Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1914-07-10
Spopee Released;
Coming Home to
Spend Last Days
President Wilson Pardons
Indian from Prison
at Capital

w aSnlngtOn, July 1.-ATreI o4
years behind the bars under life
sentence for murder S. Spopee,
a Blackfoot Indian, was uncon-
ditionally pardoned today by
President Wilson He will be
released Immediately from the
federal hospital for the insane
here to return to his daughter
at Browning, Mont, whom he
has not seen since she was a
baby.
A party of Blackfeet visiting
in Washington months ago, hap
pened ON Spopee, grown gray
with his long Imprisonment.
They established his tri b a |
identity by an Indian song, and
one of the interpreters recogniz-
ed in Spopee the hero of an
old legend, who had disappeared
a score of years ago into some
white mans Jail. Blackfoot
mothers have been singing their
children to sleep with Scng
about him ever since.
Officials, advised Of the dis
covery began an investigation
which resulted in his pardon.
Spopee was charged with
the murder of a white man near
the Canadian boundary north
of the Montana line. 1t is be-
lieved by the department of
Justice that the murder probably
was committed in Canada and
that the territorial courts of
Montana which tried him at
Fort Benton had no jurisdiction.
Moreover, it is now believed
that Spopee committed the
murder in self-defense. He
and another Indian, Good Rider,
asked a white man for food.
Their request was denied and
the white man denounced Spo~
pee, finally assaulting him witt
an ak. The Indian contends he
fired in self-defenSe and his
story is credited by the depart
ment of justice.
After Spopee's conviction for
the murder at Fort Benton and
sentenced to death, he was re-
moved to the federal prison at
Fort Leavenworth. w h i | e
awaiting execution, the Indian
maintained absolute silence.
His conduct was so unusual that
he was belived to be insane and
after two years was removed
to the federal hospital here,
where he has been held a prison.
er 80 years.
| Spopee is regarded as an in
telligent Indian by physicians,
who have examined him since
the movement to obtain his re-
lease was begun.
| Commissioner Sells of the
Indian office took the case up
and arranged send Spopee back
to his people.
| Geneva Mary A., the nine
months old daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Edward Ortgier, died on
the afternoon of July 4th. The
little girl had never enjoyed
normal health and while the
loss of an only child is a hard
blow to the parents, death came
in the nature of a relief to the
little patient. The funeral was
held on Sunday last, the SER
vices being conducts by Rev.
L. j. Hawkins. Six little girls
residing IN the vicinity Of the
Ortgier home acted as pallbear-
ers. The remains were inferred
in Crown Hill cemetery.
The marriage of Miss Mary,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. John
| Connolly, to Thos. Briody oc-
CURED at Great Falls on July
4th. Miss Connolly has been
practicing her profession as
nurse at Columbus hospital in
| Great Falls. and Mr.. Briody is
an intern at the same place
They will make their home in
Great Falls.
i Mr.. and Mrs. Will Younk
Mrs. j. E. Long and Edgar Fish
left yesterday by auto fol
Helena. From there they viii
proceed to Missoula and from
that city to Kalispell.
Ed Regan was arrested las
Friday by Stock Inspecto
Sellars, on a bench warrant
charging him with complicit!
in the rustling case in whicl
several Conrad persons ar
under arrest. Bonds were flxe,
at 1000, which were Furnished