Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-02-27

last farewell to his squaw." Whether
or not it was simply ruse, those who
were standing about saw Walks-At-
Night pull his blanket over his head,
and make a dash for liberty.
Nothing was to be done by the
sheriff." continues the communication,
lin the face Of number Of the trlne
which had assembled to witness TINS
unusual scene, but let him go, trusting
to the aid Of the agent and his police
IN recapturing him. This latter course
seems to have been discreetly chosen
as Jones and his deputy returned TO
town without him"
Sheriff Calls Meeting
The correspondent, however, lndi-
Gated his fears by stating that MI.
Walks-at-Night is continuing his pleas
ing little pastifne Of meandering about
the prairie after dark. The dignity Of
the law, however, had to be maintained,
so word was sent up Tongue river to
several Of the principal ranches notify
ing the boys to meet the sheriff and his
posse at the SH ranch on a certain
day"
According to the arrangements made,
Sheriff Jones went to the SH ranch
where a number OF men assembled TO
assist him in affecting an arrest OF
the fugitive Cheyenne. After talking
the matter over it was decided that
nothing could be done without the as
sistance of the Indian police at the
Lame Deer agency. This help, how
ever, being fatty refused, the sheriff
had to return once more without his
man"
This circumstance was quite disap-
pointing to the correspondent. The lear
Of a general Indian uprising, or some
~. oh n rob TfoPa
apparently dominated his mind. Every
body up here" he wrote, lis justly in
censed that this Indian should be al
lowed to remain at large, and would
say on behalf of the settlers in this
section, that we demand his capture
dead or alive. We do not wish any con-
sideration for our safety to stand in
the way; we can take care Of ourselves
as well now as we have always been
obliged to in the past. White men are
being shot down like dogs IN an adjoin-
ing state for offenses OF similar
character and 1t is quite time that
these worthless, neer- do-Weu redskins
should be taught in the most forcible
manner possible that their continual
depredations can not be carried on
with impunity. AS the situation now is,
Walks-at- Night, embroidered by his sue
cess in evading the futile efforts OF the
authorities to arrest him, defies anyone
to attempt his capture"
Any misgivingS arising about the fact
that after two attempts to arrest
Walks-at-N Night had been undertaken
and he was still at liberty were not inn
mediately dissolved. The sheriff's office
was lending its support, no doubt, in
appearing at crucial times and thus
alternating any misapprehensions OF a
general Indian uprising.
Government Intervenes
A little later in the month, following
the gathering at the SH ranch, Sheriff
Jones made public a notice he had re-
ceived from Colonel Swaine, Of Fort
Keogh, that an opinion Of the attorney
general of the United States had been
received at the fort, through the inter-
ior department, in which it was stated
that a sheriff had no right to arrest an
Indian on or off a reservation for an
offense committed anywhere. The no.
tice directed attention to the fact that
Indians are subject only to the laws
and authority of the United States.
This is rather q surprise" COM
mented the Miles City Stockgrowers'
Journal, Ito the whole community, as
Indians have been arrested by county
officers and have been convicted under
state laws. If it Is now fact that In
0ld1LS dIe WdIuS VI tuc 4Adtlou ehN 1O
under the protecting wing Of the gov
eminent, the matter Of the killing OF
brave Lieutenant Casey during state
of war existing between the Indians
and the government will stand out as
the most wonderful fiction. Like the
kaleidoscope with every change of posi-
ton from which the Indian is viewed
the vision is different. There Is no show
to catch the Indian, no matter what
he does, unless he Is caught in the act
and made to bite the dust on the sly,
for q white man who molests an In
dams property or person is amenable
to both the jurisdiction of the United