Legal Document

368 U.S. 351 82 Supreme Court Reporter 424 7 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 346 Paul SEYMOUR, Petitioner,v.SUPERINTENDENT OF WASHINGTON STATE PENITENTIARY. Number 62. Argued Dec. 13, 1961. Decided Jan. 15, 1962. Glen Atlantic Wilkinson, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Claron C. Spencer was with him on the briefs. Stephen Way, Olympia, Wash., respondent. Mr. Justice BLACK delivered opinion of Court. 1 The petitioner Seymour charged burglary by State Washington in Superior Okanogan County and pleaded guilty to lesser included offense attempted burglary. Upon this plea he convicted sentenced serve seven one-half years state penitentiary. Later, commenced proceeding filing a petition writ habeas corpus urging that his conviction void want jurisdiction grounds an enrolled, unemancipated member Colville Indian Tribe therefore ward States; 'purported crime' which had been committed 'Indian country' as defined 18 Code KF62 § 1151, Annotated KF65 U5 1151;1 country is 'within exclusive States' under 1153, 1153.2 Since petition, return answer raised issues fact, referred matter original trial court determine (1) whether Tribe, (2) country. After hearings, upheld petitioner's claim membership but rejected contention upon based occurred 2 court's conclusion crime did not take place any factual doubt precise where fact undisputed. Nor rest uncertainty proper definition term expressly recognized applicability 1151 defines include 'all land within limits reservation Government, notwithstanding issuance patent, and, including rights-of-way running through * *.' Rather, rested solely its holding that, although once reservation, since dissolved question restored public domain. 3 Agreeing court, then denied corpus,3 it previously ex rel. Best versus Court,4 'What still known south half diminished no longer reservation.' part meaning §§ 1153 depends interpretation application federal law, resolution presented case raises importance pertaining country's relationship wards, we granted certiorari.5 4 turns current status Reservation—a created 1872 Executive Order President Grant declared 'the bounded east Columbia River, west Okanagan north British possessions, be, same hereby, set apart for' Indians.6 In 1892, size when Congress passed Act providing subject reservations allotments made individual Indians, about commonly 'North Half,' should be 'vacated domain *.'7 This not, however, purport affect remaining 'South Half' or 'diminished Reservation,' instead reaffirmed South Half 'still reserved Government their (the Indians') use occupancy.'8 Half, clear over charged, if found at all, must some action subsequent 1892 Act. 5 courts authority assertion 1906 Congress9 implemented 1916 Presidential Proclamation.10 provided sale mineral lands settlement entry homestead laws other surplus Reservation after were first patents issued 80 acres 'each man, woman, child' either 'belonging having tribal relations said Proclamation pursuant simply prescribed method disposal authorized. viewed completely wiping out precisely manner restored' North 'to domain.' careful consideration, cannot agree has support language ignores important differences between provisions restoring 6 Nowhere there similar vacating Quite contrary, repeatedly refers makes intention continue exist such.11 Moreover, Act, unlike provides proceeds from disposition affected shall 'deposited Treasury credit confederated tribes Indians belonging rights Reservation, congressional power appropriate net general use. Consequently, seems purpose neither destroy existence nor lessen responsibility reservation. more than open way non-Indian settlers own Federal acting guardian trustee regarded beneficial development wards. That construction finds treatment Time time again statutes enacted 1906, explicitly continued Reservation.12 As recently 1956, statute undisposed-of dealt March 22, (34 Statutes-at-Large 80), are hereby ownership held trust extent all existing valid rights.'13 (Emphasis supplied.) adopted Department Interior, agency government primary affairs.14 And Solicitor General urged very case. We conclude erred because existence. 8 Counsel present two alternative contentions which, sound, would sustain here even dissolve courts. these rests particular parcel patent fee non-Indian. though permitting come it, actual purchase non-Indians owned Indians. entirely implausible face indeed, one distinguished commentators Law.15 But issue squarely put enactment currently prevailing government, 9 urges interpret words 'notwithstanding patent' mean only Indian. does suggest, can find, adequate justification such interpretation. us strongest argument against exclusion patented applies equal force alike. For nonexistence jurisdiction, parcels land, law enforcement officers operating area will find necessary search tract books order criminal each offense, Government.16 Such impractical pattern checkerboard avoided plain see adopting unwarranted result merely recreate confusion specifically sought avoid. 10 second pressed located governmental townsite Omak, town laid 11 contends authorized plot filed record County, encompassed thereby dedicated interest dedication inconsistent became exercise Washington. nothing variation State's attempts make special excluding towns opposed non-Indians. arguments led reject contention, somewhat less here, nonetheless require contention. point 1151's lends slightest idea creating lessens scope living Celestine,17 'when established tracts remain until separated therefrom Congress.' unable taken away boundaries 1892. property plainly try offense. 12 judgment denying reversed cause remanded further proceedings opinion. 13 Reversed remanded. 62 757, amended, 63 94. 'Any who commits person another following offenses, namely, murder, manslaughter, rape, incest, assault intent kill, dangerous weapon, arson, burglary, robbery, larceny country, penalties persons committing above States.' 758. Schneckloth, 55 Wash.2d 109, Pacific Reporter, 2nd 669. 107 Wash. 238, 241, 181 KF135 P2 688, 689. 365 833, 81 749, 743. & N Immigration Nationality Decisions Kappler, Affairs, Laws Treaties (2d ed.), Page 916. 27 62, 63. page 64. 34 80. 39 1778. See 2, 3, 12, pages 80—82. See, e.g., 123, 154—155; 672; 40 449; 41 535; 43 21; 54 703, 16 835d et seq.; 69 141, 143; 70 626—627. Two statutes, 449 1918 535 1920, do illustrate may have during short period they 'former Washington.' It also significant 1956 while recognizing contained provision looking towards termination supervision affairs Confederated Tribes members *' reasonable time. followed closely 1953 67 588, 590, 28 1360 note, could acquire meeting certain conditions Congress. Williams Lee, 358 217, 222, note 10, 79 269, 251. These yet met respect Reservation. 14 I.D. 559; 59 147; 60 318. 15 Cohen, Handbook Law, 359 (1942). Of course work compiled before 1948 amendment 1151. Objection possibility administratively unworkable distribution voiced Interior. 61 298, 304. Frank Black Spotted Horse, Cir., 282 KF105 F3 349, 353—354. 17 215 278, 285, 30 93, 95, L.Ed. 195.

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