404:(in present-day Pierce County). Two were killed, Colonel A. Benton Moses and Joseph Miles. A year later, when hostilities had quieted somewhat, Governor Isaac I. Stevens of Washington Territory, requested that federal troops deliver five Indians for trial. One was Chief Leschi, charged with the murder of Moses. But the federal troops had concluded a peace with Leschi, who had fled east of the Cascades when his war failed. Stevens remained adamant, and the federal troops agreed to find Leschi. They offered fifty blankets for information leading to the arrest and capture of Leschi. Sluggia, a nephew of Leschi, and Eli-ku-kah, a Nisqually, delivered Leschi to the whites. Sluggia had formed a relationship with the chief's youngest wife Mary, which may have added to his zeal to capture Leschi and turn him over to Stevens. Sluggia was later killed by a Leschi loyalist named Wahelut, who was outraged over the nephew's treachery. Wahelnut's fatal shooting of Sluggia was approved by the local tribes.
427:; the judge had instructed the jury that killing of combatants during wartime did not constitute murder. The second trial began on March 18, 1857. The judge did not give this instruction, and the court did not allow Leschi's defense lawyers, Frank Clark and William Wallace, to introduce potentially exonerating evidence. The testimony of Antonio B. Rabbeson swayed the jury's verdict of guilty. Rabbeson was said to have vague testimony, but the defense could do little to refute it. Leschi and his lawyer team tried to present a map that refuted Rabbeson's details of the event as physically impossible, but the jury appeared to have difficulty understanding it.
49:
458:, the newspaper's masthead said: "Devoted to the Dissemination of Truth and the Suppression of Humbug." The first issue of the paper containing this masthead was published on February 3, 1858; it had four pages of columns and articles that favored Leschi and his innocence. Kautz also included his recollections of the survey he had carried out at the crime scene, which he believed strongly discredited Rabbeson's account of the attack. Tolmie's petition and the front page of the
372:
white miners would not be allowed on reservation lands, miners frequently passed through these lands, stealing horses from the tribes and abusing Native
American women. The Yakima killed some miners in retaliation. When Indian sub-agent, Andrew J. Bolon, tried to investigate the murders, he was killed. Fighting broke out between Major Haller's troops and the Yakima. This conflict marked the start of the Yakima War (1855–56).
271:
502:"I do not know anything about your laws. I have supposed that the killing of armed men in wartime was not murder; if it was, the soldiers who killed Indians are guilty of murder too... I went to war because I believed that the Indian had been wronged by the White men, and I did everything in my power to beat the Boston soldiers, but, for lack of numbers, supplies, and ammunition, I have failed."
314:(Squalli-Absch - "people of the grass") traditionally occupied a large area along the Nisqually River and its delta at the foot of Puget Sound, an area rich in fish and game. Leschi was respected by his people. The origin of Leschi's name is unknown. Leschi more than likely adopted it, and it may have been influenced by a distant relative, or he may have just enjoyed the sound of it.
470:, which was republished in 1980. Meeker was on the first jury, and one of two men who voted for acquittal. Military officers refused to execute Leschi, as they said he was a valid war combatant and should not be tried. Pierce County authorities conducted the execution. It was postponed to January 22, 1858, to allow an appeal to the Territorial Supreme Court.
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On June 11, 1855, Governor Isaac I. Stevens forced representatives from the Yakima, Nez Perce, Walla Walla, Umatilla and Cayuse tribes to sign a treaty in which the various tribes signed away vast amounts of land in return for money, reservations, and other provisions. Although the treaty stated that
564:
In March 2004, both houses of the
Washington state legislature passed resolutions stating that Leschi was wrongly convicted and executed, and asking the state supreme court to vacate Leschi's conviction. The court's chief justice, however, said that this was unlikely to happen. It was not clear that
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by another) or signed under protest. The historical record is unclear on this point. He was reported as arguing that the territory designated as the reservation for the
Nisqually tribe was a rocky piece of high ground unsuited to growing food and cut off from access to the Nisqually River, which had
478:
Leschi's supporters arranged an elaborate plot in which the Pierce County sheriff, George
Williams, agreed to be arrested by sympathetic members of the United States Army rather than carry out the execution. Other Pierce County officials arranged for the execution on February 19, 1858, when Leschi
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for murder on
February 19, 1858, although supporters argued that he could not be charged with murder in the death of a combatant in a recognized war. Leschi was informally exonerated in a non-legally binding ruling in 2004 by a Historical Court of Inquiry of Washington State, following a resolution
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a naval warship with a crew of about 30. They inflicted little damage on
Americans. But Chief Leschi had reportedly been seen commanding the native troops, and was credited with the native attack as a whole. His standing deteriorated among white settlers. Despite this, Stevens was convinced that
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Leschi was charged for these murders, in part because of his participation in the Yakima War of 1855–1858. He also was charged for his role in the "Battle in
Seattle," which took place in January 1856. This battle was of little consequence for the whites, since the natives were held off by the
407:
Leschi was taken into federal custody in early
November 1856, and his brother Quiemuth surrendered shortly thereafter. Quiemuth was murdered on November 18, 1856, by an unknown assailant, in Governor Stevens' office in Olympia. He was being held there for the night on the way to the jail at
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Sometime after his second trial, Leschi was seen to make the "sign of the cross" and heard to speak a
Christian prayer. Leschi is believed to have received a Catholic baptism before his second trial. He was baptized by Father Chirouse, who was fairly fluent in
565:
the state court had jurisdiction in a matter decided 146 years earlier in a territorial court. On
December 10, 2004, Chief Leschi was informally exonerated by a unanimous vote by a Historical Court of Inquiry following a definitive trial
723:
510:
was published; it continued to defend the innocence of Leschi. Kautz sent numerous issues to Gov McMullin's district in Tennessee, as a last reminder of how McMullin's inaction led to the death of an innocent man.
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in 1963. The hangman, Charles Grainger, later said "I felt then I was hanging an innocent man, and I believe it yet." Some of Leschi's last words were,
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The land was later developed as a golf course and, more recently, suburban housing. A small stone monument to Leschi was installed in a Lakewood
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On October 30, 1855, seven Washington Territorial Volunteers were attacked by Indians at Connell's Prairie, or Tenalcut Prairie, located between
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white settlers were cooperating with Leschi. Stevens declared martial law over Pierce County on April 2, 1856. (Stevens was later charged with
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435:, Leschi's native language. Father Chirouse had performed the marriage of Leschi and his youngest wife, Mary. Leschi was convicted and
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Leschi was put on trial on November 17, 1856, for the murder of Colonel Moses, which he denied having committed. His first
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council of December 26 of that year. Under pressure, the tribes ceded to the United States all or part of present-day
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The three trials of the Nisqualli chief Leschi, Governor Isaac I. Stevens, and the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854
257:(1855–1858), as a leader Leschi was charged with the killings of two Washington Territorial Volunteers. He was
764:
Nalty, Bernard C.; Strobridge, Truman R. (1964). "The Defense of Seattle, 1856 'And down Came the Indians'".
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Framing Chief Leschi: Narratives and the Politics of Historical Justice in the South Puget Sound
728:. Tacoma, Washington: Washington State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. p. 29.
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counties, agreeing to the requirement that the American Indians inhabiting the area move to
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by both houses of the legislature asking the State Supreme Court to vacate his conviction.
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454:, another supporter, published two issues of a newspaper defending Leschi. Titled the
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The Bitter Waters of Medicine Creek: A Tragic Clash between White and Native America
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The Bitter Waters of Medicine Creek: A Tragic Clash between White and Native America
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Schmitt, Martin (1949). "The Execution of Chief Leschi and the 'Truth Teller'".
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832:(Masters). Department of History, University of Washington. pp. 10–11.
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617:"Seeking justice for the chief: 150 years later, Leschi will get a retrial"
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450:, to pardon Leschi, but the governor refused. United States Army officer
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provided the salmon that was the mainstay of their diets and culture.
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Some historians say that Leschi either refused to sign (and his "X"
324:, appointed Leschi as chief in 1854 to represent the Nisqually and
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People executed by the United States federal government by hanging
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People convicted of murder by the United States federal government
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484:
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364:
258:
851:
Olson, Alexander (2003). "Our Leschi: The Making of a Martyr".
386:
291:
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938:. Seattle, WA: Historical Society of Seattle and King County.
913:. Seattle, WA: Lowman & Hanford Stationery and Print. Co.
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Brown, Roberta Stringham; Killen, Patricia O'Connell (2013).
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after the chief. Other places commemorate the chief by name:
310:. He also had an older brother, Quiemuth, and a sister. The
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Pioneer Reminiscences of Puget Sound, the Tragedy of Leschi
599:
A Lushootseed Analysis of a 1877 Dictionary by George Gibbs
544:
218:
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In the late 1880s, developer Frederick J. Grant named the
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in relation to this declaration; as governor; however, he
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1014:"Nisqually Chief Leschi is hanged on February 19, 1858"
821:
1112:, provided by the Washington State Historical Society
985:"Chief Leschi lives on 160 years after his execution"
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is named Leschi Town in his honor. A fireboat of the
543:, and Olympia, all bear his name. Additionally, the
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725:
They Walked Before: The Indians of Washington State
684:
682:
206:
1007:
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234:; c. 1808 – February 19, 1858) was a chief of the
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579:List of wrongful convictions in the United States
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679:
290:(X̣ʷáɬx̣ʷaypam - "Prairie People") woman of the
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763:
1170:American people wrongfully convicted of murder
654:
652:
650:
648:
646:
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483:in a small valley, from a hastily constructed
294:(Mámachatpam). Their primary village site was
1155:Native American history of Washington (state)
933:
792:"Governor Stevens' Famous Pardon of Himself"
1039:"Court acquits Indian chief hanged in 1858"
887:Columbia: The Magazine of Northwest History
877:
641:
1195:19th-century executions of American people
1150:Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest
964:. The Associated Press. 12 December 2004.
815:History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana
721:
693:. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 62.
569:The exoneration was not legally binding.
284:Mica'l Band of Upper (Mountain) Nisqually
958:"Indian Chief Hanged in 1858 Is Cleared"
827:
812:
269:
253:Following outbreaks of violence and the
1095:"The Trials of Leschi, Nisqually Chief"
934:Meeker, Ezra; Warren, James R. (1980).
658:
615:Davila, Florangela (December 5, 2004).
278:Leschi was born in about 1808 into the
14:
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1012:HistoryLink Staff (January 29, 2003).
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897:
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596:
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610:
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535:; and streets in Seattle, Lakewood,
1165:American people executed for murder
983:Banel, Feliks (February 14, 2018).
27:Chief of the Nisqually Indian Tribe
24:
1099:Seattle Journal for Social Justice
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722:Carpenter, Cecelia Svinth (1977).
506:On February 5 the second issue of
274:Leschi as he appeared in the 1850s
25:
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1093:Kunsch, Kelly (1 November 2006).
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605:
1175:People from Washington Territory
828:Hansbury, Matthew James (2006).
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47:
1160:Executed Native American people
1031:
976:
950:
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853:The Pacific Northwest Quarterly
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796:Washington Historical Quarterly
766:The Pacific Northwest Quarterly
246:, primarily in the area of the
880:"Spiritual Boundaries In Flux"
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597:Zahir, Zalmai ʔəswəli (2009).
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439:, to be hanged June 10, 1857.
96:February 19, 1858 (aged 49-50)
13:
1:
1200:19th-century Native Americans
1063:. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
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446:petitioned the new governor,
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7:
1110:Leschi: Justice In Our Time
661:Oregon Historical Quarterly
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286:to a Nisqually chief and a
282:(″Mashel River people″) or
153:Puyallup Tribal Cemetery –
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306:in what is today southern
531:; schools in Seattle and
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308:Pierce County, Washington
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1059:Kluger, Richard (2011).
689:Kluger, Richard (2011).
549:Joint Base Lewis-McChord
140:Cause of death
124:47.178575°N 122.542065°W
1145:Native American leaders
813:Bancroft, H.H. (1980).
561:, also bears his name.
553:Seattle Fire Department
265:
231:
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236:Nisqually Indian Tribe
129:47.178575; -122.542065
87:Eatonville, Washington
936:The Tragedy of Leschi
500:
468:The Tragedy of Leschi
444:William Fraser Tolmie
330:Medicine Creek Treaty
304:La Grande, Washington
273:
414:Lakewood, Washington
322:Washington Territory
320:, first governor of
176:47.2386°N 122.3989°W
144:Execution by hanging
103:Lakewood, Washington
749:Blee, Lisa (2008).
629:on December 5, 2004
521:Leschi neighborhood
172: /
120: /
962:The New York Times
817:. pp. 377–78.
448:LaFayette McMullen
437:sentenced to death
276:
181:47.2386; -122.3989
155:Tacoma, Washington
735:978-0-917048-04-3
622:The Seattle Times
466:'s 1905 history,
462:are reprinted in
383:contempt of court
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85:near present day
16:(Redirected from
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1021:. Retrieved
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922:. Retrieved
909:
905:Meeker, Ezra
899:
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873:
859:(1): 26–36.
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667:(1): 30–39.
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631:. Retrieved
627:the original
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567:in absentia.
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460:Truth Teller
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456:Truth Teller
455:
452:August Kautz
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362:
358:reservations
346:Grays Harbor
316:
300:Mashel River
295:
283:
279:
277:
252:
238:of southern
198:Chief Leschi
197:
196:
53:Chief Leschi
18:Chief Leschi
1140:1858 deaths
893:(4): 12–21.
633:December 5,
529:Leschi Park
464:Ezra Meeker
402:White River
296:Basha'labsh
255:Yakima Wars
240:Puget Sound
228:Lushootseed
179: /
167:122°23′56″W
127: /
115:122°32′31″W
1129:Categories
994:August 15,
802:(3). 1934.
585:References
537:Steilacoom
496:strip mall
442:Supporter
400:along the
398:Lake Tapps
389:himself.)
365:was forged
244:Washington
164:47°14′19″N
112:47°10′43″N
1079:641520829
944:762277459
919:667877082
709:708580990
474:Execution
425:hung jury
288:Klickitat
280:Mishalpam
64:Nisqually
1023:July 11,
970:92772274
966:ProQuest
924:June 21,
907:(1905).
865:40491707
838:72445276
778:40487902
673:20611895
573:Category
547:site at
533:Puyallup
412:(now in
387:pardoned
378:Decatur,
354:Thurston
326:Puyallup
525:Seattle
485:gallows
394:Buckley
232:ləšx̌iʔ
83:c. 1808
41:ləšx̌iʔ
1116:Leschi
1077:
1067:
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558:Leschi
515:Legacy
481:hanged
433:Salish
352:, and
338:Pierce
292:Yakama
259:hanged
66:leader
34:Leschi
883:(PDF)
861:JSTOR
774:JSTOR
669:JSTOR
487:near
421:trial
350:Mason
342:Lewis
1105:(1).
1075:OCLC
1065:ISBN
1025:2020
996:2021
940:OCLC
926:2013
915:OCLC
834:OCLC
730:ISBN
705:OCLC
695:ISBN
635:2021
545:MOUT
479:was
396:and
334:King
266:Life
93:Died
80:Born
1118:at
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416:).
298:on
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216:ʃ
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200:(
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