East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-07-08

Mckay as guard, and brought to the
local Jail. When questioned he de-
MED that he had seen the murdered
woman on Saturday at all. However,
Major Swartzlander expressed a
strong belief this morning that they
had the right man although admitting
that a search of Columbia Georges
tepee and an examination of his
clothes failed to reveal any sign of
blood or other indication of his guilt.
Toy Toy Acts Suspicious.
Another thing which directed sus-
picion at the imprisoned Indian was
the actions of Toy Toy, his confeder-
ate in the murder of Anna Edna, at
Cayuse when the news reached the
hundreds of red people who are gath
cred there in their annual celebration.
There was subdued excitement and
general depression among the In
dians and nearly all gathered to-
gether to discuss the horrible tragedy.
Toy Toy, however. according to the
officers skulked into the brush skirt
| ing the camp and watched the Off
GERS furtively but was watched just
as furtively by them. Toy Toy and
Columbia George besides being con-
federates in the previous murder have
| been the closest of "tillicums" for
many years and it is generally be-
! leved that If Columbia George killed
A-te-me-at the knowledge of the fact
is shared by Toy Toy.
News Told by Criers.
| The news of the murder had a most
marked effect upon the celebrators
at Cayuse. When the first tidings
were brought in, the Indians were
just preparing for their afternoon
horse races and a great many white
people had gathered to witness the
contests The news was spread as
quickly and as Systematically as
though newspaper extras had been
issued. The first announcement was
made by Red Elk who slowly rode
before each tepee crying that an In
dian woman had been found dead.
AS each new development was receiv-
ed, another crier would follow about
the circuit issuing the intelligence in
loud voice, one bearing the tidings
that the woman had been murdered,
another that her name was A-te-me-
at, another that the body had been
| found in the river and so on with each
fresh report.
So depressed are the Indians over
the occurrence that it is thought prob
able that the celebration will be bro
ken up by the departure of the camp
ers. Yesterday, despite the efforts of
Poker Jim and other leaders, only
one or two races were pulled off and
| these without any spirit.
Squaw Wal-Iat-si's Mother.
This is the second tragedy in the
family of A-te-me-at during the last
two months, her only son, John Wa
lat-si, the famous Carlisle athlete,
having committed suicide with Isaac
Parr in this city hardly more than six
weeks ago.
Columbia George Bad Man.
/ Columbia George has for a long
time been regarded as one Of the most
vicious Indians on the Umatilla res
ervation. 1t was about thirteen years
ago that he and Toy Toy murdered
Anna Edna on the reservation by CIV
ing her whiskey in which they had
put strychnine. Anna Edna was a
medicine woman and when she failed
to cure Toy Toys little daughter Of
fatal illness, the two men plotted
together and brought about the death
of the witch" They were arrested
soon after and, after one of the most
sensational trials in the history OF
the county, were convicted and sem
fenced to life Imprisonment in the
state penitentiary. However, after
having served several years, the case
was ordered reopened upon the
grounds that the state courts had no
jurisdiction inasmuch as the crime was
committed on the Indian reservation.
Thereupon, the two murderers were
released, rearrested, tried in the fed
| eral court. convicted and sentenced for
life to the government prison at Nc
Neils Island. From there they Sc
cured their freedom through the par
doning power of President Taft, Co
lumbia George more than two years
ago and Toy Toy only last January.