same offence, part of which sum
was refunded. A previous offend
er on the same charge was a white
trader, one John Dull wa3 fined
ItiO.OO. The fox being alive and
in evidence at time of arrest.
-:is there were five men charged
w’tli this awful crime we will ac
count for No. 5. He denied all the
charges against him and was de
fended by Dr. Barnes and acquitted
by the jury without argument. Now
as the Game Warden acknowledg
ed in court that he had never at
any time during hi3 visits up river
explained or told them that such a
law existed and they denied ail
knowledge of it, I leave to the im
agination the feelings of all self re
specting residents of Bethel. And
knowing the condition of the fam
ilies impending destitution, they im
mediately wired a petition to Dis
trict Judge Clegg and one to the
Governor, asking for commutation
of sentence. Receiving the follow
ing reply from acting governor
Thiele: “Governor is without pow
or in the matter.” Judge Clegg
replied suggesting wiring petition
to Delegate Sutherland asking for
commuting of sentence to term al
ready served and on being shown
destitution would thru the marshal’s
office authorize $75.00 for each fain
ilv We are at present awaiting re
suits. Now as this is their trap
ping season ana the trap-lines ot
these men are working what fair
minded man will justify the actions
of all concerned in this injustice.
And as the acts have been commit
ted last spring why were they not
prosecuted at that time. The fol
lowing is my explanation. The
commissioner was and is in debt Jo
the storekeeper who owns the jail.
The jail supplies are all purchased
there.
The dog team which is used by
marshal is owned among them. The
preceding commissioner was remov
ed at the marshal’s request and the
present incumbent appointed in the
face of the opposition of the majori
ty and from that date the jail has
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Miners and Merchants Bank
of Ketchikan
Established in 1906
CHARLES BENJAMIN
Headquarters For
Fishermens Supplies of All Kinds
Wrangell, Alaska
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been continually occupied by natives
for trivial offences. At the time of
arrest of these natives the jail
would have been vacated, but it ac
cidentally happened that the present
occupants arrived on time, so that
the fire never went out on the
m mey game. Now at present there
art four occupants doing seventy
five days for same offences which a
jury did not under the circumstanc
es consider worth the trouble or ex
pense of arrest. In this the jury
wu3 unanimous with the exception
of afore mentioned storekeeper.
Those men have lost their trapping
serson on which their families de
pend. All for What? I leave it to
the imagination of the reader.
The native population of the Kus
kvdiwim are as I know them a
friendly peace loving people and
their hospitality is well known. Un
fortunately for them they lack the
determination and individuality of
the Indian and need the helping
hi od of fairminded men. I am In
no way connected with these peo
ple either by blood, or by marriagu
or trading. And on many an occa
sion I have been glad to accept
their hospitality, which was free!:
given with no hope of remuneration
arc! if this will help in any way to
relieve them of their present di3
tr*nt and suspicion of all white
men for which they have very good
rea. on, I will be amply repaid.
Yours Faithfully
SUBSCRIBER
Sheldon Jackson
School
SITKA, ALASKA
High School
and
Industrial Training
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