States court at Sioux
Falls of Plenty Horses, a Sioux indian,
for the wanton killing OF Lieutenant
Casey OF the regular army, during the
closing days of the indian outbreak at
PIN Ridge agency in the winter Of 1890
81, has there been 20 much interest
aroused on the Sioux reservation as In
the result Of the trial Of Handsome Elk,
a Lower Brule Sioux, who is under in
dictment for shooting two Indian police
men with intent to Kill. The shooting
occurred April 13, 1896, and Handsome
Elk will be tried during a term OF fed
eral court now In session at Sioux Falls.
His attorney Is s.. IL. Wright of this
city.
The shooting resulted partly from the
fact that Handsome Elk lived quite
close to the reservation line and was the
possJssor OF a number of cattle. These
occasionally stIayed to the coded por-
ton OF the reservation, and Handsome
Elk, In leaving the reservation 10 bring
them back. violated an order OF the
United States Indian agent prohibiting
Indians leaving the reservation without
a permit. Another version is that
Handsome Elk was accustomed to do
hlo NldhllB dN u sNpit htBl ny a
man at a point about th~ree-quarters OF
a mile from the reservation line, and
had spoken a good word for the store
to Indian friends who lived in the vicln-
ity. A post trader, who pays a govern
ment license for the privilege Of con-
Quoting a general stone at the agency,
Is also alleged to nave made complaint
to the acting Indian agent against these
Indians, and Handsome Elk in partic-
ular. for leaving the reservation with
out passes TO do their trading at stores
other han that at the agency.
Nevertheless, Bear Shield and Boy
Elk, Indian policemen, were sent to ar
rest Handsome Elk and take him to the
agency. Boy Elk and Handsome Elk
had never been friends, the latter alleg-
ing that the former had on numerous
occasions used his official position for
the purpose of annoying him and aus
ing him trouble. owing to this feeling
1t was perhaps natural that trouble re-
suited when the policeman dismounted
In front Of his enemy's house, entered
the door and called on Handsome Elk
to accompany him to the agency. The
defense Is prepared to show that the
latter replied that he had rheumatism
and must get his pony, and started to-
ward the door, when the policeman,
drawing his siX-shooter and waving 1t
threateningly, said.
81 will take you TO the agency dead
Handsome ELK himself says that he
then raj to his stable. about thirty
PAGES distant, where he had left his
Winchester rifle. While going to the
table he saw Bear Shield, whom he
had not before noticed, on horseback,
and heard him cry shoot Shoot
Boy Elk ran out OF the house, hurried
ly mOunted his pony. ana then both
shouted shoot" shoot each APP
pearing afraid to fire the first shot. Both
had weapons I'm their hands ready for
Instant action. In an instant Handsome
Elk opened fire. one bullet passed
through Boy Elk's thigh n struck his
saddle, while another passed through
the lower left side OF Bea Shield. in
hicting a wound from which he did not
recover for several months.
The ensuing two or three weeks was
an interesting and exciting period on
the Lower Brule reservation. An at
tempt was made by Indian policemen to
arrest Handsome Elk. but they were
unable to definitely locate him. While
naturally a peaceable and jovial Indian
he is, when aroused, one of the coolest,
bravest and most dangerous Indians on
the Sioux reservation, and IL compelled
TO fight would give up his life before
yielding an inch or submitting to the
slightest humiliation. AS a rifle shot,
there are few Indians on the reservation
who are his equals. While a fugitive
after shooting the policemen he sue.
ceeded in securing a quantity OF whisky
and while under its Influence shot into
the log houses Of Indians against whom
he had grievances. ON several coca
slons he went within plain view of the
agency buildings and rode backward
and forward. the Sioux method OF bid.
ding defiance TO enemies. His son also
announced that If his father was killed
he would kill the slayer.
The United States marshal was finally
called on for assistance, and Deputy
Marshals Tschetter and Lewis were
sent to effect his capture, which they
did