The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-24
MR.. HOLY TRACK
ASKS DIVORCE
OF WHITE BELLY
Indians Of the Bonesteel, S. D.
Reservation Are Becoming
Quite Civilized
FOLLOW WHITE
MANS ETHICS
About a Score Of Divorces, In
volving Some Peculiar ALE
cations, Are Pending


Bonesteel, s. D., April PA glance
at the calendar of the Gregory county
circuit court, which convened for its
regular term today, is sufficient to
show that there is nothing in the pop
ular belief that the red man is inca
pable of adopting the white mans
ways. No fewer than twenty divorce
cases are on the docket in which In
dians are the principals. This is re-
garded as good record even in South
Dakota. 1t is the first session of the
court under the new law which abol-
ished the Indian courts and required
that all Indian cases shall be tried by
whites.
The complaints would indicate that
the Indians apparently have better rea-
sons for desiring that their marital
bonds be severed than is oftentimes
the case with their white brothers and
sister. For instance, James Ghost
Walk wants a divorce from his wife,
Bessie Ghost-Walk, on the ground that
she eloped with Walking-Soldier The
facts in the case Ghost-Walk expects
to prove by Thomas Two-Stocks and
William Bear. The complainant also
asks for the custody of his child, Mol
lie Three-Thighs Ghost-Walk.
A case in which the wife is the COM
plainant is that of Alice Good-Muskrat,
who asks for divorce from her hus-
band, Henry, who is charged with elop-
ing with Flora Walks-as- -She-Jumps.
The plaintiff wants her maiden name
of Alice High restored.
Another case is entitled Poor-Ma
Star-Boy VS.. Jennie Star-Roy. Poor
Man alleges that Jennie ran away from
him four years ago and took up her
abode with an Indian named Walking
Thunder, with whom she is now living.
His witnesses in the case will be
Three-Dogs, Kicks-High and Three
Moons.
Kate Belt, after waiting three years
for Anthony Belt to return, sues for a
divorce and aimony in the shape of a
slice of Anthonys land and some of
his ponies and blankets. Mule-Driver,
High-Hawk and Whatsoever will De
the witnesses for the plaintiff.
HOly-Track wants divorce from
Never-Stampede, who is alleged to have
belied his name by stampeding with
Anna Buffalo-Pipe. White-Belly, Three
Toes and One-Tail are expected to
prove the facts alleged by Mrs. Holy
Track.
One of the most peculiar cases on
the docket Is that of Josephine Dog
Soldier, who gives most novel reasons
for desiring a divorce from her spouse.
She declares that when she was sick
Dog-Soldier bought coffin and made
preparations for her funeral and when
she got we'll Dog-Soldier became very
angry. threatened to shoot her, knocked
her leg out of joint and finally drove
her away from home. She expects to
prove these allegations by Left-Hand-
ed-Thunder, Whistling-Crow and Rat
tling-Shield.
Other cases that will he tried before
the term of court is ended are those OF
Picket-Pin VS.. Mary Picket-Pin, James
Bull-Tail VS.. Bear Bull-Tail, Helen
Turning-Bear VS.. Fred Left-Hand, His
and Hail Fast-HOrse VS.. Fast-Horse.
Among many tribes less civilized
than the Rosebuds divorce suits are
still tried according to the Indian code
of Jurisprudence, without recourse to
the paleface courts. The recent deci-
sion Of Federal Judge Trieber, handed
down at Omaha, abolishing the Indian
court, does not affect the divorce laws,
which are remarkably simple. The
mother of the squaw is the court of
last resort, and whenever she deems
it desirable or expedient she can go to
the tepee of her daughter and COM
mand her to leave, this action consti-
tuting a legal divorce. Both parties
are then at liberty to marry again.
There is no appeal from the decision
of the mother-in-law Of the brave thus
deprived of his squaw, and those de-
sirous of keeping their wives are al
WAYS careful to keep in the good graces
of the maligned mamma-in-law.
Among many Indians of South Dako-
ia the order of Judge Trieber dissolv-
ing the tribal courts has aroused great
dissatisfaction. Especially is this true
at the Pine Ridge Sioux agency, where
three learned jurists, Standing-Soldier,
Thunder-Bear. and Fast-Horse, have
long dispensed justice among the 5000
redskins with almost universal salts
faction.