Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-10-10

WAS HELD
PRISONER
Chemawa Authorities At
tempted to Pull off,
Shotgun Wedding

have released Asa d. Bagnell, full
blooded young klamath Indian grad
uate of the school. He was let go
yesterday evening, and permitted to
return to the lodges and tepees of
his people.
The alleged Imprisonment was an
attempt on the part of the school au-
thorities to coerce young Bagnell in
to a marriage with Mabel Mckay, an
1S-year-old Indian student, to whose
delinquency Bagnell was accused of
contributing.
Judge Delos Woodruff, of Curry
county, guardian of the Bagnell
heirs, made formal demand for the
release of Bagnell, and is said to be
now on his way to Salem to enforce
his written request for the boys
liberty. Carson e. Cannon, attorneys
of this city, were employed by the
Indians relatives, and they threat
ened to secure the boys release on
habeas corpus proceedings. These
legal steps eliminated in the boy be-
ing given a ticket home.
However, the authorities pur-
chased the boy a ticket by way of
Portland and the Pacific ocean,
route that will consume more than a
week, while his guardian is coming
into Salem by the direct railroad
route. In this way the Indian and
Judge Woodruff, his guardian, will
be kept apart for another ten days,
at least.
In the meantime, the boy made
several unsuccessful attempts to es-
cape. At one time he got as far as
Kelso, Washington, where he was
overtaken by the school authorities
and brought back to the school,
The condition of the Mckay girl
was said to have been discovered in
August, and she was sent to her
home at Woodburn. and from that
time Bagnell was kept under surveil-
lance.
Young Bagnell stoutly maintains
his innocence, and says that young
white man connected with the insti-
tuition is the cause of the girls de-
ception, and for that reason Bagnell
has been refused a trial before civ
IL tribunal.
The authorities of the school have
some kind of a written confession
signed by Asa Bagnell. He claims
that it was procured under duress,
and is not true. Bagnell is 10 years
old, and the legal jurisdiction of the
school over him ceased July 3Oth.
Assistant Superintendent Camp
bell said this morning that he ex-
PEELED Bagnell from the school yes
terday, but admitted that he had no
Jurisdiction over him since July, and
that instead of expelling him, he re-
leased him from surveillance, and
purchased him a ticket home.
MIR. Campbell also said that he
tried to make the girls father take
legal action in the matter, but that
he refused to do so.
1t is rumored that the girl does
not attribute her betrayal to the In
dian, but to young white man.
Mr.. Campbell admitted that the
boy had his diploma. and that he
had been restrained illegally. On
the other hand. the Indian school au-
thorities are the guardians of the
GIRL as she has not yet been gradu-
ated or expelled. As such, they
could have recourse to the civil au-
thorities and compel the young In
dian to make any legal restitution.
Mr.. Campbell says, as far the
school authorities are concerned, the
incident is closed.
The authorities say they stiil hold
Bagnelrs confession and an inter-
eepted love letter from BagneIl to
the Mckay girl. For what purpose
these documents are being kept. as
the incident is closed. is not known,
unless 1t is for the defense of some
one else the girl may accuse.
The persistene efforts of Asa Bag
nell to escape from the Indian school
do not comprise all the elopements
from that institution In the past few
weeks. Another runaway is Zinka
Colby. aged -. who is said TO be
booked for expulsion when appre-
hended. and who Is rumored to be
charged with admitting boy students
into Mcbride hall. the girls dormi-
tory; Mary Mcdaniel. who has been
returned; Albert Auberry. aged IS;
William Booth, aged 81; Paul Der
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