Ktunaxa Prosecutions

INDIANS RESIST PROVINCIAL POLICE – Make Demonstration When Constables Attempt to Search Packs.

            Police Magistrate John Leask read a severe lecture to Seymour Williams, Kootenay Indian, this week in addition to awarding a fine of $5 when Williams was brought up before him on a charge of having led a demonstration against Constables Gregory Thomas and Nelson some time ago.  The altercation between the constables and the band of Indians with whom Williams was associated occurred on Cherry Creek.  The constables had found the Indians hunting in closed season and suspected their being in possession of illegally killed game made an attempt to search the Indians’ packs.  The suspects rode their horses at the constables, several Indian women in the party being particularly aggressive.  There were four Indians with their women in the hunting party.  His worship found Williams guilty of resisting lawful search but an additional charge that he had trapped beaver out of season failed for lack of confirmatory evidence.  None of the women who took part in the melee were brought before the court.

            Another Indian case coming before Mr. Leask recently was based on a charge against Stanley Como of having beaten his wife.  Information in Como’s case was laid by Fred Ryckman, assistant Indian Agent.  The accused was awarded a fine of $20 with an alternative of two months in jail.