Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1897-04-16
THE CLOSING OF THE NET.
Coudotto Talks Of Certain Thsngs.-
Enough 20 Assure the LAW Off.
GERS That TAey Arc ON the Rtghs
Track.

The Record has nothing sensational to
give regarding the hunt for evidence
against the men now IN Jail at Williams.
port, under suspicion of having CON-
mitted the horrible murders at Winona.
Thanks to the persistent efforts of Peter
Shier, sheriff Of this county, 10 get hold
of the prisoners and take them where
full investigation could be had, point in
this matter has been reached where there
is an almost absolute certainty that the
guilty parties will suffer the penalty by
law provided for their crime.
The date set for the preliminary trial,
or hearing, OF Frank Blackhawk and
Alex. Coudotte (the way the latter signs
his name) was Tuesday, April 10. By the
evening of that day the town was full Of
people interested in the case. The fol.
lowing is list Of those who were in
town:
Witnesses for the state; Charlie White
Bull, Frank Gates, Moses Martin, Sam
MCGEE. Aaron Wells (sub.agent Cannon
bsll), Martin Winters, Bap,iste Gabe.
John Bruguier. Misrepresentation Car
ignan, -.,.,...a>.s..-... .--..
Witnesses for defense Keep the. Eagle
(policeman). Standing Soldier lieutenant
Of police), Thomas Ready (chief of Ind
ian police). Jack Treetop. Interpreter
III. ]. Mclaughlin.
The preliminary examination was to
take place before Justice Edlck. In or.
der that the case tor the state might be
ably conducted aud the investigation
thorough, the people of Winona had
raised purse and secured the services of
Attorney Ed. Allen. of Bismarck. Mr..
Allen arrived at Williamsport about noon
of Wednesday, and he and the state 8 attor.
ney at once began an extended examlna.
tiou Of the states witnesses to ascertain
if possible just where the state etood in
the matter of evidence.
Wednesday afternoon there was q
startling incident, and soon tie fact be-
came public that the night before Coudotte
had attempted to commit suicide. On
Wednesday the prisoner was taken out
of his cell and upstairs to have private
interview with his attorney, Mr.. Lynn
While he was out John Edick, the day
guard, went into the cell, where he dis.
covered pools of blood on the bed clothes.
Coudotte, being questioned, claimed that
hls nose lad bied. He was at once
stripped Of his clothing. Two bad gasbes
were found, where the prisoner had
tried to disemboWel himself. The nj.
tempt had been made with small pen
knife that IN some way he had managed
to conceal while being searched.
That night Coudotte, having been told
that he must die, made confession"
IN which he claimed that Blackhawk had
committed the murder and had told him
about it afterward. The wound was at
first considered to be dangerous; but. ii
proven guilty. Coucotte will undoubtedly
remain 10 sufficiently good health to
walk to the gallows.
Coudotte's wife and mother (both full.
blood lndians) called at the jail and were
permitted to see the prisoner. The poor
creatures kissed him and shed tears over
him but he showed no signs of emo.
tion. None Of Blackhawk's relatives
called on him.
There is strong evidence being gath.
cred against the prisoners. Even were
the exact nature OF the evidence known
to q newspaper writer, it would hardly be
right at the present time TO make 1t pub
lie. There is one matter, however, that
was public with every one here this week.
It Is claimed that the evidence Of
two Indian boys will be to the effect that
they called at the Spicer house on the
fateful Wednesday; that they had called
there before and had been we'll treated BY
the family, who would give them some
lunch and each cup of coffee; that whom
they went to the house on the day named
Blackhawk and Coudotte came outside
and said, in effect: 1--WE just came here,
and We find that this whole family has
been killed. If you say anything about
1t We will be blamed for it." It is said
that they finally went down ID the tim.
ber with the boys, intending to take their
lives; that the four were down there for
some time. and that, on the boys repeated
promises to say nothing about it, their
lives were spared; that. being IN terror of
death ut the hands of the two half
breeds, they made no statement regarding
the matter until few days ago.
On account of the discovery that new
evidence could he obtained from Indians
who were not In town. by agreement of
counsel the examination was not pro.
ceeded with, and consideration Of the
case was postponed until May 9th.
There Is now . double guard over the
prisoners at night--Tom Kelly and Frank
Smith.