, 1900-11-01
DEATH
OF TWO BOYS IN A STORM
NEAR FORT WASH
Axle
Authorities-lack Of Jurisdiction
Of Coroner Causes a Father Much
Oistress-Judae Bramel is Inter.
ested in the Case.

A few days ago The Republican pub
lished a letter from James Calhoun Of
Fort Washable to Judge C. w. Bramel,
relating the tragic story of the death
of Mr.. Calhoun's two sons in a blizzard,
Judge Bramel to procure for him an Of
fcial investigation of the circum-
stances of the tragedy. The deaths &C.
Cured on an Indian reservation and the
state officers have no authority to
conduct such investigation on the res
ervation. The Indian agent is of the
opinion that the boys died in the storm
and, besides. the rights OF a O
are not among his official duties. The
they met their death by foul play and
he Is trying to bring about an inquiry
by the state or federal authorities.
Out of this case there has arisen a
question whether the state ought not
to have more authority over an Indian
reservation than it now has and the af-
fair is likely to go to the department of
the interior at Washington and will
probably be presented before congress
when it next meet 1t has an import
ance greater than that involved in this
one case.
Judge Bramel referred the letter of
Mr.. Calhoun to United States District
Attorney Burke. Mr.. Burke has re-
piled: and his letter. and one written
today by Judge Bramel to Mr.. Calhoun,
are as follows:
Cheyenne, Wyo., Oct. 80, 1900.
Hon. c. w. Bramel,
Laramie, Wyoming.
Dear Judge Bramel: l am in receipt
of yours of the goth. enclosing letter
from Mr.. James Calhoun.
1 received some months since a very
long letter from him. in which as l
now recall he made statements vary
ing very materially from those made
in this letter which you enclose. l
wrote him saying there was no United
States coroner's law by which an Of
fetal investigation could be had, but
that | thought the agent would LEND
him all the assistance In his power. and
advised him to take up the bodies and
examine them very closely for evil
dences of violence. and as l now re-
member, l advised If the agent did not
assist him that he should call in some
of his n%eighbors to assist him in the
examination. and then if he could point
to any person whom he suspicioned of
the offense, or could show any reason
for the committing of such an offense,
would institute proceedings before
the commissioner. l now make refer
ence to what l wrote him without re-
freshing my memory by an examina-
ton Of my letter press copy of my let
ter to him, but I have stated to you in
had no response to this letter. But I
have. however, correspondent with 9TH
ers and also with the agent, Captain
Nickerson, and I have also seen Cap
tain Nickerson and talked the matter
lover with him. and from all information
that I have yet gained there Is nothing
to indicate any violence. save and *
cepting the statement of Mr.. Calhoun,
and his statements so materially vary
as made in his letter to you from those
in the letter to me. | am now inclined
to think that he has brooded so long
upon his misfortune that little reliance
can be placed upon his statements.
I do not know Mr.. Calhoun and hence
am unable to judge, as l otherwise
would be. of the credit to be given to
what he has to say. I think you are
correct that the case. were there one,
would be within the United Sta.os jnr.
isdiction and not within that OF the
state. Should you be going to Lander,
| should very much appreciate = if
you could improve an opportunity to
have an interview with MIR. Calhoun
and should you form some estimate Of
the man, and the credence 20 be given
tc his statements, II you will kindly
communicate your conclusion to me.
You will undoubtedly observe in
reading his letter that he does not in.
dictate any reason for thinking that any
one did violence other than that one