Indian Affairs: Commissioner Smith to Visit the Chippewa; Trial of the Modocs Resumed
By Commissioner Smith, and Before the Military Commission
Two linked dispatches from the summer of 1873: the Indian affairs commissioner's planned tour of western tribes, and grim testimony from the military tribunal trying Captain Jack and other Modoc leaders for the killing of General Canby.
NewsPipe summary
The Cairo Bulletin · July 10, 1873 · Page 1
1 min readWASHINGTON, July 9.
Commissioner Smith of the Indian bureau will leave here soon for a tour in the West, and will visit the Chippewa Indians in Minnesota, for which tribe he was formerly agent, and while absent will visit other tribes on the Missouri river. He goes to Minnesota especially to settle up the affairs of the agency and turn them over to Douglas, his successor. From Minnesota he goes to the Indian country for a conference with Gov. Davis in relation to Scarface and Big Tree, in August.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 3. FORT KLAMATH, July 6, via Ashland, July 9. The military commission met this morning and proceeded with the trial of Capt. Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Black Jim, Shacknasty Jim and Bogus Charley, who were implicated in the Canby massacre, on a charge of murder, and the violation of the laws of war. The witnesses examined were L. F. Riddle, his Indian woman Toby, and L. S. Dyar. Toby swears positively that Capt. Jack shot Gen. Canby, Schonchin killed Meacham, and Boston Charley, Dr. Thomas. Boston Jim tried to kill L. S. Dyar, and Bogus Charley knocked her down with his gun and tried to take her horse. The testimony of Riddle corroborates that of his wife. The testimony of Dyar amounts to nothing, as he could swear to nothing except that he was present when the firing commenced, and that he was chased by Boston Jim, Boston Charley, Shacknasty Jim, Steamboat Frank, and Bogus Charley, who were [...]
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