Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1903-11-22
the INDIAN CASE.

the INDIAN CASE. |
Hls Home Paper States That ne Should
Not Hang.
The De Lamar Lode, the home paper
OF Lincoln county. the county from
which the Indian halls from. Who ls
under sentence Of death, publishes the
following regarding the crime and
from its tenor It is not q crime to even
hold the prisoner. let alone to hang
him.
The case Of the Indian. Conchi
Seegmiller, the slayer of Bill Williams
or wild Bill is one that appeals to
all lovers Of fair play. To the white
man the crime is one that Is abhor-
rent, but to the untutored savage, it
Is only melting out justice according
to the traditions and ethics Of the race.
And even with centuries Of civilization
behind there are many men, who, un-
der . similar provocation, would have
committed like crime, differing only
in detail. and had the sympathy Of
the community. The facts are as fol-
lows:
Bill Williams fugitive from justice
the better to elude the officers and con-
tinue his lawless acts, took refuge with
the Indians, living and associating
with them until he was considered
one Of themselves. His squaw had
daughter whom Conchi was desir-
GUS Of taking to his wickiup, but, for
reasons Of his own Williams objected,
threatening the life Of the Indian. Con-
chi, who had been employed by Will
liams. demanded his pay but williams
took q shot at the Indian. and with
threat and abuse drove him from tn.
place.
Robbed Of his sweetheart and his
money, abused and threatened. his
thoughts naturally turned to some
method Of getting even and protecting
his life and just as naturally he adopt.
ed the method taught by the traditions
and habits Of his race. He followed
Williams to the Indian Creek Ranch.
The two ate dinner together. williams
telling him he would kill him. AMI
showing his belief Of his enemy's ina
bility to kill him went to sleep on the
porch.
The opportunity was too good to
let pass and seizing Bills rifle the
Indian shot and ended q career that
should have ended long ago. The In
dian feeling he had done right, went
home, . distance Of forty miles. No
one saw him commit the crime With
0ul his own confession it would have
been impossible to convict him, and
had he known anything about law he
would have refused to confess. He
might have eluded the officers and
dened the law. He did neither. Strong
in his belief Of the justice Of the act
be waited at his home for the officers
He offered no resistance to arrest, and
with childlike simplicity told the story
without evasion or embellishment.
The grand jury found . true bill Of
indictment charging him with murder
IT, J. Osborn was appointed counse
for the defence. On the recommen
dalton of his counsel. Conchi appear
ed in court next day and pleadot
guilty. Two witnesses we're examin
ed for the State. The defence offer
ed NO evidence. II q defence had beer
offered it is believed that the verdic
would have been not greater thar
manslaughter II not acquittal. AS !:
10 he IL convicted Of murder in tn
first degree and sentenced to expiat'
his crime on the scafIold.
Considering all the circumstances
and without casting any reflection
1t any one connected with the case
for they evidently sympathize with tn
doomed boy and did only what dut
comelled them to do. the case Is ON
where the ends Of justice would b
best served. by being tempered wit
mercy. His youth, his training, hl
Instincts and the provocation all plea
in his behalf. A petition should b
laid before the Board Of Pardons. al
ing that the sentence be commute
to imprisionment for . term OF year
We feel certain that such petitio
would find many supporters and woul
be glad to see such movement .
ON foot.
a wedding.
II has been announced that the ma