WOGGIE WAGTA^,the Fativc journalist heard the
trial of Bob Read at Valdez and he reported it
like this to the rest of the tribe when he returned.
White man him make all same funny,crazy game when they try Bob
Read because he shoot Cap., The' Big man in the Court House he ask
Bob maybesc you shoot Cap and Bob he say no me no sheet Cap me
know nothing me say nothing. That all:* part of game.Then they get
12 people they call jury to make medicine about Bob and say maybeso
him shoot Cap maybeso somebody other shoot Cap and Bob him just
bury Cap an# not know what him do. Faybeso another man shoot Cap in
back 3 times and one time Govermcnt man say they will try Fr.J.L.
Read because he kill Cap but everybody laff sc me think they no
hang Fr.J.L. maybeso that be bad mistake. Everybody know Bob sheet
Cap in back 3 times but white man he think good game get 12 person
say maybe so guess yes maybe so guess no maybe so we no think anything
we think.
When they get 12 person they get lot,maybe hundred,pi rsen
and ask them much big funny things. The big lawyer man for Govt.he
say much questions and the Govt.he hire 2 smart lawyers to ask much
mere funny questions for Bcb. Govt man he say maybeso you hang Bob
because he shoot Cap and put him in turnip patch and man say yes
then Govt man he say you good man for jury then lawyer for Bob he
say that man no good him go maybe so you not sure Cap get shot then
you good man for jury.Somebody say Bob lawyers all time try get
jury of maroons but somebody else say they get very good jury me
no tell.after long time talk they make jury.
Then all witnesses they tell jury how Cap get shot &
Boh bury him in turnip patch & how Bob try keep everybody away from
turnip patch where he bury Cap. When witness tell how Bob long time
work in turnip patch and bury Cap then Bob get nervy all over and m
make funny jerk all over,
* *
Then lawyers all make big talk at jury and jury listen
•all same they understand. Govt man he tell jury how Bob shoot Cap
& bury him in turnip patch & hide sox & belt 8c burn up pants &
shoes he tell how maybeso twenty natives sitdown on hill & watch
Bob when he work for hour and half on place where Cap buried but Bob
he look all round and think no body see, Then lawyers that Govt
hire for Bob they say to jury you think nice old man Bob shoot Cap
what for him shoot Cap nobody see him shoot Cap.maybeso Little John
Billum shoot Cap and put him in Turnip Batch so everybody think Bob *
shoot him,maybe so lots natives kill Cap, maybeso everybody gtess.
They say maybeso because Little John Billum find buttons in ashes
he kill Cap 8c make fire so he find it quick. Kaybe so they think
Harry King & Joe Goodletaw Sc Charlie Goo die-taw shoot Cap because
they find place in turnip patch where they see Bob work for hour &
half. Bob tell his lawyers much things,Jill same funny gfr'me.
Yifhen big game all over Govt lock up jury & makum
say who v/on.Long time jury talk who won,Tome of jury say Bob guilty
we make hang him because he shoot Cap we-think Govt lawyer make
hiyu good talk. Some of jury say that lawyers that Govt hire for
Bob make most talk 8c best medicine so they want let Bob go 8c n« hang
him. After jury talk long time some one say maybeso jury get hung
because they no agree to hang Bob,Me get scared then and think too
bad hang all jury because some of jury is nice womens. Jury no
understand big law game,Ho body understand, Afte» long time jury
come in Big Court House Hoorn & tell big Govt Man that Bob not guilty
he nt shoot Cap,Me guess they say that so they no get hung themself.
And Bob he look funny and I think him say to himself guess maybeso
I dream I shoot Cap & bury him in turnip patch by big boose «ache.
White man play funny law game.
But Bob he get punish pretty bad just same he have
to pay $200#fine because he have 4 kegs moonshine hid in brush close
where he bury Cap. Cap he have wifc 3c 2 little kid. Me guess now
they feel pretty good # except when they pretty hungry.
Maybeso Bob come back to Chitinn.
Op timi strife 11, the depression canft lost forever,"*
Man: w Mo,neither can I."