Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-08
South Dakota Indians Watch the Signs
Of the Times and Get a Divorce
When They Wish 1t.
AN ADVANTAGE OVER A WHITE WHITE MAN
The Indian Was a Bigamist, but Being an
Indian Was Let OFF and Getting His
Divorce Flew to the Arms Of
His Charmer.

Chamberlain, July Especial to the
A. gus-Leader. while the South Da-
kota divorce industry appears to lag at
present so far as concerns white prin-
cipals, the Sioux Indians, who formerly
paid no attention to laws relating to
marriage or divorce, are o reaching
the conclusion that IL they wish to be
strictly up 10 date" they must, when
unable to live peaceably with their has
bands or wives, resort to the divorce
court and procure separations in white
man style" In this they are encour-
aged by the Indian bureau and by the
Indian agents, the policy Of the govern
ment being that when an Indian and
his wife cannot agree they must seek
lawful relief in a divorce court instead
Of simply separating and marrying in
the lax fashion prevalent among the
Sioux up to a few years ago.
AT a recent term or court In this city
three divorce cases, in which members
Of the Sioux nation were principals,
were tried before Judge Smith, c. c.
Morrow Of this city being attorney in
each CT the cases. The cases attracted
greet attention. The one having the
most romantic features YVES that OF APP
pearing Earth against First Born, her
husband. The couple were married at
Crow Creek agency by United States
Indian Agent Dixon In October, 1890.
Both belong on the Crow Creek reser-
vation.
All went smoothly in the First Born
hot- Schold until about two years ago,
whit a young Sioux beauty named
Fool Bear appeared on the scene. The
red skinned beauty had been attending
an eastern Indian school and had re-
turned to the reservation to pass her
vacation when she and First Born met
n formed a warn attachment for
each other. Naturally the jealousy of
the patient wife was aroused. Then
the recreant husband and the young
charmer decided TO elope. They fed to
Yankton agency, but we're followed by
the Indian police, who had been placed
on their trail by the deserted wife, and
forcibly. carried back to Crow Creek
agency, where they were thrown into
jail. After remaining In Jail for a time
they were liberated, and the relatives of
Good Natured Fool Bear again sent her
to the eastern school, hoping that the
separation would cause the lovers to
forget each other.
A few months ago the Indian girl re-
turned to her home on the reservation.
First Born and the charmer again left
the reservation and went to Gam VAL
ley, the county seat Of Buffalo county.
where they were married by Rev. E. p.
S%wartout, a Methodist minister. They
returned to the reservation that even
ing, and the next morning were ar
rested and placed in jail. Complaint
sioner Stuart of this city against First
Born charging him with bigamy, and a
warrant was issued and served by a
deputy marshal.
At the preliminary hearing the attor-
ney for the accused maintained that
the United States was without jurisdic-
ton In the matter, as the marriage GER
emony constituting the act of bigamy,
was performed outside the Crow Greek
reservation, and therefore only subject
to the state statutes. The commission
er concurred in this view and First
Born was released. His lawful wife
then instituted divorce proceedings
against him, and won the case. The
chief witness bore the significant name
of William Trutbteller.
Never Misses and Her Cane we're the
principals in another of the cases. They
were married at Crow Greek agency in
February, 1895, by Indian Agent Treon.
They lived together until the spring Of
that year, when, after numerous ARRAYS
they separated. On one occasion the
wife drove an awl into her husbands
body in a number of places, and at an
other time crawled up behind him,
grasped him by the hair and literally
dragged him all over their mansion.
The husband Is a consumptive and not
long for this world, while the wife Is
very muscular and weighs about 225
pounds.
The principals In the other divorce
case were Charlie Eagle and Maggie
Grow, who were married by the Indian
agent at Crow Creek agency in August,
1893. Prior to the marriage Maggie had
eloped with a young warrior named
Strong Blanket, and as a punishment
was sent to the government Indian
school at Carlisle, Pa. She attended
school for three or four years and com-
pleted her education. Soon after re-
turning TO the reservation she met
Charlie Eagle, the couple loved each
other and were married. Strong Blank
ct was destined to cause trouble In the
family circle, and welded such an in
fiuence yer Maggie that she deserted
her husband. The latter instituted d.
vorce proceedings against his tickle
spouse, and his petition was granted by
Judoa Cpnith