The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-07-02
WISE LAWS UPHELD D|CT|ON IS ORNATE
Indians Had Laws Like White
Mans in Oklahoma.
Chickasaw Legislature Inflicted Death
for Horse Stealing and Pre-
scribed, Fines for Minor Of
fen3es-Code Regularly Passed.

Twenty years ago there was a gov
eminent within the bounds of Okla
homa that limited the amount of prop
erty one might have, forced one to
secure permission of the officers be-
fore erecting a bridge across river,
prescribed the death sentence for
stealing horse, and provided for the
whipping of criminals for the smallest
offenses.
The government was that of the
Chickasaw nation of the Chickasaw In
dian tribe.
The government was established in
1875, shortly after the Chickasaws
were granted the right of sepaTa-
ton from the Choctaws, and ended
in 1906, when the tribal government
of the five civilized tribes was dis
solved.
Many OF the old time Chickasaws
say their government gave better pro-
lection that Uncle Sam furnishes to-
day.
They had no authority over person
living in their country who was not a
citizen of their nation, and their only
recourse in case he broke a law was
to expel him from that nation and
turn him over to the United States
authorities. -
They did not want non-citiZens in
their territory; they forced them to
obtain a permit before entering, then
they Disseminated against them in
settling the amount of property they
could possess in the form of live stock.
They even forced citizens to obtain
permits before they could hire aliens
to enter the Chickasaw nation.
The chief form Of property in the
early days of the government was live
stock-cattle, horses and hogs. I'm
fenced range was anybody's range,
and the way one man told his cattle
from the other mans stock was by
the brand-they all ran in the same
herd.
It was the same way with horses.
One could catch the other mans ami
NAL without fear that he was being
watched.
The penalty for the first offense Of
horse stealing was greater than. that
for second degree murder, and that for
the third offense of stealing horses,
death by hanging"
For the first offense the thief re-
stored the stolen property, was fined
not more than 5000, and was given
SO lashes, well laid with hickory
switch on the bare back by the sher-
iff" For the second degree murder
the penalty was mot less than one nor
the national jail"
First degree murder was death by
hanging until Dead as was the third
offense of robbery, poisoning per-
son with intent to commit murder, or
treason against the Chickasaw nation.
If one set fire to the prairies be-
tween March l and August 1, he paid
all damages resulting therefrom and
fine of $40 besides. If he had no
money, he spent not more than 80
days in the national Jail.
If citizen took up and MIXED
COW that did not belong to him, he
was liable to fine of $40. If he mar
ried wife and did not have the event
recorded inside Ct 80 days" he was
charged from 81 to $40 to help pay
for the upkeep of the national gov
eminent.
If one citizen built an abode, though
it be only dugout, it was crime for
another to intrude to within 444 yards
of the dwelling in any way whatso-
ever.
A noncitizen was Disseminated
against even in the matter of mar
riage He could not marry a citi-
zen maiden until he had been living
in the nation for two years; then he
was charged license fee Of $50.
All these laws were passed by a
legislature of two houses, constituted
ON the plan of our national legislature,
all members of which were Chickasaw
Indians, and all of whom were elect
ed by popular vote, in which all male
citizens above nineteen years of age
had a voice. Each law was approved
by the governor.
The old Chickasaw capital was
Tishomingo, now fourishing little
city in what is now Johnston county.