Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-11-06
WALKING SHIELD is HUNG
he KILLED THE MOTHER OF
CHRISTIAN INDIAN
MADE A HERO BY THE ACT
SoKED WITH THE MARSHALS ON
HIS WAY TO THE GALLONS

Sioux Falls, S. D., Oct. 2S.-Walk-
ing Shield, Rosebud Indian, has
been hung for the mIrder Of Mrs.
Ghost Faced Bear on the Rosebud
Indian reservation May 8, 1901, On
the way to the gallows the Indian
joked with the marshals. The muir
dered woman was the mother of the
girl with whom Walking Shield was
enamoured and the Indian killed her
$50 she would not be in the way"
Last night at shutdown Walking
Shield sang weird death song, as is
the custom of Indians about to die.
Love for a woman whose regard for
him underwent change because OF
the civilizing influence Of the white
mans religion led Walking Shield to
commit the crime for which he paid
the death penalty. Not understand
ing why his his affection was not re-
ciprocated. but blaming the mother
of Mabel Ghost Faced Bear for stand
ing between him and his hearts de-
sire, the savage stole at night to the
caDin Of the woman, shot and killed
the mother, seizing the daughter,
rode away to his camp three miles
distant.
The story of this Indians love for
the Sioux maiden possesses many ele-
ments Of romance. Walking Shield
was "blanket Indian" one who
adhered to the belief Of his fore
fathers. The great Spirit and the
happy hunting grounds of tradition
were his God and his Heaven. The
killing of squaw was, according to
his reasoning, merely an incident In
the attainment Of happiness.
His victim and her daughter we're
Christian Indians. Education at the
Carlisle Indian school was factor
IN opening the eyes of the girl to the
imperfections of her former lover.
The mother, ignorant, and old and
ugly. but possessing the intuition of
the woman, prevented an elopement
of her daughter when the latter was
blinded to the faults of Walking
Shield.
Ten years ago Walking Shield, then
a rugged, handsome youth, daring
and reckless, attracted the attention
Of Mable Ghost Faced Bear. Mable
returned the affection.
Walking Shield betrayed love of
adventure which led him to crime.
He robbed the store Of Sylvan Win
ter, the post trader at Lower Brule
agency. He was caught and thrown
into Jail, from which he escaped by
saving his way out.
The Indian police were aroused
aod opened fire on the prisoner. He
shouted defiance to his enemies, and
running amid hail Of flying lead.
reached the Missouri river half a
mile away. Although exhausted by
his exeItions, he threw himself into
the stream. The bullets of his pur.
suers battered about his head. He
swan across the river and taking e.
the bluffs, went south opposite White
river, whore he again swan the
stream and rejoined his tribe on the
Rosebud reserva ton.
His exploit made him hero among
the young braves. Walking Shield |
deied the police, who feared him.
He was never re-aIrested. -Four years
later he and his brother ran off a |
herd Of cattle and were captured and |
locked up at Deadwood. The BROTH
eI committed suicide by hanging and |
Walking Shield later escaped, stI uck |
out for the foot hills and was left In |
peace.
These transactions In no manner |
injured his social standing among |
the Indians or his eligibility as a |
husband, but Mrs. Ghost Faced Bear
objected to her daughters engage
ment and forbade her association
with him. Mabel planned to elopt
with her reckless lover. The moth.
eI locked her daughter in her room
The next day she was taken to the
agency and the stage bore her away
TO the Carlisle Indian school, where
she remained three years.
When she returned she was a differ
ent girl. She avoided Walking
Shield The influence Of the religion
and education of the "pale face"
had wrought the change.
But OF this Walking Shield knew
nothing. In the shade Uf his lonely