Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Criminal Complaint of Daniel Dubois against Zuni Indians
MS.681  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Scope and Contents
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing History
  • Acquisition
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Conditions Governing Access

  • Contributing Institution: Library and Archives at the Autry
    Title: Criminal Complaint of Daniel Dubois against Zuni Indians
    Creator: Dubois, Daniel
    Identifier/Call Number: MS.681
    Physical Description: 0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
    Date: 17 July 1880
    Abstract: This is a criminal complaint filed by Daniel Dubois against men of a Zuni tribe in Apache County, Arizona Territory on July 17, 1880.
    Language of Material: English .

    Scope and Contents

    This is a criminal complaint filed by Daniel Dubois against men of a Zuni tribe in Apache County, Arizona Territory on July 17, 1880. This is a hand-written document, signed J. P.
    From "Old Dan Dubois" by F.W. Hodge, The Westerners Brand Book, 1950:
    "The Zuni Indians conduct periodically a ceremony that takes them to a sacred lake. Among members of the pilgrimage is Shulawitsi, the Little Fire God, one of whose functions, during the return journey to Zuni, is to set afire anything that chanced to be in the way, not excepting ranch fences and the like. It happened that Dan's fence was along the trail of the Little Fire God, consequently it suffered as the following shows: Territory of Arizona, County of Apache, Before Marcos Baca y Padilla, J.P. Saing John Precint: Criminal Complaint
    Daniel Dubois a resident of Deer Springs, in and for the County of Apache, Territory of Arizona being first duly sworn, disposes and sasy that heretofore to Wit, on the 12th day of July AD 1880 at Deer Springs in the County and Territory aforesaid one Juan Tomas and one Patricio resident of the Zuni Village, did then and there wilfully and intentionaly set on fire or caused to be set on fire my fence or inclosure on my property, with the intent of doing me Malicious Damage. About that time I went and told them not burn my fence and they exibted arms (pistols) in a rude angry and threatening manner, at the time above Stated there must have been about Forty (40) men altogether but cannott recognise only the aforesaid Juan Tomas and Patricio. Now therefor your Diponent asks of this Hon. Court that a Warreant for the arrest may be issued against the Said Juan Tomas and Patricio and be dealt with according to Law. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 17th day of July AD 1880 (Signed) Marcos B. y Padilla -- J.P.
    The outcome of this complaint has not been revealed. The Patricio mentioned was doubtless Palowahti, the adopted brother of Cushing, who lived in Zuni at the time."

    Preferred Citation

    Criminal Complaint of Daniel Dubois against Zuni Indians, 1880 July 17, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.681.

    Processing History

    Processed by Library staff after 1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 November 8, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).

    Acquisition

    Donated by F. W. Hodge, 1956.

    Conditions Governing Use

    Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

    Conditions Governing Access

    Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives  and fill out the Researcher Application Form.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Manuscripts
    Legal documents
    Zuni Indians
    Apache County (Ariz.)
    Indians of North America -- Arizona
    Arizona Territory