Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1901 — An American Dreyfus. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

An American Dreyfus.

The ladian Rights association, an organization of which Philip C. Garrett is president, and whose headquarters are 1305 Arch street, Philadelphia, is making a strenuous effort to secure the pardon of “Little Whirlwind,” a North Cheyenne Indian serving a life sentence In the Montana state penitentiary for murder. The convicted man is described by the association as the “American Dreyfus,” and in order that his may be fully understood the country has been floated with circulars. “It seems almost incredible in these enlightened days of the twentieth century,” says the circular, "that a man could be convicted of murder, deprived of his liberty, and detained in the penitentiary serving a sentence of imprisonment for life when there was not the faintest doubt of his Innocence. Yet such is the case, and the unfortunate man is a young Northern Cheyenne Indian named Little Whirlwind.” After this brief introductory the circular continues: “We appeal to all who love to see justice done, no matter what a man’s race may be, to aid us in keeping this case before the attention of Governor Toole and the people of the country until Little Whirlwind is given that of which he is now so unjustly deprived —his liberty. Nearly the entire civilized world was aroused over the injustice done to an officer-of the French army, but we have an American Dreyfus whose case has hardly attracted even passing notice.” The “true” story of “Little Whirlwind’s” crime is then set forth as follows: “Four years ago Little Whirlwind and his brother, Spotted Hawk, were convicted on perjured testimony (as was afterwards proved) of the murder of a sheep herder named Hoover. Stanley, the real murderer, confessed his crime to no less than three witnesses before the trial, but after being arrested and lodged in jail he was induced to make ,a statement implicating Spotted Hawk and Little Whirlwind, under promise on the part of the prosecuting attorney that he would receive a light sentence. “The two accused Indians were tried separately, although the evidence was practically the same in both cases. In the opinion of fair-minded men the so-called ‘trials’ were in reality an outrageous travesty of justice, but they resulted in a verdict of guilty in both instances.

“Spotted Hawk was sentenced to be hanged and Little Whirlwind condemned to imprisonme -t for life. Stanley, the real criminal, escaped with a short sentence of five years in the penitentiary. The attorneys for Spotted Hawk (who had been engaged by the Indian Rights association) took the case to the Supreme court, where

the decision of the lower court was reversed on the ground of insufficient evidence. The county officials not having any new evidence to submit abandoned the case and Spotted Hawk was given his liberty. “In the case of Little Whirlwind, through an unfortunate oversight on the part of his attorney, an appeal was

net made for a new trial. Little Whirlwind has therefore been confined in the penitentiary ever since, tn accordance with the decree of the court. Had action been promptly taken on his behalf, he, too, would now be enjoying his liberty. About a year and a, half ago Stanley, the real murderer, died in prison, but before his death he

made a statement to the effect that he alone had committed the crime, and that Little Whirlwind was absolutely innocent. Notwithstanding this, the governor of Montana refused to pardon Little Whirlwind when the facts were brought to his attention.” A picture of the “American Dreyfus” accompanies each circular.

“LITTLE WHIRLWIND,” THE AMERICAN DREYFUS.