For an overview of this series publishing the trial records of the 38 Dakota men executed at Mankato Minnesota on December 26, 1862, see the first post.

Hinhanshoonkoyagmane’s is the fourth of forty trials in this series.

Transcript: Trial 6 Hin-han-shoon-ko-yag-ma-ne

Page Images: #6 Hin-han-shoon-ko-yag

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

 

No. 6. HIN-HAN-SHOON-KO-YAG-MA-NE.—Convicted of the murder of Alexander Hunter, and of having taken and had Mrs. Hunter a prisoner until she was rescued from him by another Indian.[1]

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Trial Record October 5, 1862

[Trial #6 – Hin-Han-Shoon-Ko-Yag]

Proceedings of a Military Commission convened at Camp Release opposite the Mouth of Chippewa River by virtue of the following order

Order No. 55                           viz:

Head Quarters Camp Release

September  1862

A Military Commission composed of Colonel Wm Crooks of the 6^th Reg., Lieut. Col. Marshall of the 7^th Regiment, Captains Grant & Bailey of the 6^th Reg. And Lieut. Olin of the 3^rd Reg. Will convene at some convenient point in camp at 10 o’clock this morning to try summarily the Mulatto, and Indians, or mixed bloods, now prisoners, or who may be brought before them, by direction of the Col. Commanding and pass judgment upon them, if found guilty of murder or other outrages upon the Whites, during the present State of hostilities of the Indians, the proceedings of the Commission to be returned to these Head Quarters immediately after their conclusion, for the consideration of the Col. Commanding.

The Commission will be governed in their proceedings, by Military Law and usage.

By order of the Colonel Commanding Military Expedition

Signed

A.A.A. Genl.

(Signed) H. H. Sibley

Colonel Commanding

CampRelease opposite the

Mouth of Chippewa River, Minn.

October 5, 1862

The Military Commission met pursuant to the above order-

Present

Col. Crooks – 6^th Reg. M. V.

Lt. Col. Marshall, 7^th Regt. M.V.     Members

Capt. Grant, 6^th Regt. M.V.

Capt. Bailey, 6^th Regt. M. V.

Lt. Olin – 3^rd Regt. M. V., Judge Advocate

Adjutant Heard – McPhail’s Mounted Rangers – Recorder

The Military Commission was then duly sworn and Hin-Han-Shoon-Ko-Yag-ma-ne _________ [underlined blank in holograph] a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charges and specifications viz

Charge and Specification against Hin-Han-Shoon-Ko-Yag-ma-ne  (nephew of Passing Hail ?), a Sioux Indian

Charge –

Murder

Specification – In this that the said Hin-Han-Shoon-Ko-Yag-ma-ne, did kill Alexander Hunter, a white citizen of the United States on or about the 19^th day of August 1862 and did participate in the murders and massacres committed at various times and places on the Minnesota Frontier between the 19^th day of August 1862 and the 28^th day of Sept. 1862.

By order of Col. H.H. Sibley

Com’d’g. Mil. Expedition

S. H. Fowler

A.A.A. G’l.

Witnesses

Wak-kin-ah-wash-tay

Mrs. Hunter

[Frame 77]

The prisoner being asked whether he is guilty or not guilty of the charge and specifications, answers–

The charge is not true.

I was in the battle at FortRidgely – Didn’t kill anybody.

I was in the battle of Birch Coolie – A great many shots were fired, and I don’t know that I shot any.  I was in the last battle at WoodLake.  The Indians said if I didn’t go, they would kill me-

I don’t remember of killing a white man.  That is all I have to say.

I did not kill Mr. Hunter nor was I one of two who delivered Mrs. Hunter to Wake-wash-tay.

Mrs. Marion Hunter, being duly sworn, says –

I know this Indian (prisoner). I have seen him before. I saw him about 2 miles below the agency where my husband was killed.  My husband and myself were the only ones in our party.

The Indian was alone – We were fleeing from the Indians towards

[Frame 78]

the Fort walking.  The Indian met us and shot my husband in the breast.  He was within 3 feet of us.  He took out his knife to cut my husband’s throat, but I begged him to desist and he desisted –

He took me prisoner and carried me towards Little Crow’s village when this man (Wake Washtay) took me from him and carried me to my mother.  I am sure the prisoner is the man–

Wakea Washtay, being sworn, says-

I know the prisoner. I met the prisoner with Mrs. Hunter and at the (??) time she said she lost her husband, going towards Little Crow’s Village.

And thereupon, the case being closed, the Commission was cleared and proceeded with their finding and sentence.

The Military Commission after due deliberation on the foregoing find the prisoner, the said Hin-Han-Shoon-Ko-Yag-ma-ne (nephew of Passing Hail) a Sioux Indian, as follows –

Guilty of the specification.

[Frame 79]

Guilty of the charge and sentence him to be hung by the neck until he is dead.

[Signed by Mil. Com. Members][2]

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Riggs Synopsis December 1862

4. Hin han shoon ko yay ma ne (one Who Walks Clothed in an Owl’s Tail) says he is charged with killing white people and is condemned. He does not know certainly that he killed any one. –He was in all the battles. That is all he has to say.[3]

Transcriptions by Walt Bachman and Carrie Reber Zeman. Page images provided John Isch.