The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-23
FACTS OF THE INDlAN-BU RNlNG
HOrrid Details of Hrs. Lizards Fate
Furnished to Congress-.

FACTS OF THE lNDIAN-BU RNlNG
Horrid Details of Mrs. Lizards Fate
Furnished to Congress
Tecumseh. o. T., Jan 22--The Republi-
can here says: We publish below a copy
of a letter from Captain S. ]. Scott 10
Congressman J. S. Little, a copy of which
also went to Senator ]. X. Jones, on
committee on Indian affairs. This letter
from Captain Scott, well known as an
old Indian trader and friendly to In
dian people. will give congress clear and
unbiased idea of the real status of the
case:
Tecumseh, o. T. Jan. 16 1895.
Hon. J. S Little. Washington. D. c.
Dear Sir-Referring to resolution of
Senator Quay Zone dispatch says Senator
Hoar) to appropriate $25,OO0 for the appre-
hension and punishment of the guilty per-
sons who participated in the burning TO
death of the two Seminole Indians who
raped and murdered Mrs. Leard in the
Seminole nation, the resolution being re-
ferred TO Indian committee, I wish brief
ly to give you the facts as learn them.
The Leard family lived about fifteen
or eighteen miles southeast of Tecumseh.
The husband left his wife and children
where they were living and came over
into this, (PottawatomiD county to secure
a home on which 10 move. After Leard
had departed. the two Indians. went to
the Leard house where they found the
family Mr.. Leard left at his home a
Winchester gun. The wife, suspecting and
fearing the intentions of the Indians, had
the Winchester in her hand. The In
dams watched an opportunity, seized the
Winchester and knocked her down with
it, breaking the gun over her head Then,
while writing in the agonies OF death,
one of the Indians held her head be-
tween his knees while the other one raw
ished her. Then the Indian who ravished
Mrs. Leard held her head in like manner
until his companion ravished her also.
They both left her lying near the door
of the house and departed, but returned
shortly afterwards and when about dead,
both again ravished the woman.
Those who dressed the woman for burial
say the finger prints on the woman
thighs indicate that she was dead when
they last violated her person.
The Oldest child was boy eight or
ten years of age, who witnessed all and
gave the information as I have written.
The little boy could not remove the body
of his mother into the house. The child
rem remained in the house that night.
The next morning the little boy, carrying
the babe in his arms. his little sister
following, walked four miles to Maud
postoffice in this county. When the peo-
pie reached the place the hogs had badly
disfgured the woman's face and neck.
1t is said when the party of citizens
in that locality ascertained the guilty
ones that before the burning they fully
confessed their guilt. giving the details
to corroborate the statements of the lit
tie boy.
Here in Pottawatomie county we have
a population from almost every state in
the Union The political status here is
such that makes it necessary to cause
all prudent men TO be guarded in their
speech respecting the rights of others
who go to make up d community, who
from early education are likely to have
different opinions. We have, as in all
other communities the good and the bad,
the educated and the illiterate. Be it
said in all this gathering of humanity
from the four points of the compass, /
have heard no one to say that burning
was the proper thing to do. I have heard
a great many say that they should have
been killed outright, without judge or
jury.
Whatever congress may think about
this, whatever the hoary headed senator
may think and feel at a distance, let
him or them draw the picture: What If
it had been his wife or sister? and like
this community, he will say 1 don't care
TO know the names who composed that
mob, and money is no inducemeDt to get
a good man to hunt the members thereof.
Think of the mutilated form OF that
women. Think of the innocent little boy
who, in the dark hours of that darkest
of all nights, ran off the hogs from his
murdered mother at the door; the dis
tracted father who came back in time TO
help bury his wife; of the white men.
neghbors. who came and looked on and
traced out the murderers, would you
cover up the awful crime committed by
the brutal beasts? VIII money voted by
congress to prosecute a mob make more
secure womanhood? VIII it insure pro-
lection to virtuous. inoffensive, weak
mothers. sisters and wives of hard-toiling
workingmen?
This people don't approve the burning.
yet they would not approve the prosecu-
ton. The horrible crime committed by
these two Indians is too damnable ia its
nature to be borne by any community.
have been among the Indians for twenty
years and am known TO be very friendly
towards them. I have many friends
among them. but my friendship is not for
tends like these.
I do not know a single man connected
with that mob and do not wish to know.
Yours very truly,
S. ]. SCOTT.