Before there were any cities on this continent, before there were bridges to span the Mississippi, before the great network of railroads was even dreamed of, we Indian people had councils which gave their decisions in accordance with the highest ideal of human justice.

     Though the occurrence of murder was rare, it was a grave offense, to be attoned for as the council might decree. Often it happened that the slayer was called upon to pay the penalty with his own life.

     In such cases, the murderer made no attempt to escape or evade justice. That the crime was committed in the depths of the forest or at dead of night, witnessed by no human eye, made no difference to his mind. He was thoroughly convinced that all is known to the Great Mystery, and hence did not hesitate to give himself up, to stand trial by the old and wise men of the victim's clan.

     Even his own family and clan might by no means attempt to excuse or to defend him. But his judges took all the known circumstances into consideration, and if it appeared that he slew in self-defense, or that the provocation was severe, he might be set free after a thirty days' period of mourning in solitude. This ceremonial mourning was a sign of reverence for the departed spirit.

     If there were no circumstances justifying the slaying, the murdered nan's next of kin were authorized to take the murderer's life. If they refrained from doing so, as often happened, he remained an outcast from the clan.

     It is well remembered that Crow Dog, who killed the Sioux chief, Spotted Tail, in 1881 calmly surrendered himself and was tried and convicted by the courts in South Dakota.

     The cause of his act was a solemn commission received from his people thirty years earlier. At that time, spotted Tail had usurped the chieftainship of his people with the aid of the U.S. military. Crow Dog was under a vow to slay the chief, in case he ever disgraced the name of the Brule Sioux.

     There is no doubt that spotted Tail had committed crimes both public and private, having been guilty of misuse of office as well as of gross offence against morality. Therefore, his death was not a matter of personal vengence, but of just retribution.

     A few days before Crow Dog was to be executed, he asked permission to visit his home and say farewell to his wife and twin boys, then nine or ten years old. Strange to say, the request was granted, and the condemned man was sent home under escort of the deputy sheriff, who remained at the Indian angency, merly telling his prisoner to report there on the following day.

     When Crow Dog did not appear at the time set, the sheriff dispatched the Indian police after him. They did not find him, and his wife simply said that he had desired to ride alone to the prison, and would reach there on the day appointed. All doubt was removed the next day by a telegram from Rapid City, two hundred miles distant. It said, "Crow Dog has just reported here."

     This incident drew public attention, with the unexpected result that the case was reopened, and Crow Dog was acquitted. He returned to his home and lived much respected amoung his people.

 

 

 

     Such is the importance of our honor and our word that in the early days, lying was a capital offence. Because we believed that the deliberate liar is capable of committing any crime behind the screen of cowardly untruth and double dealing, the destroyer of mutual confidence was summarily put to death, that the evil might go no further.

     Likewise, thievery was a disgrace, and if discovered, the name of "wamonon," or Thief, was fixed upon him forever as an unalterable stigma.

     The only exception to the rule was in the case of food, which is always free to the hungry if there is none to offer it. Other protection than the moral law there could not be an Indian community, where there were neither locks nor doors, and everything was open and of easy access to all comers.

 

 

 

     Among our people, friendship is held to be the severest test of character.

     It is easy, we think, to be loyal to family and clan, whose blood is in our own veins. Love between man and woman is founded on the mating instinct, and is not free from desire and self-seeking. But to have a friend, and to be true under any and all trials, is the truest mark of a man!

     The highest type of friendship is the relation of "brother-friend" or "life-and-death" friend. This bond is between man and man; it is usually formed in early youth, and can only be broken by death.

     It is the essence of comradeship and fraternal love, without thought of pleasure or gain, but rather for moral support and inspiration. Each vows to die for the other, if need be, and nothing is denied the brother-friend, but neither is anything required that is not in accord with the highest conception of the Indian mind.