Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/290/357.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 23:12:33+00:00

Document:
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the District of New Mexico. [290 U.S. 357, 358] The Attorney General and Mr. J. Crawford Biggs, Sol. Gen., of Washington, D.C., for appellant.
Mr. George R. Craig, of Albuquerque, N.M., for appellee.
By indictment in the federal District Court for New Mexico Gregorio Chavez and Jose Maria Chavez, described as 'non-Indians,' were charged with the larceny, on January 3, 1932, 'at and within the limits of the Pueblo of Isleta, the same being Indian Country, in the State and district of New Mexico,' of certain live stock belonging to designated Indians of that pueblo. By a demurrer, the defendants challenged the indictment as not stating an offense against the United States, and in support of the challenge asserted (1) that the pueblo of Isleta is not Indian country within the meaning of the statutes whereon the indictment is founded; and ( 2) [290 U.S. 357, 359] that, even if the pueblo be Indian country, larceny committed therein by the who is not an Indian is not within those statutes. The court sustained the demurrer, dismissed the indictment, and gave a certificate declaring in effect that the judgment was put entirely on the ground that when the statutes underlying the indictment are properly construed-and particularly when construed in the light of the act enabling New Mexico to become a state-they do not make larceny within the pueblo of Isleta by one not an Indian, even of property belonging to an Indian, an offense against the United States, but leave the same to be dealt with exclusively by and under the laws of the state.
By sections 451 and 466, title 18, U.S.C. (18 USCA 451, 466),2 larceny committed in any place 'under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States' is made an offense against the United States, the punishment described varying according to the value of the property stolen; and by section 217, title 25, U.S.C. (25 USCA 217),3 the general laws of the United States relating to the punishment of crimes committed in any place within its exclusive jurisdiction are extended, with exceptions not material here, to 'the Indian country.' These are the statutes on which the present indictment is founded.
The lands of the pueblo of Isleta, like those of other pueblos of New Mexico, are held and occupied by the people of the pueblo in communal ownership under a grant which was made during the Spanish sovereignty, [290 U.S. 357, 361] was recognized during the Mexican dominion, and has since been confirmed by the United States.
We then pointed out that neither their citizenship, if they are citizens, nor their communal ownership of the full title in fee simple, is an obstacle to the exercise of such guardianship over them and their property. We also there disapproved and declined to follow the decision in the early case of United States v. Joseph, 94 U.S. 614 , relating to these Indians, because it was based upon reported data which in the meantime had been found to be at variance with recognized sources of information and with the long-continued action of the legislative and executive departments.
Section 217 now being considered, like the section considered in that case, was originally a part of the act of 1834. One speaks of 'Indian country' and the other of an 'Indian nation or tribe of Indians.' The act as a whole makes it apparent that the term 'Indian country' was intended to include any unceded lands owned or occupied by an Indian nation or tribe of Indians, and the term continues to have that meaning, save in instances where the context shows that a different meaning is intended. 13 Nothing in any of the statutes now being considered requires that it be given a different meaning in this instance.
It follows from what has been said that the people of the pueblo of Isleta are Indian wards of the United States; that the lands owned and occupied by them under [290 U.S. 357, 365] their ancient grant are Indian country in the sense of section 217; that the United States, in virtue of its guardianship, has full power to punish crimes committed within the limits of the pueblo lands by or against the Indians or against their property, even though, where the offense is against an Indian or his property, the offender be not an Indian;14 and that the statutes in question, rightly construed, include the offense charged in the indictment.
As the District Court's judgment rested upon a mistaken construction of the statutes, the judgment cannot stand.
[ Footnote 1 ] Act of March 2, 1907, c. 2564, 34 Stat. 1246 (U.S.C., 682, title 18 (18 USCA 682)), and section 345, title 28, U.S.C. (28 USCA 345); Acts January 31, 1928, c. 14, 45 Stat. 54, and April 26, 1928, c. 440, 45 Stat. 466 (28 USCA 861a, 861b and note).
[ Footnote 2 ] Formerly section 5356, Rev. Stat. and sections 272 and 287, Criminal Code, Act March 4, 1909, c. 321, 35 Stat. 1088.
[ Footnote 3 ] Formerly section 25, Act June 30, 1834, c. 161, 4 Stat. 729, and section 2145, Rev. Stat.
[ Footnote 4 ] Chapter 310, 36 Stat. 557.
[ Footnote 5 ] February 16, 1911, 36 Stat. 1454; August 21, 1911, 37 Stat. 39.
[ Footnote 6 ] 37 Stat. 1723.
'First. That ... the sale, barter, or giving of intoxicating liquors to Indians and the introduction of liquors into Indian country, which term shall also include all lands now owned or occupied by the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, are forever prohibited.
[ Footnote 8 ] See United States v. Sandoval, 231 U.S. 28 , 34 S.Ct. 1, and United States v. candelaria, 271 U.S. 432 , 46 S.Ct. 561,70 L.Ed. 1023, where the matters bearing on the history, characteristics, status and past treatment of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico are extensively stated and reviewed.
[ Footnote 9 ] Territory v. Delinquent Tax List, 12 N.M. 139, 76 P. 307.
[ Footnote 10 ] Act March 3, 1905, 1, c. 1479, 33 Stat. 1048, 1069.
[ Footnote 11 ] United States v. Mares, 14 N.M. 1, 88 P. 1128.
[ Footnote 12 ] Act June 7, 1924, c. 331, 43 Stat. 636 (25 USCA 331 note).
[ Footnote 13 ] Clairmont v. United States, 225 U.S. 551, 557 , 32 S.Ct. 787, et seq.; Donnelly v. United States, 228 U.S. 243, 268 , 33 S.Ct. 449, Ann.Cas. 1913E, 710; United States v. Pelican, 232 U.S. 442, 447 , 34 S.Ct. 396, et seq.; United States v. Ramsey, 271 U.S. 467, 470 , 46 S.Ct. 559, et seq.
[ Footnote 14 ] Donnelly v. United States, 228 U.S. 243, 271 , 272 S., 33 S.Ct. 449, Ann.Cas. 1913E, 710; United States v. Pelican, 232 U.S. 442, 448 , 451 S., 34 S.Ct. 396; United States v. Ramsey, 271 U.S. 467, 469 , 46 S.Ct. 559.
[ Footnote 15 ] United States v. Sandoval, 231 U.S. 28, 49 , 34 S.Ct. 1.

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