Wigwam and War-path Or the Royal Chief in Chains Part 56

_Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name as commonly called? _Answer._ Bogus Charley.

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

_A._ Yes.

HOOKER JIM, a Modoc, a witness for the prosecution, being first cautioned of the consequence and punishment for perjury, was duly sworn.

_Question._ What is your English name? _Answer._ Hooker Jim.

_Q._ Were you present when General Canby was killed? _A._ I was.

_Q._ Did you know he and the commissioners were to be killed?

_A._ I did.

_Q._ Are you now a friend to Captain Jack? _A._ I have been a friend of Captain Jack, but I don't know what he got mad at me for.

_Q._ Have you ever had a quarrel or fight with him? _A._ I had a quarrel and a little fight with him over to Dry lake, beyond the Lava Beds.

_Q._ How did you know the commissioners were going to be killed?

_A._ Captain Jack and Schonchin--I heard them talking about it.

_Q._ Where were they when you heard them? _A._ At Captain Jack's house.

_Question by commission._ What part were you detailed to take in it, if any, in murdering the commissioners? _Answer._ I ran Dyer and shot at him.

_Question by commission._ Had you agreed to kill one of the parties before the attack?

_Answer._ I said I would kill one if I could.

_Question by judge-advocate._ Do you like Captain Jack now, or dislike him?

_Answer._ I don't like him very well now.

The judge-advocate then asked each one of the prisoners, successively, if they desired to cross-examine this witness, to which they replied in the negative.

WILLIAM (WHIM), Modoc, called for the prosecution, and warned against the penalties of perjury, was then duly sworn.

_Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ Whim, or William.

_Q._ Were you with the Modoc Indians in the Lava Beds? _A._ Yes.

_Q._ Do you remember when General Canby was killed? _A._ Yes, I know that they went to kill him.

_Q._ Did you know that he was going to be killed? _A._ Yes, I knew they were going to kill him.

_Q._ Did you know they were going to kill the peace commissioners? _A._ Yes.

_Q._ Were you at the killing? _A._ No, I didn't go.

_Q._ How did you know they were going to kill them? _A._ I heard Jack and Schonchin talking about it.

_Q._ Any one else? _A._ That is all that I heard say anything about it.

_Q._ How long was this before the killing? _A._ I don't know exactly, but it was eight or ten days.

_Q._ Did you speak to anybody about it? _A._ Yes, I told about it.

_Q._ Whom? _A._ I told this woman here (Tobey, Riddle's wife).

_Q._ What did you tell her? _A._ I told her to tell the peace commissioners not to come; that I did not want to see them killed.

The judge-advocate then asked each prisoner, successively, if he desired to cross-examine this witness; each answered in the negative. The commission desired to put no questions.

While this man is under examination as a witness, A. B. Meacham enters the court-room. The prisoners fix their eyes on him steadfastly.

Until now, they had doubted his recovery from his wounds.

A. B. MEACHAM, citizen, called for the prosecution, duly sworn, testified as follows:--

_Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ Alfred B. Meacham.

_Q._ Are you a citizen of the United States? _A._ I am.

_Q._ What position did you hold in connection with the late war with the Modocs? _A._ I was appointed by Secretary Delano as chairman of the peace commissioners, as special commissioner.

_Q._ Now state what occurred next.

_A._ During the day the propositions that were made by Boston, that is, on Thursday, were accepted by Dr. Thomas, and an agreement made to meet Captain Jack and five men, unarmed, at eleven o'clock; all parties unarmed at the council tent on Friday. I knew this agreement to have been made by Dr. Thomas on the evening of the 10th, on my return from Boyle's camp that night.

_Q._ Did he give it to you officially?

_A._ Yes, sir. When I started on the visit to Boyle's camp, I said to Dr. Thomas, if occasion requires my presence in any business, you will act in my capacity as chairman of the commission; and as acting chairman of the commission he made this arrangement, and so notified me.