THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 1519 man to sten,1 a mule that he (the prisoner) wanted, nnd said he would clear him by his pen as he had done many a person before- Th ursclay, Nov. 25. The Court met pursuant to adjournment and appeared Col. Martin Palmer Prest. Maj. J. S. Roberts Capt. B. J. Tompson J. "\V'. Mayo William Jones .Maj. H. B. Mayo Judge Advocate- A .Proclamation was issued, offering a reward of one hundred Dollars for the body, <lend or alive, of James Gaines, charged with high crimes and misdemeaners. . Samuel Norris was then brought forward to be tried- The charges and Speci.fica.tions being read- John Basset was called and sworn-He produced a license from the prisoner to trade with the friendly Indians-He stated that some time after receiv- ing this license, he passed through Na.cog: and the prisoner in- formed him ·that he should trade no more without a new license. He asked the prisoner to give him a new license-James Gaines being present, told him that he must bring his goods to Nacog: to be examined, and could not have another license until this was done-He then went to Natchitoches to purchase goods and went with them by a nearer road to the Cherokee villages. On arriving there, Col. Field presented him a letter which the prisoner had written him commanding him to fine Basset $25. Field refused to comply with this command and did not demand the fine-A short time after B. went to Nacog: and taking Dr. Hunter with him entered the house of the prisoner, and demanded some papers of his in the posession of the prisoner, having a very unfavorable im- pression of the prisoner he thought it prudent to go armed with a pistol for his own Security, but [it] was neither cocked, nor pre- sented, nor used in any hostile manner-but was intended simply for his own defence, is case he should be attacked. On demanding his papers, the prisoner said that he had delivered them up to Mr. Seymour, who brought an order for them. J, being satisfied with this, asked pardon of the prisoner for his abrupt manner, and retired. Presently an armed force seized him, without showing him any authority to take him, though he demanded it until they had dis- armed him and had him completely in their power. They conveyed him to the Sabine River, their behavior being on the route very Suspicious holding frequent consultations among themselves, and having secret orders which they refused to show him. On putting 25007°-24--VOL 2, PT 2--33
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