Semi-weekly herald., 1911-02-06
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The white men have broke out again, =
and pulled out down the road at full
speed. Later 1t was learned that a
couple of young men had n slight alter.
cation up the street which prompted
the Navajo to run for his mount and
In burlesque continued shouting, THE
white men have broke out"
There are some $4,000 Navajoes on
the reservation. Pennington is stu,
ated only three miles from the east
lines, and as the Indians are constant
ly coming in for supplies a splendid
opportunity Is afforded to study them
at close range. As we see more OF
The tribe the impression is gained that
in many ways the Navajo is superior
to many other of the Indian tribes, yet
possessed of the weakness of human
nature much the same as other NOR
tails OF all races and nationalities. Like
other Inferior races in a measure the
Navajo is merely a grown-up child.
They have a code of right and wrong
which is at variance with ours to a
marked degree. If taken literally their
frankness and straightforward manner
OF speech at times impresses one as
coming from an innocent child. No
better illustration is needed than the
confession Of Chis.chiilins-begay for
the killing OF Richard weathssaIf,
which occurred at Pueblo Bonfto, 6ixty
miles south OF Pennington. last June.
All Indians on this extensive reserva-
ton apparently place n child-like trust
in Mr.. Shelton, the Indian agent at
Shiprock. Immediately after the crime
the Indian made haste to reach the
agent. to whom he fully unburdened
himself, AMI as the subsequent com
mltment trial indicated, withheld moth
Ing. The murderer in one night rode
from the scene OF the crime to Ship
rock, more than one hundred miles
across country Of which there Is per-
haps none mere rough and dangerous
In New Mexico.
Chis-chiIIing-begay's Confession.
Under our code OF criminal laws and
procedure the confession OF this Nav.
ajo to the agent probably would with
out support or verification condemn
any man II taken literally under the
white mans Interpretation. He fully
confessed the killing and related at
great length his grievances OF long
standing which led up to the murder
From the Indians viewpoint OF jus
tice. and his code of law handed down
through traditions doubtless he felt
himself justified and already exoner,
ated before firing the fatal shot The
courts have yet to pass judgment. But
the unreserved story he told the Indian
agent brings out the Navajo traits and
character. 1t is said OF them that in
giving testimony under oath they blum.
der along unwittlngly until their whole
story is told. with no reservations or
equiyocations.
The whites and Navajoes have lived
in peace many years In this part OF
New Mexico. The whites repoee con
6dence and trust in the Indians. In
matters of barter and trade many OF
the Indians have extensive credit with
merchants and well-to-do whites.
The commitment trial OF CHS chill.
ing-begay before the magistrate In
Pennington attracted several hundred
Indians here and they remained in
constant attendance several days un-
til the close OF the trial which bound
the prisoner over to the district court
without bail. During the time many
councils with only the accused, Indian
Agent Shelton. Sheriff Dufer, the In
terpreters and visiting Navajos pres
ent were held under trees on the out
skirts Of town. The implicit conf
dence reposed in the agents instruc
tions and council by all the Indians
was noticeable.
The November term OF district couri
at Aztec passed the case over until
the spring term and Agent Shelton
was given custody Of Chis-chilling be
gay until that time. The agent guar
antees that the prisoner will report
for trial at Aztec when wanted. Thii
10 perhaps case without parable
where a man accused Of murder and
denied bail has been released from
prison practically upon his own cog
nizanoe or rather . substitute cogniz