East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-01-30

Charles j. Ferguson or tnls CITY, was
peremptorily elected from the Una
tilla Indian reservation on Monday
evening, by o. C. Edwards, superin-
tendent of the agency, as penalty
for acting as stenographer for the 1n-4
dians in their investigation of the
burning of five OF their tribesmen In
the destruction of the agency Jail on
January 20.
While taking testimony in the In
dian court upon the request of Chief
No Shirt, Mr.. Ferguson was informed
by Edwards that he could not proceed
with his work, but that he must forth
with cease taking notes and leave tho
reservation.
Accordingly Mr.. Ferguson turned
over to Edwards the notes in his pos
session and came TO Pendleton in
company with Umapine, sub-chief of
the tribe.
The action of Mr.. Edwards has
caused sharp criticism from every
source. as It is not believed that the
department will sustain him in his ef-
fort to smother a complete investga-
ton Of the burning OF the five Indians
in the agency Jail.
Details of the Affair.
The Indians on the Umatilla reser-
walton not being satisfied to let the
matter of the death of five of their
number rest without a complete in
vestigation, have been holding coun-
ellis and meetings to decide on some
plan to get their wrongs before the
Indian department
Having noticed Mr.. Ferguson at the
coroner's inquest taking down the tes-
timony Of the witnesses, they made
arrangements for him to be present
at the council held at the agency on
Monday last to take the statements of
witnesses who were acquainted with
some of the facts concerning the ar
rest and Imprisonment of these In
dians who were burned.
The coroner's jury only attempted
to ascertain what the cause of death
was and did not go into a full investi-
CATION of the circumstances surround
ing the arrest of the Indians or the
other matters connected with the case
These facts the Indians desire 10
have investigated and it was for this
they engaged Mr. Ferguson to get the
complete statements of all who were
acquainted with anything bearing on
the case.
When Mr.. Ferguson arrived at the
agency on Monday morning the In.
dians had not commenced to assemble
for their council, so he waited. one
of the Grand Dukes" of the agency
an agency clerk, was Immediately de.
tailed to watch him and remained or
his tracks until the Indians went to
he residence of Yum-sum- to talk
ard have lunch.
Upon their return at l o'clock they
found the council room crowded witt
Indians and the taking of the state
ments was commenced. To facilitat,
matters and get 1t in shape for tht
Indian department the Indians hat
requested Mr.. Ferguson to ask tn,
questions as he had done at the cor
oner's inquest. He had asked but {
few questions from the witness whei
the clerk who had been assigned tn,
task OF shadowing Mr.. Ferguson sen
note to Edwards, who immedlatel.
appeared in the court room and or
,dered the examination to cease. TIT
notes made by Mr.. Ferguson in short
hand were ordered transcribed, bu
Mr. Ferguson refused to do this AM
they We're then taken by Edwards ant
the investigation was discontinued.
Edwards offered one of his clerk
as stenographer for the Indians, bu
the offer was rejected, since the lead
ing Indians said they did not trus