Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-05-17
First Term Of United States Court
on Puget sound.

on Puget sound.
Shortly after Captain Hills COM
pany occupied Fort Steilacoom, Hon.
J. Quinn Thornton, Indian sub-agent
north of the Columbia, visited the
Sound and offered (Sept. I, 1849) a
reward OF 80 blankets for the deliv-
cry OF the Indian murderers of Wal
lace, within three weeks. This had
the return of Agent Thornton to Or
egon City. Chief Patkanim delivered
at Fort Steilacoom six Snoqualmie
Indians, to Captain Hill.
The Oregon legislative assembly
being then in session. on being ap-
prised of the capture of the MUIR
derers, Governor Lane submitted a
message asking the assembly to pass
an act attaching Lewis county to the
first judicial district for judicial pur-
poses and providing for a special
term of court to be held by Chief
Justice Bryant at Steilacoom on the
first Monday Of October, 1849.
AS this was the first federal court
held north of the Columbia river, We
append the comments of Governor
Lane and Chief Justice Bryant in
regard to /. and it's influence. Gov
ernor Lane, in his first annual re-
port as superintendent of Indian At
fairs for Oregon, October %, 1849,
thus alludes to this court and the
trial:
Governor Lanes Report.
For the purpose of affording a
fair. impartial and properly conduct
ed trial, employed Mr.. Skinner to
go with the court to prosecute the
criminals and Mr.. Stone to defend
them. The court ordered an allow
ance of $3.50 to each of them, which
have paid out of the Indian fund in
my hands. have also paid to the
indians who worked the boats for
the conveyance of the court and jury
$3.50. The expense was necessary
for the reason there is no other mode
of travel, there being no road in the
direction OF Puget Sound and conse-
quently have to go down the Column
bia to the mouth of the Cowlitz and
up that rapid stream to the settle
ments. and then across the country to
the Sound.
"The total expense of holding the
court at Steilacoom for the trial of
these Indians amounts to s1,S99.54.
Reward Of 80 blankets. $3.50. making
the sum total of $2,379.54."
Chief Justices Report.
AT the request of Governor Lane,
Chief Justice Bryant thus reports the
trial:
"Oregon City, October 10, 1S49.
Ellis Excellency, Joseph Lane.
"Sir: In compliance with your
request to know the result of the
trial of the six Snoqualmie Indians
for the murder of Wallace in April
last, I have the honor to inform you
that in pursuance of the provisions
of an act of the legislative assembly
for the territory Of Oregon, attach
ing the county of Lewis to the First
judicial district in said territory and
appointing the first Monday in Octo-
Der at Steilacoom as the place of
holding the district court of the
United States for said county, I
opened and held said court at the
time and place appointed; Captain
B. Hill of the First artillery. U. 8. A.,
delivered to the marshal of the ter
ritory six Indians of the Snoqualmie
tribe, given up by said tribe as the
murderers Of Wallace, namely: Kus-
sass. Quallahwort, Stulharrier, Jat-
tam, Whyerk and Walthlinkyne, all
of whom were indicted for murder,
and the two first named, Kussass
and Quallahwort, were convicted and
executed, the other four were found
not guilty by the jury.
Those who were found guilty
were clearly SO; as to three of the
others that were acquitted was sat
isfied with the finding of the jury.
1t was quite evident they were guilty
in less degree, If guilty at all, than
those convicted. AS to the fourth II
had no idea that he was guilty at all
there was no evidence against MIN
and all the witnesses swore they did
not see him during the ARRAY or at
tack on Fort Nesqually.
Probably q Slave.
1T is not improbable that he was
a. slave whom the guilty chiefs that
were convicted expected to place in
their stead. as satisfaction for the
American murdered. Two other
Americans were wounded badly by
the shots and an Indian child that
afterward died.
''The effect produced by this trial
was sa1utarv and 7 have M dOuht