East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-01-31

Pendleton, Jan. S1.-CTo the Edi-
tor )-In view of the publicity given
the incident of last Monday on the
reservation, i'm which I figured, have
thought 1t best to make a public
statement.
No Shirt, Umapine and Poker Jim
called on me to inquire as to the cost
of copy of the testimony taken at
the coroner's inquest. They desired
10 forward this testimony to Washing
ton andNstated that council had been
called for Monday at the agency,
when other witnesses would be pres
ent and engaged me to take their
testimony. After terms had been ar
ranged l agreed to be ready on Mon
day morning and accordingly went to
the agency as had agreed.
met Major Edwards at the agency
office and talked with him, telling
him did not know exactly what the
Indians intended doing and asked him
IL he knew. He claimed he knew
nothing about their intentions and
ut that time did not object to my
presence, nor to my reporting their
council.
At dinner time quite a number of
the Indians were at Yum-sum-k -kin's
house and it was then they told me
what they expected to do and what
! they wanted me to do. They wanted
me to ask the witnesses what they
knew of the circumstances connected
with the arrest of the five Indians
who were burned and get their state
ments and put them in shape to send
to Washington with the testimony OF
the coroner's inquest
When we returned to the council
rooms after lunch was proceeding
to do this when Major Edwards made
his appearance and loudly ordered
me to desist, but stated that I might
report what was asked and answer
ell If the Indians did the question
ing.
We We're getting along very nicely
on this system when he again OBJ
jected to my having anything what
ever to do with the affair, telling the
Indians 1 had no business there; thai
if they wanted the proceedings of the
council written down he had stenog
raphers who would do 1t or they
could get some Indian who coulC
write to do 1t. and ordered me in {
loud and officious manner to brint
my notes to the agency office an,
make transcript of them for him.
II was then 1 told Major Edward
If he wanted the shorthand notes tc
take them, as l would not make
transcript of them for him. This h
did and now has the notes at his of
flee. As to whether or not he had {
right to demand these notes is a mat
ter the department will have a chanc,
to pass on.
believe it was Major Edwards
idea that I would be forced by hi
high handed manner to make resist
auce, so he could use violence, but
disappointed him in this regard.
was n member of the coroner
jury at the inquest on the death o
these five Indians and am now posi-
tive that had we gone deeper int
the facts at the time the verde
would not be the same.
For the information OF the publ
will state that from some of tn
statements secured it is possible tha
, a graver crime had been committe
which the burning of the Jail conceal
ed. As to the rights of the India
police to act as they did of course
am not in position to decide one wa
or another.
1 am in position, however, to sa
that in my opinion the case warrant
-. a thorough investigation for there al
many things in connection with tn
death Of these Indians to justify
and not only this, but there are otht
facts that an inspector can find o,
which are not to the credit of II
=, Indian police, to the way affairs al
conducted on the reservation, nor
Major Edwards personally.
He has conducted affairs at Il
g agency and on the reservation in
;, high handed and autocratic mann,
which has bred a disgust and col
- tempt in the minds Of the Indians Il
D the government and departmel
e which he represents It was my fir
experience with Major Edwards ar
" my opinion of him here publicly e:
:, pressed Is that he is an officious bul
of the 10 cent variety.
&c CHARLES ]. FERGUSON.
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