Wigwam and War-path Or the Royal Chief in Chains Part 55

_Q._ What was done with the bodies of Dr. Thomas and General Canby? _A._ They stripped their clothes off of them.

_Q._ Did you see them do that? _A._ I seen them strip Dr.

Thomas. I saw Steamboat Frank taking Dr. Thomas's coat.

Steamboat Frank was one of the three that came up.

The above questions and answers were duly interpreted to the prisoners by the sworn interpreter, Riddle.

The judge-advocate then asked the prisoners severally if they desired to cross-examine the witness, to which they replied in the negative.

The commission had no question to put to the witness.

L. S. DYER, a citizen, called for the prosecution, being duly sworn, testified as follows:--

_Question by the judge-advocate._ State your name. _Answer._ L.

S. Dyer.

_Q._ What is your business? _A._ I am a United States Indian agent.

_Q._ Of the Klamath agency? _A._ Yes, sir.

_Q._ Does that include the Modocs? _A._ Yes, sir.

_Q._ Do you recognize the prisoners at the bar? _A._ I do.

_Q._ Do you recognize them all? _A._ No, sir.

_Q._ Who is that one with a handkerchief on his head? _A._ Captain Jack.

_Q._ Who is the next one this way? _A._ John Schonchin.

_Q._ And this one? _A._ Boston,--sometimes called Boston Charley.

_Question by commission._ I understood you to say that Superintendent Meacham got these Modocs back into the Reservation once or twice before. _Answer._ Once before.

_Question by commission._ With or without the a.s.sistance of the military? _Answer._ He had a few soldiers. I only know this from the records and reports in the office.

The foregoing questions and answers were all duly interpreted to the prisoners.

The commission thereupon adjourned to meet on Monday next, the 7th instant, at 10 A.M.

H. P. CURTIS, _Judge-Advocate of Commission_.

THIRD DAY.

FORT KLAMATH, OREGON, July 7, 1873.

The commission met pursuant to adjournment.

Present, all the members named in the order, the judge-advocate, and the prisoners.

The proceedings of the previous session were read and approved.

SHACKNASTY JIM, a Modoc Indian, a witness for the prosecution, having been first cautioned by the judge-advocate of the punishment of false swearing, was then duly sworn.

_Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ Shacknasty Jim.

_Q._ Do you remember when General Canby was killed? _A._ Yes; I know.

_Q._ Were you present. _A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did you know that he and the commissioners were to be killed. _A._ Yes.

_Q._ How did you know it? _A._ They had a talk at night.

_Q._ When was this talk? How long before? _A._ The evening before.

_Q._ Who talked? _A._ Most of the Indians; the two chiefs were talking.

_Q._ What two chiefs? _A._ Captain Jack and Schonchin.

_Q._ Did you hear them state they meant to kill them? _A._ I didn't hear them say they were going to kill them.

_Q._ What did you hear them say? _A._ I heard them talking about killing the commissioners: that is all I heard them say. I didn't hear them say who was going to do it.

_Q._ How long before the meeting of the peace commissioners when General Canby was killed was this talk? _A._ I almost forget. I don't want to lie. I have forgotten how many days it was.

_Q._ What Indians were at that meeting of April 11, when General Canby was shot? _A._ Schonchin, Captain Jack, Ellen's man (dead). I was there, and Black Jim, Boston, Bogus Charley, and Hooker Jim; there were eight.

STEAMBOAT FRANK, a Modoc witness for the prosecution, duly sworn, being duly warned against the consequences of perjury.

_Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ I am called Steamboat Frank.

_Q._ Were you present at the death of General Canby? _A._ Yes.

_Q._ How did you get there? _A._ I was about as far as from here to the end of the stables (about four hundred yards) when the firing commenced.

_Q._ Whom, if any one, were you with there? _A._ With Scar-faced Charley.

The judge-advocate now called BOGUS CHARLEY as witness for the prosecution, who, being first cautioned of the consequence of perjury, was duly sworn, and testified as follows:--