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.

Pazekootaymane’s is the twenty-ninth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 264 Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ni

Page Images: #264 Pa-za-koo-tay-ma-ne

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 264. PA-ZE-KOO-TAY-MA-NE.—Convicted of participating in the murder of a party of eight white men.[1]

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Trial Record October 29 1862

[Trial #264 – Pa-za-koo-tay-mane]

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 28^th 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.

                                                            H.H. Sibley

Colonel Commanding Military Expedition

Head Qtrs. Camp Release Min. Oct. 15 1862

Order No. 65

I. The Military Commission of which Col. Wm Crooks 6^th Regt Minn Vols is President will reconvene tomorrow at 10 Oclock AM or as soon thereafter as practicable and proceed with the business before it.

II. Lieut. Col. Wm R Marshall 7^th Minn Vols being absent on duty Maj. Gen Bradley of the seventh is hereby detailed to fill the vacancy thus occasioned.

By order of Gen.l H.H. Sibley

S.W. Fowler Lieut Col. A.A.A. Gl

Camp Sibley Lower Agency October    1862

The Military Commission met pursuant to the above order-

Present

Col. Crooks – 6^th Reg. M. V.

Maj. Bradley, 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 duly sworn and Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Headquarters Camp Sibley

29^th October

            Charge and specification against Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne a Sioux Indian

Charge –Participation in the murders, outrages & robberies committed by the Sioux Indians on the Minnesota frontier

Specification –In that Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne a Sioux Indian did join with and participate in the murders robberies and outrages committed by the Sioux Tribe of Indians on the Minnesota frontier between the 18^th day of August 1862 and the 28^th day of September 1862 and particularly in the Battles of the Fort, Birch Coolie, New Ulm, and Wood Lake

H.H. Sibley

Brig Gen Commanding

Witnesses

John Moor

Thos Robertson

Alexis LaFrambois

Prisoner states – I was not at the battle of the Fort.  I was not at either battle of the Fort.  I was not at New Ulm. Wacouta told me not to go anywheres and I didn’t go.  I have a gun.

I never went on a war party.

Thos. Robertson, sworn, says –

I haven’t seen this Indian anywheres.

Alexis La Fromboise, sworn, says –

I have heard him (prisoner) say he was at the Big Woods when the fuss broke out and that on his way back when he got to Rice Creek he heard about it.  That he then turned back with others and followed a team with 8 men in it and shot with them and killed them.

He told me this back of Mr. Rigg’s.  He said “we overtook them and killed them.”

Prisoner says –

I don’t recollect of hearing telling anything what witness says.

[Frame 29]

John Moore, sworn, says –

I heard the prisoner was out at the Big Woods when the troubles commenced.

Prisoner states –

I never said I was along.  I said the party told me there were ten who fired into the party and killed them.

And there upon the case being closed the Commission was cleared and proceeded with their finding and sentence.

The Military Commission after due deliberation on the foregoing, the evidence being closed and Commission was cleared and proceeded with the finding and sentence.

The Military Commission find the prisoner, the said Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne, a Sioux Indian, as follows –

Guilty of the specification

Guilty of the charge,

And sentence him to be hung by the neck until he is dead.

                                    [signatures of Mil. Com.][2]

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Riggs Synopsis December 1862

29. Pa-za-koo-tay-ma-ne (One who walks prepared to shoot) says he was out on a war party against the Chippewas when the outbreak took place. When he came back the massacres were over. He did not kill anyone; says his statement before the commissioners was misunderstood. When he was asked whether he was in a war party and fired his gun he replied “Yes;” but it was against the Chippewas,and not the whites.[3]

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