The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-07-10
TRUSTY INDIAN POLICE.
IN THIS CAPACITY THE RED MAN IS
AN EFFICIENT SERVANT,

| "AiN Ao"At whiting. Ills lighting QlS
position and his Indifference to wha
would be termed discomfort and pri
Walton by white men, gave the United
States government grounds to believe
that the Indian would make a gooi
! soldier, and several companies were
organized and stationed at frontier
posts. The experiment has proved {
failure, and the war department is
sued an order for the DISARMAMENT OF
the company stationed at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, on May 81.
Many of the Indians who were use.
less as soldiers became valuable mem
bers OF the Indian police, and it is
probable that most of the Fort Sill
company will enter that branch of the
government service. As members OF
the Indian police they will have more
freedom, will not be restricted so
closely as to hours Of service, will not
be confined to narrow quarters, and on
the whole will feel themselves, more
free IN every respect. Those who
have already served in that capacity
have shown on many occasions that
>the Indians are we'll fitted for the
duty. This branch was organized by
Major John Mclaughlin, and among
those who became members of the
force, and did good service in it's early
days were some Of the braves who had
given the country the most trouble
when they were on the warpath. A
notable example Of this kind is Chief
Gall, who was one Of the judges at
Standing Rock Agency, in South Da-
kota. D. F. Barry, who knew him
well, said Of this chief: Ellis. bearing
was almost regal, his face expressive,
and his~ssfliigghtest motion graceful. He
was born leader; men, more brave
than crafty, and he knew not. what
tear was. He was the brainy and in
trepid chieftain Of the most warlike
band | ever saw in any Indian nation.
lie attracted attention wherever he
went, and those who have seen him, I
will venture to say, have never for
gotten him. It was Gall and Crazy
Horse who commanded the Indians
that took part in the Custer massacre.
10 SHOW you how Gall inspired admir-
alton, I will read to you from letter
l have from Mrs. Custer, widow of
the general, written since the massa-
ere. She writes: Painful as it is to
me to look upon the pictured face of
an Indian, I never in my life dreamed
there could be in all the tribes as fine
a specimen of o warrior as GALL"
Gall was succeeded as Judge in the
Rock Agency by John Grass.
These men were Of the higher OF Off
cial class of the Indian police, but the
privates are equally notable in their
sphere. They are conscientious and
liligent in the discharge of their
duties, and perfectly trustworthy and
'eliable. The Indian who becomes
member of the police feels proud of
lis little authority, and does not hest
ate to arrest his best friend. The
officers have SO little fear as to the
oyalty of their Indian police that some
# the most desperate Indians have
'een placed on the force. OF these,
aain-in-the-Face is a good sample.
lie is a policeman at $40 month, with
he same duties to perform as any
'ther private in that branch of the SER
ice, although he has deeds to his
redit which would entitle him to great
at the hands of his
ellow-warriors. He is the man who,
ccording to accepted accounts on that
ubject, killed "Tom" Custer, the
rother of the general, and mutilated
is body in the most horrible manner
nd he killed and scalped also Drs.
Ialzinger and Balerano. He has been
member of the police force for a
ear, and has given perfect satisfac-
on.
At the various agencies where there
an Indian police there are also In
ian justices who occupy similar places
that which was held by Gall. There
le Indians who are guilty Of any mis-
are brought by the police,
nd there justice is administered.
heft, horse stealing, drunkenness
nd all other offences are tried there,
nd those who are found guilty are
to confinement in the look
p for various lengths of time, to work
4 public property or saw wood.
curt is held on ration day, about
vice every month, and at such times
le men who have been arrested by
e Indian police are brought up for
ial, and are allowed to defend them
Ives before the judges pronounce .
ntence upon them.
Cases of drunkenness among the In
ans are handled with great severity.
he Indian justice makes it his duty ]
discover the person from whom the
ldian received the liquor, and aids
e authorities in his prosecution. He {
so inficts punishment of imprison- 1
ent on the Indian who was found in
Some travellers in the In