Pages 270-299 placed by Clerk in sealed envelope in
file, upon order of the Court.
VOLUME II
Pages 55-299
{55}
THURSDAY
MORNING SESSION
March 17, 1977
W h e r e u p
o n, the following proceedings were had and entered of record on Thursday
morning, March 17, 1977, at 9:00 o'clock, a.m., the Defendant being
present in person, with the following further appearance for the Defendant
of Mr. Bruce Ellison, Rapid City, South Dakota:
THE COURT: Are
counsel ready to have the jury brought in?
MR. HULTMAN:
The Government is ready, your Honor.
THE COURT: Are
counsel ready to have the jury brought in?
MR. LOWE: Yes,
sir.
THE COURT: The
jury may be brought in.
(Whereupon, at
9:02 o'clock, a.m., the jury entered the courtroom; and the following
further proceedings were had in the presence and hearing of the jury:)
THE COURT: The
United States may proceed.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, the Government calls J. Gary Adams.
J. GARY ADAMS,
being first
duly sworn, testified as follows:
{56}
DIRECT
EXAMINATION
By MR. SIKMA:
Q Mr. Adams,
what was your occupation on the 25th -- or the month of June, 1975?
A I was a
Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Q And is that
still your occupation?
A Yes, it is.
Q How long
have you been a Special Agent of the FBI?
A
Approximately seven and a half years.
Q Where were
you -- where was your place of assignment in June of 1975?
A I was
assigned to the Rapid City, South Dakota, resident agency which covers the
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Q And how long
have you been assigned to Rapid City as the --
A
(Interrupting) I have been assigned just over three years.
Q You
indicated that you had an assignment there of the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation. Would you tell the jury where that is located?
A It is in the
southwest corner of the State of South Dakota, south and east of Rapid
City.
Q And about
how far is it from Rapid City?
A
Approximately 120 miles.
{57}
Q How does it
come about that as a Special Agent of the FBI that you work on an Indian
Reservation or assigned to --
A
(Interrupting) The FBI investigates 13 major felonies, some 13 major
felonies and some misdemeanor violations on the Indian Reservation.
Q And to your
knowledge is this an assignment by Statute?
A Yes, it is.
Q If you will
look on the map to the far left of the jury there, to your right, do you
see the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on that map?
A Yes, I do.
Q O.k. There
is a pointer on the other map, would you take that pointer and point out
to the jury where the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is?
A Yes. May I
step down?
THE COURT:
Yes. During this trial the Court will permit witnesses to step down when
necessary to illustrate evidence, and it may be done without requesting
permission.
THE WITNESS:
Thank you, your Honor.
MR. SIKMA: May
the record reflect that the exhibit is numbered 70 which is the exhibit to
the far left, to my far left.
A (Continuing)
Referring to Government Exhibit No. 70, this is the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation which is lined out in {58} the southwest corner of the area
depicting the State of South Dakota.
Q How large is
the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?
A It is
approximately a hundred miles long and sixty miles wide, and a hundred
miles this way to the east and west, and sixty miles to the north and
south.
Q And you
indicated that you were assigned to work cases on the Reservation. Are
there other cases or other agents assigned to other various areas in South
Dakota?
A Yes. The
Rapid City resident agency covers the whole western edge of South Dakota
from the North Dakota clear to the Nebraska border.
Q And how far
in -- how far to the east did the jurisdiction go?
A Well, we
have another office in Pierre so it would have been roughly through this
area here (indicating), including the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Q Right at the
eastern edge of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, is that correct?
A That is
correct. We have Washabaugh County which is in this part of the
Reservation (indicating), and we do not cover Philip. That is covered out
of Pierre, and we go up in this area here (indicating).
Q Now, on the
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, are you familiar with the town of Pine
Ridge?
{59}
A Yes, I am.
Q And where is
that located?
A It is on the
southwestern corner of the Reservation. That is the principal town on the
Reservation.
Q And do you
know about what its population is?
A I have no
idea.
Q About how
far is it from the Nebraska-South Dakota border?
A Pine Ridge
is north of the Nebraska-South Dakota border approximately two miles.
Q Are you
familiar with the town of Oglala, South Dakota?
A Yes, I am.
Q And where is
that in relation to Pine Ridge, South Dakota?
A Oglala is
north and west of the town of Pine Ridge.
Q Would you
point that out on the map, if you can?
A It would be
up in this direction here (indicating).
Q
Approximately how far is it from Pine Ridge?
A It is
approximately 16 miles from Pine Ridge.
Q Now, would
you point out -- would you look at Government Exhibit 71? Is there a
highway -- that's the map directly in front of you -- is there a road on
that map which connects Pine Ridge and Oglala?
A Yes.
Q And what is
that?
A U.S. Highway
18 here (indicating) connects Pine Ridge and Oglala.
{60}
Q O.k. Which
direction on the map is Pine Ridge?
A Pine Ridge
would be in this direction (indicating), it extends out here (indicating).
Q That's to
the top of the map?
A The top and
to the right of Government's Exhibit 71.
Q And Oglala
then would be to the bottom and to the left, is that correct?
A Yes, over
here to the southwest (indicating) -- this is in a north -- or to the
north and west.
MR. SIKMA: You
may resume your seat.
{61}
THE COURT: Mr.
Sikma, I wonder for the record if those exhibits should not be received in
evidence.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would offer them in evidence, Government's Exhibit 70 and
Government's Exhibit 71.
I believe,
Your Honor, that it has been stipulated --
THE COURT: It
was stipulated but I believe for the record they should be formally
offered.
MR. SIKMA: I
agree, Your Honor.
THE COURT: 70
and 71?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes, Your Honor.
MR. LOWE: No
objection, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Very well. Exhibits 70 and 71 will be received.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Mr. Adams, are you familiar with a special agent of the FBI, Ronald
Williams?
A Yes. I am.
Q And how long
did you know Ron Williams?
A I knew Ron
Williams approximately two years.
Q And could
you tell me what his assignment was.
A Ron Williams
was also assigned to the Rapid City office of the FBI.
Q Now while he
was assigned there what were his assignments generally?
A When I, when
I first knew Ron he worked in Rapid City and the surrounding counties
investigating cases in which we had {62} jurisdiction.
Q Okay. That's
Pennington County?
A Including
Pennington County which contains the town of Rapid City.
Q Was he ever
assigned to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?
A Yes. During
the latter part of 1974, the first part of 1975 Agent Williams was
assigned to Pine Ridge.
Q Do you know
how long he was a special agent of the FBI?
A Agent
Williams had been with the FBI approximately five years to the best of my
recollection.
Q Did you ever
work with Ron Williams on any case?
A Yes. I did.
Q Was that
frequently or infrequently?
A We worked on
occasion in cases that he had, we had juris diction, in Pennington County
and around Rapid City and also on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Q Did you know
Ron Williams outside of work as well as at work?
A Yes. We were
close personal friends too.
Q Now when you
would go to the reservation and work on the reservation where did you
generally stay?
A We either
stayed in the motel in Rushville, Nebraska, or Gordon, Nebraska.
Q And
approximately how far were you generally, when you were working on the
reservation how far were you from your home in {63} Pine Ridge, or excuse
me, in Rapid City? How far was the reservation from Rapid City?
A
Approximately one hundred twenty miles from Rapid City.
Q Did Ron
Williams have an automobile assigned to him?
A Yes. He did.
Q What kind of
an automobile was that?
A It was a
1973 Rambler.
Q That was in
June of 1975?
A Yes. It was.
Q And what
kind of radio equipment did that vehicle have?
A Agent
Williams in that car had a, had two radios.
One was the
five channel FBI radio which we communicated from car to car or from our
office in Rapid City to, from the car.
The other was
a, what we call a State radio. We could talk with the State Highway Patrol
dispatcher or we could also talk with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Then there was
a government channel which the Pine Ridge police department had for
government work from our cars or from the law enforcement service in Rapid
City.
Q Did you ever
talk with Ron Williams on the radio?
A Yes. I did.
Many times.
Q Did you
recognize his voice on the car radio?
A Yes. I did.
Q Do you know
a Special Agent, did you know a Special Agent {64} Jack R. Coler?
A Yes. I did.
Q And how long
had you known Jack R. Coler?
A
Approximately one month.
Q How did it
come about that you met Jack Coler?
A Agent Coler
was assigned to the Pine Ridge Reservation on temporary assignment and we
worked, he worked on the reservation and was there at times when I was
there.
Q How long was
his temporary assignment?
A Agent Coler
was assigned there for sixty days.
Q Okay. And
what was the nature of his assignment?
A Agent Coler
was to go along with five other agents present to the Pine Ridge
Reservation to work all the new cases that were generated at that time.
We had a heavy
case load every time there's a violation of cases open and those of us who
were assigned there had a heavy case load and we hadn't finished before so
they sent six agents in to help with our work load so we could get caught
up.
Q What kind of
cases?
A They were
primarily all felony violations which occurred near the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation.
Q By a felony
do you mean such as robbery --
A Robbery,
kidnapping, assault, rapes, murders.
Q What date or
what time did Jack Coler arrive in Rapid City to work on the reservation?
{65}
A Agent Coler
arrived in Rapid City either on Memorial Day or the day after Memorial Day
in 1975 which would have been the latter part of May.
Q Did you have
occasion to discuss cases with Jack Coler?
A Yes. I did.
Q Did you work
any cases with Jack Coler?
A Not to my
recollection.
I know we
discussed a few of the cases down there and he asked me about where
certain people lived and that but I don't recall ever working cases with
him.
Q You were
quite familiar with a number of people as a result of your work on the
reservation, is that correct?
A That is
correct. I had several friends and had met a lot of people on the
reservation.
Q What kind of
radio equipment did Jack Coler have in his vehicle?
A Jack Coler
also had a radio which he was able to communicate car to car with, on our
FBI frequency and to our office in Rapid City.
Q Did --
A He could
have had another radio. I don't recall if he did or not.
He could have
also had another radio but it was a Colorado car and I would not be
familiar with what other agency he could communicate with on the FBI radio
if in fact he had one.
{66}
Q So Jack
Coler then, although he came from another FBI office he came with his car,
is that correct?
A That's
correct; yes.
Q And what
kind of car was that?
A It was a
Chevrolet, four door. I believe it was a 1972 model with a light vinyl
roof, gold in color.
Q And he could
communicate with FBI agents such as yourself and Special Agent Williams,
is that correct?
A He could.
Q Do you know
where he stayed in June of 1975 --
A Yes.
Q -- when he
was working on the reservation?
A Yes. He was
staying at the Hacienda Motel in Gordon, Nebraska.
Q Do you know
whether Jack Coler and Ronald Williams worked together on cases?
A Yes. They
had on occasion worked together down there.
Q Do you
recall or are you familiar with any cases that they were assigned to at
that time on the 25th or the 24th of June of 1975?
A Not
specifically.
I know Or a
case that they were working on that was assigned to Agent Dean Hughes.
{67}
Q And what
case was that?
A That was an
assault and robbery case that occurred, to the best of my recollection, on
the weekend before the 26th of June, 1975.
Q And how many
persons were charged in that incident?
A There were
four individuals charged in this crime.
Q Do you know
who they were?
A Yes. I do.
Q And who were
they?
A They were
Teddy Pourier, Hobart Horse, Herman Thunderhawk and James Theodore Eagle.
Q On the 25th
of June, or rather the 26th of June had any of these persons been
arrested?
A Yes. Teddy
Pourier had been arrested.
Q Now speaking
in generally, not specifically necessarily of this case, what were your
duties with regard to charges filed against individuals?
A Well, after
the violation occurred the case would be discussed with the United States
Attorney's office.
At that time
if he authorized prosecution Or the individual or individuals, either a
Complaint would be filed. If a Complaint was filed at that time an arrest
Warrant would be authorized. The case might go to the Federal Grand Jury
and an indictment returned; at that time a Warrant issued and the
individual would be, attempt to be apprehended.
{68}
Q If a warrant
was issued, did you have any duties with regard to that warrant which were
part of your assignment?
A Yes, we did.
We would affect the warrant and attempt to apprehend the individual.
Q Is that true
of every FBI agent?
A Yes. That is
part of our assignment as an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Q Warrants are
out for people, you are assigned to go out and apprehend these
individuals, to locate and apprehend them?
A Yes.
Q Are you
familiar with the warrant that was outstanding for James Theodore Eagle?
A Yes, I am.
Q Would you
recognize it if I showed it to you?
A Yes, I
would.
Q I will show
you what has been marked for identification as Government Exhibit 5 and
ask you to tell me whether or not you recognize that document.
A Yes.
Referring to Government Exhibit No. 5, this is a copy of the arrest
warrant for James Theodore Eagle issued in the United States District
Court in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Q Now is this
the James Theodore Eagle which Ronald A. Williams and Jack Coler, the case
they were working on on the 25th and 26th of June, 1975?
A Yes, it was.
{69}
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would offer into evidence Government Exhibit 5.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Exhibit 5 is received.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) On the 25th, what was the last time that you saw Ronald Williams on
the 25th of June, 1975?
A It was about
between 7:00 and 7:30 P.M. in the evening.
Q And where
were you at that time?
A I was
enroute from Whiteclay, Nebraska north of Pine Ridge with the officers of
the Nebraska Highway Patrol and the Sheridan County sheriff's office. We
were going to a law enforcement meeting in Pine Ridge.
Agent Williams
was driving south on the highway in his 1973 green Rambler.
Q You
recognized him?
A I did. And
we waved.
Q What time of
the day was that?
A That was
sometime between 7:00 and 7:30. The meeting was at 7:30 and we were
enroute and he was headed to his motel, I presume.
Q Do you
recall what the weather was like on that night?
A Sometime
between 7:30 and 9:00 or 9:30 there was a severe thunderstorm. They had
high winds and heavy rain.
Q On the
following day did you have occasion to be in the area between Pine Ridge
and Oglala, South Dakota?
{70}
A Yes, I did.
Q And did you
see any evidence of that rain?
A Yes. There
was, in the low places and the rest of the road and places like that there
was still water standing.
Q Was this
true throughout the day?
A Yes. Even on
into the evening.
Q On the 26th
of June, 1975, what was your assignment? What were you doing?
A I was
working some of my cases on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Q And did you
have occasion to go to Pine Ridge that day?
A Yes, I did.
Q About what
time were you in Pine Ridge, South Dakota?
A I arrived in
Pine Ridge, South Dakota around 11:00 A.M. in the morning.
Q And at that
time did you have occasion to see Special Agent Williams?
A Yes, I did.
Q Where was he
at that time?
A He was
parked outside the Pine Ridge jail in his 1973
Q And with
whom, was he with anyone?
A He was
seated in the car and Agent Hughs was standing out side talking to him.
Q Do you know
what case they were discussing?
{71}
A No. I do
not.
Q Did you have
knowledge at this time that they were working on the Jimmy Eagle case?
A Yes. I
understood they were working on this particular case.
Q Do you know
what the individuals were charged with in that particular case?
A I believe
agent, or James Eagle was, and Herman Thunderhawk were charged with, I
believe they were charged with robbery and Hobart Horse was charged with
assault and Teddy Palier was charged with assault.
Q What kind of
assault was that?
A That would
be assault with a deadly weapon.
Q How long did
you remain in Pine Ridge that time?
A I was there
about 45 to 50 minutes.
Q What did you
do after you were there?
A As I saw
Williams and Hughs, I went into the jail, conducted an interview, returned
to the Bureau of Indian Affairs office there. Everyone was going to lunch
so I got into my car and started to Whiteclay, Nebraska for lunch.
Q Do you know
Special Agent Hughs at that time had, did he have someone with him at that
time?
A Yes, he did.
He was in the process of transporting Teddy Paul Palier to Rapid City. He
had been arrested the day before.
Q And what did
you do at that time?
{72}
A After I left
the Bureau of Indian Affairs office, I got in my car and started to
Whiteclay, Nebraska for lunch.
Q That was at
about what time?
A About 11:45
or 11:50 A.M.
Q And how far
did you go toward Whiteclay?
A About two
miles. Well, I just got to the Nebraska-South Dakota line which is
approximately two miles south of Pine Ridge.
Q And what
happened at that time?
A I had been
monitoring some radio communications from Agent Williams and I found that
he needed some help so I went back towards Pine Ridge.
Q What was the
first radio communication that you heard?
A The first
radio communication I recall is he said, "Looks like there's some guys
around that house. It looks like they're going to get into that pickup.
Looks like they're going to take off"
Q And about
how long a time was it between the first communication that you monitored
and the second?
A It was just
a matter of minutes.
Q Matter of
minutes?
A Yes. Two or
three minutes.
Q And what
was, let's say from the second to the third communication, how long was
it?
A It was, from
the first to the second communication was again one or two minutes. It was
just all in sequence.
{73}
Q Very, very
close together?
A Yes, it was.
Q Just a
matter of a few minutes from the beginning until you stopped, is that
correct?
A Yes.
Q What was it
after the communication that "It looks like they're getting in that
vehicle," what was the communication that followed that?
A Hell, after
he said, "Looks like they're going to get into that pickup, looks like
they're going to take off," then he said, "I hope you've got a lot of
guys" or something to that effect.
Q What was the
next thing that happened?
A Then he
said, "Looks like they're going to shoot at us." Then he said, "We've been
hit."
Q Did you hear
anything on the radio besides voices when they said, "It looks like
they're going to shoot at us"?
A Yes. There
was sounds of gunfire over the Bureau radio.
Q How long was
it from the time that he said, "It looks like they're going to shoot at
us" to "we've been hit"?
A It was just
one communication after the other.
Q Just a few
seconds?
A Seconds;
yes.
Q Did you have
occasion to contact him at this time?
A At that
point I picked up my radio, my microphone and I {74} attempted to call him
to find out what his location was.
Q And did you
talk with him?
A Yes. He
finally told me that he was at some houses behind Jumping Bull Hall.
Q Did he say
he was at some houses?
A Yes. He was
at some houses in the vicinity of Jumping Bull Q Did you know where
Jumping Bull Hall was?
A No. I did
not. I did not know the specific location. I knew generally it was between
Pine Ridge and Oglala, South Dakota.
Q What did you
do then?
A I turned my
car around and started to drive toward Oglala, South Dakota.
Q Now you were
about how far from Oglala?
A At that
point I would have been about 18 miles.
Q And so you
headed to the northwest?
A Yes, I did.
Q What highway
were you on?
A I went
through Pine Ridge and started on U.S. Highway 18.
Q And during
this time did you stay on the FBI radio at all times?
A No, I did
not. After I talked to Williams and heard the firing, I tried to raise the
Pine Ridge Police Department on the other radio.
{75}
Q Were you
able to do so?
A No. I was
not.
Q What did you
do then?
A Well, I
tried on two different channels and then I heard the state police in Rapid
City call the Pine Ridge Police Department on the government channel one
and advised them there was trouble north of Pine Ridge.
Q And did you
have to drive through any towns on the way to Oglala?
A Yes. I did
drive through Pine Ridge and then proceeded northwest on Highway 18.
Q Did Ron
Williams try to direct you to any particular place?
A Yes. I tried
to call him back on the radio because I did not know the specific location
of the Jumping Bull Hall. Then he finally came back and said, "Get on a
high hill and give us some fire cover. We'll be killed." And he said, he
did relate, he said, "Come to a house," that was some distance, a house
that has an outhouse some distance from it, but he did not give any
specific location yet.
Q Did he
indicate to you whether or not he was in a valley at that time?
A Not that I
recall.
Q He told you
to get on the high ground?
A Yes. Get on
the high hill and give us some fire cover.
Q Where was
that high hill located?
{76}
A At that
point I did not know.
Q How far did
you drive after that before stopping?
A I drove
eight or nine miles northwest of Pine Ridge, then I stopped my car.
{77}
Q O.k., and
why, would you explain why you stopped?
A I stopped my
car to get a bullet-proof vest and my rifle out of the trunk.
Q And you
didn't have a rifle in the car with you?
A I had a
shotgun in the front seat with me.
Q But not a
rifle?
A No, I did
not.
Q What kind of
a firearm did you carry?
A I had a 3.57
Magnum revolver, and then I had the shotgun in the front seat with me. The
rifle was in the trunk.
Q When you
stopped your car, did you hear anything?
A Yes, I did.
I heard shooting from the distance.
Q And did you
see anyone at that time?
A No, I did
not.
Q Did you meet
anyone on the way toward the Jumping Bull Hall area?
A Yes. After I
got back in my car and started on the road, there was a Pine Ridge police
car came with two officers in it.
Q And who were
those officers?
A Frank Two
Bolts and James Pacer.
Q Now,
approximately, did these -- excuse me. Did these two BIA police know where
Jumping Bull Hall was?
A Yes, sir,
they did. We had a brief conversation. Apparently they had received word
via their radio frequency as to what was going on.
{78}
Q And what did
you do next?
A I agreed to
follow them into the area because they knew where they were headed.
Q And where
did you go?
A We then went
on down Highway 18, and they turned off of Highway 18 and I followed them
into this area.
Q O.k. Would
you go back to the map now and point out where it was on Government 71?
A Referring to
Government Exhibit 71, we came down Highway 18, turned off the road here
(indicating), and drove up into the vicinity of this house right here
(indicating).
MR. SIKMA: May
the record reflect that the witness identified the last road to the left
of the map on Government Exhibit 71, the main road going off of Highway
18.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Now, what -- it is also marked on the map there, is it not -- what
house?
A Yes. This
house is referred to as a tan and red house. It is the far left residence
on Government Exhibit 71.
Q O.k., and
whose house is that?
A That house
was occupied -- residence there, by Wallace Little, Jr., and Wanda Sears.
Q Did you have
occasion to gain this information later as to whose house that was?
A Yes, I did.
{79}
Q So at that
time you didn't know who the people were that lived in that residence?
A No, I did
not.
Q And at that
time, I take it that you did not know the whereabouts specifically of
Jumping Bull Hall?
A No, I still
did not know the exact location of Jumping Bull Hall.
Q Tell what
happened next.
A Well, we
stopped our cars here (indicating). The Pine Ridge Police Department
stopped just in front of me. I stopped to their right or to the west,
referring to Government Exhibit 71, and I started to get out of my car.
Q And now, how
far was that from the Wanda Sears' residence?
A I would
estimate I was 50 to 75 feet from the residence,
Q Is that to
the east?
A That would
be to the east, northeast.
Q And what
happened at that time?
A Just as I
started to get out of my car a shot rang out.
Q And did that
shot strike anything?
A Yes. It
appeared to hit the right front tire of the Bureau of Indian Affairs'
police car.
Q Now, what
happened after that?
A As soon as
the shot rang out, I got back in my car and I yelled at them, "They are
shooting at us."
Q Where were
the shots coming from, could you tell?
{80}
A To the best
I could tell, they were coming from the south or the southwest.
Q Please
continue.
A And as soon
as I got back in my car, right after the first shot, another shot rang
out.
Q Where did
that shot come from?
A It again
appeared to come from this area over in here (indicating). I had the
window down, and I could just hear the sound. I didn't see anyone shooting
at me.
Q What did you
do then -- or excuse me.
First of all,
what happened, did that shot hit anything?
A Yes. The
second shot appeared to hit the left front tire of my Bureau car.
Q What kind of
car was that?
A That was a
1972 Ford.
Q And what
happened next?
A We both
proceeded to back out across this open area here (indicating).
Q And that's
an area between the first and the second road, the roads that are on
either side of the sign, 18, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q And you back
into that open field?
A Yes. We both
proceeded to back in a zigzag fashion across here (indicating).
{81}
Q And how far
did the other police officers go, how far did they go?
A The Bureau
of Indian Affairs' car backed toward Highway 18, and there is a crest of
the hill. This area (indicating), between this triangle formed by the two
roads, referring to Government 18 -- and Highway 18 is flat open area, and
just to the west, southwest, and more or less parallel to Highway 18 is a
crest of a plateau that goes down through here (indicating). The Bureau of
Indian Affairs' car got just over the edge of the crest.
Q And how far
did you get?
A Again
referring to the triangular area, there is an old roadbed right along the
top of this crest (indicating). I was having trouble. I was in the zigzag
fashion. My car was going down, and I started into this dip (indicating).
I happened to see it coming up, and I knew it was deep enough that I would
probably upset, so I swerved and tried to avoid this old roadbed here and
slid into the roadbed sideways.
Q At that time
were you receiving any fire, was anyone shooting at you?
A Yes, we
were. As we started to back from the vicinity of the red and tan house,
there were individuals in the vicinity of these residences here
(indicating), referring to the log house, the white house and the green
house -- were firing at us as we backed from the area.
{82}
Q And what
happened to you as you were backing away from that area?
A After I slid
into the old roadbed there with the front tire flat, I could not go any
further.
Q So you were
stalled there, is that right?
A Yes, I was
stuck in that particular location. It would be -- referring again to the
triangular area just off the curve of the road which is on the far
northwest side of the triangular area.
Q I take it
then there is an old roadbed that runs parallel to Highway 18, is that
correct?
A Yes, that is
correct. I don't know -- two or three feet deep, that runs parallel to
Highway 18.
Q And is that
roadbed at the edge of the plateau?
A Yes, more or
less. It does set up on top of the plateau in this particular area here
(indicating).
Q And the
plateau, I take it, also runs parallel to Highway 18?
A The crest of
the plateau, yes.
Q Now, did you
talk with Special Agent Williams at this time?
A No, I did
not. The last communication I had with him was way back up Highway 18
before I stopped my car to get my bullet-proof vest and rifle out of the
trunk.
Q Did you talk
to him, did you say anything to him at this time?
{83}
A After --
Q
(Interrupting) No, initially when you were back on the road.
A No, I did
not. He had told me at that time to come to the house with an outhouse,
some distance from him, and to get on a hill and give him some fire cover
or he would be killed.
Q What, if
anything, did you say to him?
A I just -- if
anything, I just told him I was -- I don't know if I said anything to him.
Q Did you
indicate to him that you were on the way?
A Yes, I did,
to the best of my recollection.
Q Did you
receive any communication after that, did he say anything?
A No, I did
not.
Q What was the
last thing that he said that you recall?
A To the best
of my recollection it was that he directed me to the house, with the
outhouse some distance to it, and to get on the high hill and give him
some fire cover or he would be killed.
Q Did you hear
any sounds other than voices on the radio?
A Yes, I did.
During the conversation there was also, what appeared to me, the sound of
shots over the Bureau radio.
Q When you
arrived at the residence called Wanda Sears' residence, did you hear
anything at that time?
A No, it was
all quiet when I stopped at this location here {84} (indicating).
Q Now, while
you were driving up, did you have your window down?
A Yes, I did.
Q Did you hear
any shots as you were driving up that road?
A No, I did
not.
Q You may
resume your seat. Would you describe what happened next?
A I crawled
out of the side of my car. I took my rifle, and I fired -- started firing
toward the individuals that were shooting at me.
Q And they
were in the area marked "residences" up there, is that correct?
A Yes. On
Government Exhibit 71 it would be in the vicinity of the white house.
Q And
approximately how far were they from the white house, in which direction
from it?
A They were
around the white house and in the trees to the west of the white house.
Q Could you
see individuals at that time?
A Yes, I
could.
Q And what, if
you can say, did they appear to be -- what did they look like?
A They
appeared to be Indian males.
Q When you got
out of your car, you indicated that you fired {85} two shots in that
direction, is that correct?
A Yes, I did.
Q How many
shots did you fire?
A I fired, to
the best of my recollection, four shots, one clip, and they just continued
to shoot at me. I didn't appear to be getting close. I looked down, and
this rifle -- I had had a scope on it, and the scope was ajar on the
mount, so I took -- it had a release type mount, so I took the scope off
and fired two or three more rounds with the iron sights or the open
sights.
Q Were they
shooting at you up to that time?
A Yes, they
were.
Q When you
took the sights off, did they continue to fire at you?
A After I
fired the two or three rounds, they disappeared into the trees or behind
the residence.
Q How long did
you stay in that position?
A I was in the
vicinity of my car there until -- most of the afternoon, until about 6:00
p.m.
Q Were you
receiving any fire during this time?
A Yes. We
received fire off and on all afternoon.
Q Did anyone
else arrive at the area?
A Yes. There
was other Bureau of Indian Affairs' policemen and also members of the
South Dakota Highway Patrol and some of the surrounding Sheriffs' offices
and city police.
{86}
Q O.k. Who was
the first person to your knowledge to arrive after you arrived at the
area?
A There would
have been the Pine Ridge Police Department representative -- I don't know
which one would have been there -- their acting agency Special Officer
that was on the scene, then the Acting Bureau of Indian Affairs'
Superintendent for the Reservation also came to the scene.
Q O.k. Did
anyone at this time go toward the houses at any time during the afternoon,
go in toward those places where the shots were being fired?
A Yes, they
did.
Q What time,
do you remember, was that?
A At
approximately 12:30 there was a non-Indian female entered the area.
Q And who was
that?
A JoAnn Ladeau.
Q Do you know
why she was going in the area?
A Yes. I
received radio transmissions that she had talked with Acting Bureau of
Indian Affairs' Superintendent, Kendall Cumming; and she wanted to go in
in an attempt to negotiate with the individuals who were shooting at us.
Q And did you
see her go into that area?
A Yes. After
the radio communication, I saw her enter the area of the tan and red
house, referring to Government Exhibit No. 71.
{87}
Q Did she stay
at that place while you were there?
A She drove in
on the road which passes the Jumping Bull Hall, stopped in the vicinity of
the tan and red house; and when she got out of the car and started to the
house, I got on the loudspeaker and told her they were to her left, and
then she walked to the vicinity of the three houses, the log house, the
white house and the green house on Government Exhibit No. 71.
Q And could
you see her at that time?
A I saw her
off and on, yes, while she was in there.
Q And
approximately how long did she stay there?
A I estimated
that she was in there about an hour.
Q Did you fire
toward those houses at any time?
A No, I did
not. After I fired my sixth or seventh shot, I did not fire again that
afternoon.
Q And this was
during the time of a truce?
A Yes. Mr.
Cumming told me that she had agreed to enter the area and attempt to
negotiate with these people, and he asked for a cease fire; and at that
time I was the only individual in that area. There was no one firing
towards the individuals at the residences.
Q During this
time did you receive any gunfire?
A Yes, I did.
As I stated, I received intermittent gunfire at my location during the
afternoon.
Q And this was
during the time that she was in this area?
{88}
A To the best
of my recollection, I also received fire while she was in the vicinity of
those houses.
Q How long did
she stay in this area?
A To the best
of my recollection she stayed about an hour.
Q O.k. Did you
see or observe during this period of time where she was, where she went or
anything like that?
A At one point
she was talking with some individuals in the vicinity of the white house
and the trees, to the west of the white house. I also saw her walk back to
the northwest and go in a westerly direction down off the crest of the
plateau.
{89}
Q Now have you
since that time walked to the area where she was?
A Yes. I have.
Q Now tell me,
what could you see if you were standing in the area where you saw her
walking?
A After you
get off the crest of the plateau you can see the entire area including the
vicinity of the area marked Coler's car.
Q So from
that, now from where you were could you at any time see the area which
was, which is marked Coler's car and bodies as SA Williams and SA Coler?
Q Could you
see it from where you were, where you were in your car?
A No. I could
not.
The crest of
that plateau and the plateau which extends back to Highway 18 is
approximately twenty to thirty feet higher in elevation than the plateau
in which is marked Coler's car and bodies of SA Williams and SA Coler.
Q Is that a
relatively abrupt drop down the plateau?
A You can
drive off of it but it does taper right off.
Q Are there
some roads there that you can drive to the bottom that are indicated?
A Yes. As
exhibited on Government's Exhibit 71, there are some roads that pass,
they're trails is all they amount to that {90} pass into that area.
Q
Approximately how long did JoAnn LaDeau stay in this area?
A She was in
there about one hour.
Q So did you
see anyone else go into this area that afternoon?
A Yes.
To the best of
my recollection after she left the area there was another individual who
entered the area.
Q Okay. Who
was that? Did you receive an announcement that he was coming into the
area?
A Yes. There
was a, a radio communication that an elderly gentleman was going to come
into the area. He also wanted to try to negotiate.
Q And who was
that?
A Wallace
Little, Sr.
Q Is he
related to the Wallace Little, Jr. that was living in that residence to
the west, or to the northwest?
A Wallace
Little, Sr. is the father of Wallace Little, Jr. and also June Little who
lived in the tan and red house on Government Exhibit 71.
Q You observed
him driving into this area, is that correct?
A Yes. I did.
Q And where
did you go when you saw him go into the area? Did you --
A He also
drove into the house, or to the, on the road that runs alongside Jumping
Bull Hall, drove past the tan and red {91} house and stopped in the
vicinity of some vehicles which were parked just outside of the log house.
Q And where
did he park if you could please point it out with the pointer on the map?
A There are,
there were two other vehicles parked in the vicinity of this, this little
black object which is north of the log house and to the best of my
recollection he stopped right in the vicinity of those two other vehicles.
Q And
approximately how long did he stay there?
A He was in
there just a few minutes and turned around and left.
Q Okay. And
which direction did he go out?
A He came back
out, passed the tan and red house and back out this direction and went to
the southeast on Highway 18.
Q And that by
indicating, he went again by the road called Jumping Bull Hall?
A Yes. Past
the road which passes by Jumping Bull Hall and then he continued on.
Q Did you see
him get out of his car while he was there?
A I don't
recall seeing him get out of his car; no.
Q But you saw
his vehicle, you saw it go in and you saw it go out, is that correct?
A Yes. I did.
Q Now did you
have any conversation with the, with other people on Highway 18 at the
time he drove out?
{92}
A Yes. At that
time I tried to get someone south of that area, or southeast of that area
to stop this pickup.
Q And did they
stop it?
A No. I had
received no media of communication that they were able to stop the pickup.
Q Did you see
him go on past the roadblock?
A I could not
see a roadblock from my location; no.
Q Now what
time approximately was that that he left the area?
A I estimate
it to be around 1:30 p.m.
Q
Approximately how long did you stay before anyone else went into that
area?
A I was there
for the remainder of the afternoon and it was about 3:00 o'clock in the
afternoon when the next individual entered the area.
Q And who was
that?
A Edgar Bear
Runner.
Q Okay. At
3:00 o'clock in the afternoon you indicate that Edgar Bear Runner went
into the area?
A Yes.
Q And he was
permitted to go into the area?
A Yes.
Again he had
talked with Mr. Cumming and the acting agency special officer, Neil Moore,
and he was allowed to enter the area and attempt to negotiate.
{93}
Q So he was
going in to talk to the people in the residence, is that correct?
A Yes. This is
-- yes.
Q
Approximately how long did he stay in the area?
A He was in
there the first time about twenty to thirty minutes.
Q And where
was he, or could you see him while he was there?
A Yes.
Again he went
to the vicinity of the white house on Government Exhibit No. 71.
Q Was he on
foot?
A Yes. He
walked in.
Q And did he
stay, did he go into the house or stay outside the house? What did he do?
A To the best
of my recollection he just talked with the individuals outside of the
house.
Q And what did
he do next?
A He turned
around and came back out to our location.
Q At what time
did he leave on the first occasion?
A About, he
came back to our area about 3:30 p.m.
Q I want to
back up.
When JoAnn
LaDeau left the area, did anything happen at that time?
A Yes. After
she left the area they attempted to talk with her. She'd only stopped
briefly and said she couldn't negotiate {94} with her people and refused
to talk with the officers and left the area.
Q Now at that
time did anything happen concerning you and the people at the houses?
A Yes. After
she left, then they started firing again at our location.
Q And what was
the nature of the fire: was it a few shots or --
A At times it
would be heavy fire and then it would just be a shot now and then.
Q During this
time did you return any fire?
A No. I did
not.
No one from my
location there fired toward the residences during the entire afternoon.
Q And why
didn't you fire in that direction?
A Primarily
because we didn't know what the status of Agents Williams and Coler was.
We didn't know if they were hostages, if they were in the house or what
their situation was.
Q After Edgar
Bear Runner came out the second time you indicated he had been there about
twenty minutes, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q How long
later was it before he went in the second time?
A He talked
briefly with Mr. Cumming and Mr. Moore and he was asked if he had seen the
agents and what their condition was {95} and he said he had and they
appeared to be dead.
Q That was the
first time or the second time?
A That was the
first time.
Q Okay. And
did he indicate where they were?
A No. He did
not.
Q
Approximately what time was it that he gave that indication?
A It would
have been 3:30 or 3:45.
Q And did he
have occasion to go back into the area?
A Yes. At that
point Mr. Cumming volunteered to go in with Mr. Bear Runner to determine
the specific condition of Agent Coler and Agent Williams.
Q And what
happened next?
A They walked
into the area. I saw them walk by the tan and red house off the crest of
the plateau.
They had
returned a short time thereafter and Mr. Cumming told me that, that Ron
and Jack were dead.
Q Did he come
up to where you were at that time?
A Yes. I was
there when he came back out.
Q Did Edgar
Bear Runner ever go back toward the residences?
A Not on the
second trip; no.
Q What
happened next?
A We were
attempting to get organized so we could secure those houses.
Mr. Bear
Runner wanted to have Mr. Cumming contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs in
Washington and Aberdeen before {96} any assault was made and there was
some negotiation around there.
Mr. Cumming
and I had a discussion concerning jurisdiction in this operation.
Q Tell me, did
anyone else come out of that area?
A Yes. They
did.
Q And would
you tell us what, approximately what time that was and who you observed.
A Just prior
to Mr. Bear Runner's appearance on the scene at 3:00 o'clock I received a
radio transmission from the State police that there was a young individual
walking on the crest of the plateau with his hands up.
Q Would you
point out where that was.
A When I first
observed this individual it would have been in the vicinity, in this
vicinity right here.
MR. HULTMAN:
And that is, Your Honor, may the record reflect that that's approximately
one foot directly to the left of the tent city area on the chart, a
distance of one foot?
THE COURT: The
record may so reflect.
MR. HULTMAN:
Thank you, Your Honor.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) And would you direct which direction this individual was walking.
A Yes. This
individual walked along the plateau along the edge of the plowed field and
to the vicinity of three residences so marked on Government Exhibit No.
71.
{97}
Q And where if
anyplace did he go from there?
A He was
around there when Mr. Bear Runner was in there and him and Mr. Bear Runner
walked out to our location.
Q And did he
have any indication, did he talk with anyone or make any statement?
A Yes. We
attempted to, to interrogate him as to what the situation was in there and
he only related that there were some armed individuals in the trees and
Mr. Bear Runner told him not to talk with us.
Q What
happened next? First of all, what time was this approximately?
A When Mr.
Zimmerman and Mr. Bear Runner left?
Q Yes.
A Sometime
around 3:30 or 3:45.
Q Are you sure
about that time?
A That's
strictly an approximation. I hadn't made no notes at any time that entire
afternoon.
Q So this was
sometime later in the afternoon, is that correct?
A Yes. Yes. It
was.
Q Where did
you go from the, did you eventually leave this particular area?
A Yes. The,
the houses were eventually secured by law enforcement personnel and after
I received word that they were secured I entered the area of the houses.
{98}
Q Okay. And
where did you go?
A I first
drove to the vicinity of the white house referred to in Government Exhibit
No. 71.
Q Did you at
that time have occasion to go to the bottom of the hill?
A Yes. After I
was in the vicinity of the white house and the green house I walked to the
vicinity of what is marked on Government Exhibit 71 as Coler's car.
Q Did you,
have you seen any photographs that reflect what you observed at that time?
A Yes. I have.
Q I will show
you what are marked for identification as Government Exhibits 6A, 6B, 6C
and 6D.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May we approach the side bar, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Yes. (Whereupon, the following proceedings were had at the bench:
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, at this time we thought it would be appropriate to state to
Your Honor the purpose for which we filed a trial memorandum which listed
the various objections we intend to make as the Government offers
evidence.
We trust that
the understanding with the Government is that we file it both for the
Court's guidance and for the prosecution's guidance so that they would
understand that our {99} position is that we think that there is certain
prejudice involving those exhibits and in the showing of those exhibits in
any way in an effort to introduce them into evidence. I don't know that
these particular photographs are on the list because I haven't seen them
at this particular moment but I'd like to make clear that we believe that
the memorandum will reserve any of these objections in the hope that we
make sure that Your Honor has ruled on those particular items before any
revelation of them is made to the jury.
MR. HULTMAN:
Well, Your Honor, we certainly are willing to hear in good faith and
counsel I know understands that and we, there in this case has been no
showing to the jury at all.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
understand.
MR. HULTMAN:
But we're going to go forward at this time and we'll hope that you will at
least, you know, Elliot will come forward as to, on each of the issues
because until that time we're not going to know for certain what your
posture is which I don't know so in some compartment in the file, but at
the present time I think we're --
MR. LOWE: Your
Honor, the normal procedure is to show opposing counsel the exhibit before
you show it to a witness and then we will know in advance and can approach
the bench before a possible objectionable item is in evidence and I think
--
{100}
MR. HULTMAN:
Fine. Everybody is familiar with this, Your Honor, and we'll follow it.
MR. SIKMA: I
am certain opposing counsel knew precisely what I was dealing with.
MR. TAIKEFF:
The exhibits are all marked so we will all know which, we each have a list
of them.
MR. HULTMAN: I
didn't make any remarks to the following until you mentioned to the Court
what the specific function of that memorandum was and we wanted to make
sure what it was.
MR. SIKMA: We
have also filed a memorandum in this regard, with regard to these exhibits
and this is in response to the defendant's motions.
THE COURT:
That was filed last night?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes, Your Honor.
MR. HULTMAN:
Generally speaking I think the --
MR. TAIKEFF:
The position of our memorandum, but to make it clear to the Government,
our position is that we do not wish to restrain the Government's effort to
prove any fact which it thinks it has a legitimate purpose in proving and
in order to avoid any prejudice we're prepared to stipulate to any fact
which any of the evidence would place before the jury in order to avoid
the prejudicial impact that we believe is inherent in certain of the
exhibits and those are the exhibits which are listed in our memorandum.
We have in
some instances made a legal objection and {101} in the alternative, we
make the objection and if Your Honor should find that our legal objection
is not sufficient, that there is a prejudicial basis for objecting.
Where we make
that claim of prejudice in every instance we are prepared to make an
appropriate stipulation so that the Government will not be hampered in
proving facts.
All we wanted
to do is to avoid undue emotional impact on the jury and we are prepared
to make essentially any stipulation necessary to satisfy the Government's
needs except their need to raise the emotional level of this case.
MR. LOWE: May
I point out, Your Honor, that this is, a fairly important issue is going
to be dealt with in other pictures. I don't know if Your Honor has had a
chance to see any of these other pictures.
I might offer
a suggestion that Your Honor may want to take a midmorning recess so the
jury can be excused and we can deal with the memorandum because your
ruling in this instance is going to affect substantially the rulings on
the later matter also and I think Your Honor would want to see those
pictures in order to get a sense of them. I think it's very difficult for
you to decide with all of us clustered around.
THE COURT:
What is the Government's response?
MR. HULTMAN:
Well, Your Honor, our position is that we would not accede that the
request of counsel not as to procedure but as to the ultimate issue, I
mean there's no sense {102} of putting them in evidence as the jury, I
mean that if the ultimate issue and evidentiary items that we have
submitted and that are on the exhibit list and the counsel has agreed to
in discussion back and forth.
The
Government, one, intends to enter them as evidence and, two, we believe
there is a legitimate basis for every, D, for example, just starting with
these four photos, these are four photos, these are four photos of the
exact situation in the case of this as the bodies were found and this is,
if there's any piece of evidence that ought to be admissible, it certainly
ought to be this.
{103}
These photos
then show at the moment here when the bodies are turned back, as you can
see, to see all the various wounds and a number of items of evidence that
are going to come into testimony here, that's the purpose itself as it is
as gory as it is that is the facts and we don't think that the Government
ought to be deprived of showing this is the crime of murder.
This goes to
the very things that are pictured here and key evidence is involved here
and this is the posture we take on all of the items of evidence, Your
Honor.
MR. SIKMA: One
other thing, Your Honor.
The Government
cannot be expected and should not be expected to stipulate its case away.
There are
obviously things which have more of an impact and it's a legitimate
purpose to show this evidence to the jury rather than being required to
stipulate to it.
I believe we
cited in our Brief on a certain case in this regard and when the
Government stipulates to certain things merely because, like the defense
counsel is willing to write out a stipulation to it, this affects the
effectiveness of our case which is a legitimate purpose of presentation of
a case and advocacy and it's one of the things that are necessary in order
to give the jury a true picture of what occurred and not merely a picture
in black and white and a reading of some stipulation which does not give
them an indication as to what {104} actually happened and that's why it's
necessary.
THE COURT:
What's the specific issue before the Court at this moment?
MR. LOWE:
Whether those pictures should be admitted under Rule 403, prejudice,
overweighing prejudice or relevance.
MR. TAIKEFF:
It seems, Your Honor, if I may have those photographs for a moment, Mr.
Sikma, my understanding of the evidence and this is what the agent came
upon when they discovered the dead agents, this is a true depiction of
what the scene was as they found it.
Now we have
these subsequent photographs. This one I would identify. The first one I
refer to is 6A. That's what they came upon when they arrived at the scene.
6D, Your
Honor, is a photograph made when the agents were turned over by other
agents or other law enforcement people and as Your Honor can see, it's a
close-up which does not reveal anything that the first photograph doesn't
reveal except gore, to use a single word.
Likewise 6B
and 6C are further close-ups of the individual agents.
Now there's no
aspect of the pathology of this case which is in dispute. We are prepared
to stipulate that any of the findings of any pathologist concerning the
number of wounds, the impact of the wounds, the type of wounds, whether
they were fatal or nonfatal, whether they were disabling. None of that is
{105} in issue as far as we are concerned, Your Honor.
The only issue
is, in this case is whether Leonard Peltier participated in these deaths,
in the killings.
The fact that
the agents are dead is not in dispute. The fact that they were on official
duties is not in dispute.
To show
somebody these two photographs, 6B and 6C, establishing and substantially
showing where the agents were or that they were dead is totally
unnecessary to this. It is prejudicial; it is prejudicial because it was
horrifying.
Now it may be
that it is necessary for them to position the agents relative to the car,
et cetera. For that purpose I'd say photograph 6A is perfectly appropriate
but the remaining photographs, Your Honor, are there for one purpose only
and that is they're for their emotional impact and the answer to that
question, I think, is clear and I would ask that the Government state what
specific fact Exhibits 6B, 6C, and D would establish that 6A doesn't
establish.
MR. HULTMAN:
Many things.
MR. LOWE: May
I make one clarification.
We only got
the memorandum of the Government last night and we haven't had a chance to
do a lot of research on it but from what I read and from what I would
guess, I suspect that in none of the cases that are cited for the
proposition of gory pictures coming in, in none of those cases was the
defendant willing to stipulate the ultimate fact of pathology and that's
{106} what we're saying, as far as I know, as to what is in the ultimate
pathology that, we are not willing to stipulate to high-powered rifles,
distance that they were fired.
If the
Government would tell us, make an offer of proof we'll stipulate to it I'm
quite sure and I think that's the big distinction and then we'll proceed
on Rule 403 which at least says that the probative value must outweigh the
prejudice and we can stipulate to the probative value. It's difficult to
see how these pictures would meet that test.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, there are a number of things that can be shown but we choose
and in the light of being effective in our presentation of this case to
show things that the pathologist will be able to use with regard to these
bodies only.
The
pathologist who is examining the bodies and who did not conduct the
autopsies, examines the photographs during the course of the autopsies.
They're, of course, necessary but he must also have things that he can see
and compare with what he has observed in the photos of the autopsies as
well as the bodies at the time so he can see if there's any substantial
difference and he needs this in order to make a valid comparison and I
believe that they're legitimate for this purpose.
The chain of
evidence, custody of all the evidence as far as it's concerned with regard
to this agent who has made this observation can testify simply that he
made those obser- {107} vations and that the only thing that took place on
these photographs is that the agents were turned over.
Now we don't
see the necessity to show these photographs to the jury but we do see the
necessity to show them at a later date after our pathological evidence is
brought in.
In the last
trial it was stated that all things would be stipulated to and also, but
in the closing argument some things came up which were precisely the
different. Mr. Lowe is the one who brought that up.
I'm not going
to agree to go along with it at this time for that reason because I
thought we had substantial agreements in that regard.
After our
witness was gone and we had agreed to stipulate to those things, the
stipulation did not take place.
Then in
addition to that an argument came up which was a very good argument on the
closing argument because we didn't have an opportunity to precisely put
these things into the record and that's what we should do, Your Honor, on
this occasion.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, -- just a minute. You guys have had an opportunity.
In addition,
Your Honor, there are evidentiary items that are in these photographs at
the moment which have to do with the types of wounds, how the wounds are,
the relationship of the bodies to the car, the items that you can see in
those {108} photos 6B, C and D that will be connected up and for which I
will at least make a disclosure right now since counsel wants evidently an
indicational disclosure, ammunition pouches, for example, shown
specifically in these photos that do not show in other photos.
Now if I know
you want to stipulate, but I don't have to accept that stipulation, but it
goes and that's my point, Your Honor. Throughout this trial we're going to
be faced with constant stipulation and that, that one of the purposes for
stipulation, of course, a very legitimate one, and the Government has
agreed to this and will try to continue, that we remove issues and matters
in order to shorten the trial but the Government has no duty, in fact it
has an obligation not to stipulate to those things which have probative
value to a jury and we're going to retain that right from the very
beginning and I'm going to fight extremely hard to have that opportunity
because we are concerned with the crime of murder here.
Now we're not
talking about photos by comparison, Your Honor, not those at the immediate
place within seconds or two or how they're found but we're talking about
autopsies where bodies are cut apart and things of this kind which don't
have the same probative value of photographs of this kind do and we are
taking it one step removed and it's for these reason, Your Honor, that the
Government must insist that in all instances it has an opportunity to take
its case forward to the {109} jury for the probative values that are
involved and only if the Court would find under the Rules and under the
cases that whatever the item is is of such a nature and so shocking in
such a way to go beyond the probative value, it is then the responsibility
of the Court and rightly so to make that determination, that it's going to
resolve to get an unfair result far as the jury consideration is.
But I submit
to the Court, no matter how shocking these photos here may be, that the
jury has a right to see those exactly as they are. That is how those
bodies were found, when turned over those are the conditions that it was
in and it has to be, they are items that are involved in this case.
MR. LOWE: Let
me just make a factual correction.
Mr. Sikma
misstates what took place last summer, I think, in the statement but the
defendants last summer were not willing to stipulate to the ultimate
pathological facts. As a difference we tried to stipulate to some of the
pathology at what stage we made it or broke it down but they're, as to the
offer to stipulate the ultimate facts, we are willing to stipulate
everything. If they want to have a stipulation that a person was stabbed
at a certain place and someone held a certain weapon at a certain level
and --
MR. HULTMAN:
We're going --
MR. LOWE: Let
me finish, Mr. Hultman. They're willing to stipulate as such to who,
anything {110} of that and the probative value of the evidence being
prejudicial is crutial.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, with regard to that, I don't think the jury could understand
what we're saying about a pathological stipulation if they can't see the
photographs to which they're, we are stipulating about the pathological
findings. I don't think they would understand what we are talking about.
THE COURT:
Which of those photographs do you wish to support your pathological
findings?
MR. SIKMA: All
of them.
THE COURT: All
of them?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes. But in addition, additional photographs, not all of them, some of
them in the book show the bodies in relation to the house and which show
the automobiles and certain things like blood on the automobile, Coler's
automobile and how they were found in relationship to the various houses
which are on Government Exhibit 71.
THE COURT:
What were you proposing to do right now?
MR. SIKMA:
Right now I plan to show this witness -- I would offer 6A. I would, well,
I guess I could at this time offer 6D, 6, excuse me, 6B, C and D also
because this is what the bodies looked like when they were turned over and
that, I think we have already sufficient evidence to show this but I {111}
could wait with that until the, until the pathologist or other witnesses
who moved the bodies testify.
MR. HULTMAN:
There will be no objection to 6A, Your Honor. This is fine.
MR. TAIKEFF:
If I may add one comment, I do not believe the Government has in any of
its argument presented anything to the Court by way of saying what is
contained within these photographs they intend to prove.
There is
nothing in these photographs that is in dispute. Mr. Sikma speaks in terms
of being effective with the jury, a very general statement which I suspect
is a euphemism for getting a guilty verdict by showing them horrible
photographs.
I don't know
what it is that the Government thinks they will be inhibited from proving
if they don't show these photographs other than the fact that it was
horrible evidence and I think, Your Honor, the ultimate issue in this case
is who was standing there when these agents were shot and who pulled the
trigger, not whether they were shot at close range and not whether someone
pulled the trigger because we all know that that occurred and it's not in
contention and it will not be disputed in this case.
MR. SIKMA: On
the contrary, Your Honor, we can't show the things to which we stipulate
clearly without the jury being able to see what we are talking about
because it is just {112} not understood what, you're talking about
something, vaguely about someone in a certain condition. It just isn't the
same. It doesn't have the same effect as understanding what it actually is
and I can speak in that regard from experience after having worked with
these photographs from a standpoint of reconstructing a crime scene.
The more that
you're able to see them, in fact the more there is available to see for
the jury, the more access they have to them, the more they will be
offended by the, by the effectiveness of them as well.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, might I suggest that we take a recess in order to give the
Court an opportunity and also the jury a rest. I think we're at that time
of the morning. That's the only reason I suggest it.
THE COURT:
Well, we are about due for a recess.
But it is the
ruling of the Court that in view of the seriousness of the offense that is
charged in this case that the relevancy of these four exhibits outweigh
any possible prejudice and they will be received.
{113}
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the hearing and
presence of the jury:)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) First I will ask you, you have had an opportunity to go to the
bottom of the hill to observe the bodies of Special Agents Williams and
Coler, is that correct?
A Yes, I did.
Q I want to
show you Government Exhibit 6A, B, C and D and ask you whether or not you
recognize these photographs and whether or not you can tell me whether or
not you've seen the circumstances under which those photographs were
taken?
A Yes, I have.
Q Do they
fairly depict what you observed at the time you observed Special Agents
Williams and Coler?
A Yes, they
do.
Q Are they
photographs of Special Agents Williams and Coler as you found them at that
time?
A Yes, they
are.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would offere into evidence Government Exhibits 6A, 6B, 6C
and 6D.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I examine on the voir dire, Your Honor?
THE COURT: You
may.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
think you just said those photographs depict the agents as you saw them
when you arrived at the scene, is that correct?
{114}
THE WITNESS:
Yes, sir.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Would you look at photograph 6A.
THE WITNESS:
Yes, sir.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Is that statement true with respect to photograph 6A?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, it is.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Would you look at photograph 6B.
THE WITNESS:
All right.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Is that true, is that statement true with respect to photograph 6B? Yes or
no?
THE WITNESS:
I'd like the question again. I'd like the question again.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Is that statement you made that the photographs depict the agents as you
saw them when you arrived at the scene true with respect to 6B?
THE WITNESS:
Not as I found them; no.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Is that statement true with respect to 6C?
THE WITNESS:
No.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Is it true with respect to 6D?
THE WITNESS:
No.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection with respect to 6A, Your Honor. We object to the others.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I have a couple of further questions.
{115}
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) What is the difference with regard to 6B, C and D?
A Photograph
6B, 6C and 6D are a depiction of the condition of the agents after they
were turned over. They were found facedown. After they were turned faceup
the photograph 6B, 6C, 6B, 6C and 6D depict the agents' conditions after
they were turned over.
Q Is that the
only difference? Was anything else changed?
A No, it was
not. They were rolled over on their backs.
MR. SIKMA: I
make the reoffer, Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I examine further on the voir dire?
THE COURT: You
may.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Were you present when the agents were moved?
THE WITNESS:
To the best of my recollection, sir, I was.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Did you have anything to do with the moving of the agents or the
supervising of those who moved the agents?
THE WITNESS:
No, I did not.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Did you have anything to do with the determination as to which views would
be taken, which views would be photographed?
THE WITNESS:
No, I did not.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Did you have anything to do with how the {116} photography was to be made?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, I did.
MR. TAIKEFF:
What role did you play in that connection?
THE WITNESS: I
wanted, I insured and I had discussions with other agents concerning an
adequate number of photographs of the crime scene.
MR. TAIKEFF:
And were you the one who determined how many photographs would be made?
THE WITNESS:
Not personally; no.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Do you know who made that decision?
THE WITNESS:
It was a mutual decision, to the best of my recollection, between myself
and Agent Dean Hughs.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Was Hughs the person who made the photographs?
THE WITNESS:
These particular photographs, sir?
MR. TAIKEFF:
Yes, sir.
THE WITNESS: I
don't recall. I'd have to do some research on that. They were photographs
made with my camera and at least two other cameras at the crime scene that
afternoon.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Can you tell us who made the decision as to whether the close-up
photographs would be made? Two of those photographs are close-up
photographs, aren't they?
THE WITNESS:
Yes. At least two, sir. No. Like I say, we discussed it and we wanted to
take as many photographs as we could so we'd get an accurate depiction
{117} of the crime scene as we found it on that afternoon.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Turning over the agents, did that introduce some inaccuracy?
THE WITNESS:
We were concerned with the wounds that they had suffered. That was the
primary reason for turning them over.
MR. TAIKEFF:
You knew there was going to be an autopsy, didn't you?
THE WITNESS:
Yes.
THE COURT: I
believe those questions go beyond the voir dire as a basis for objection.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr.
Adams, did you actually see the bodies turned over?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, I did, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And
those 6A, 6B, 6C, are they a fair and accurate portrayal of those bodies
as they appeared after they were turned over?
THE WITNESS:
Your Honor, it would be 6B, 6C and 6D are a fair and accurate
representation of the bodies after they were turned over; yes.
THE COURT: The
Exhibits 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are received in evidence.
The Court will
recess until 11:00 o'clock.
(Recess
taken.)
{118}
(Whereupon, at
10:50 o'clock A.M. the following proceedings were had in judge's
chambers:)
THE COURT: The
reason I asked Counsel to come in is because the Clerk of Court received a
call this morning from a Patricia O'Day relating to one of the jurors and
I instructed the Clerk to have her present it in affidavit form which has
been done. I will pass it around to Counsel.
MR. HULTMAN:
Just read it, Elliot.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I do that, Your Honor?
THE COURT:
Surely
MR. TAIKEFF:
It's dated 3/17/77. "I hereby swear that on the 10th day of March, 1977 I
in the presence of two witnesses at a coffee break heard Shirley Klocke
say these words during our conversation about her eminent jury selection
process in the Peltier case: She said, quote "`I am so prejudiced against
Indians.'" unquote. She also made this statement back in the office in
more general terms.
I swear this
statement to be true as I was prompted by no one to make this statement
and make it as a matter of principle to my own conscience." Signed
Patricia O'Day, witness to the conversation. And it is sworn to before a
notary public of this state.
THE COURT: She
names two persons who apparently were witnesses to the conversation.
MR. TAIKEFF:
I'm sorry. I did not read that correctly.
{119} It
doesn't say to the conversation it says, "witnesses to the conversation,"
and then two people have signed their names. They appear to be Margaret
Loss, L-o-s-s and Carol Schatzke, S-c-h-a-t-z, or S-c-h-a-t-z-k-e.
May I return
it to Your Honor?
THE COURT:
Unless you wish to.
MR. HULTMAN:
Could I look. Fine. Thank you.
Your Honor,
could I at least make a query or a response of some kind introductory?
THE COURT:
That's the reason I asked Counsel to come.
MR. HULTMAN:
First of all, Your Honor, of course, I know nothing about what we're
looking at and I would like to inquire, and again with no, certainly no
reflection on Counsel, and Counsel understands this, but --
MR. TAIKEFF:
The answer to the question is no, we know nothing about it.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, see, the problem is we went through exactly the same thing
when you have a juror forced out, as I understand just from the
discussions that have gone on, and things that have been said and done up
to this time. I have no knowledge of it other than what I've learned in
the courtroom and discussion with Counsel.
When you have
two groups, as Counsel has indicated, and, one, I'm not sure who makes up
one and certainly the second one is so large that maybe it's 500 or 1,000
people that have {120} an interest in this case of some kind that are all
over the courthouse, they are all over the community, I run into them
every place I go, which have to do, as I say, and it's no reflection or
any way directed in terms of counsel or control. I clearly understand that
and Elliot Taikeff and I understand that he has no control over that. But
it seems to me, Your Honor, that if an inquiry of this kind is to be made,
there are two precautionary matters and one is, and that's the reason for
my motion I filed a little bit ago with reference to the sequestration as
far as witnesses from this point and looking to people that are in the
courtroom, that I in no way am implying that searching matters of this
kind and interposing is going on. But because of the numbers of people
that are involved and their interest in it, in the case out here, it seems
to me that the Court has to be doubly cautionary in the terms of, one,
finding out the source and how matters of this kind are generated, and I'm
not suggesting, because I have no knowledge, that is the case here and I
don't want the inference of that kind. I know Counsel understands that
that's the motive in which I state what I state now.
I think unless
a careful approach is made from that kind, and maybe even some precaution
from the Court's standpoint alone, and that's the very reason why again
the government requested the sequestering of this jury, because of the
opportunity of people to interject themselves and create a problem of the
{121} kind here where there is a response of some kind which then leads to
a hearing and leads to discussions and so forth. So all I'm saying is,
Your Honor, one, I have no knowledge of any kind as to what this event is,
but, two, I wanted to state to the Court the genesis of a general problem
because it was the same kind of problem that, John, if you remember, we
had a discussion --
MR. LOWE:
That's a complete misstatement of what happened last summer. We never had
that last summer.
THE COURT:
I'm, excuse me. I'm not going to get into what may or may not have
happened last time.
Let me make a
comment at this point. The only thing I'm concerned about is whether or
not this juror did actually make that statement at the time. That's the
reason I asked for a sworn affidavit from this person as to whether or not
this juror did in fact make such a statement and unless Counsel have some
different ideas, I propose that she be brought in sometime today in
chambers and shown this statement and asked to comment on it.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
have an idea in conflict with that, Your Honor.
THE COURT: All
right.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
think we should not confront the juror now that she's a sitting juror
because it may have some affect upon her as a juror.
{122}
I would
propose that instead we bring in the three people whose names appear
there. That would accomplish two purposes: first, it would avoid the
necessity of, or possibly avoid the necessity of any confrontation with
the juror unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Secondly, it would allow
defense counsel to discover for the first time the identity of this person
and exactly who she is and what relationship, if any, she has to the
defendant supporters, if I may use a term of no great precision, and
perhaps satisfy Mr. Hultman that the defendant or the defense team did not
come here with legions who have infiltrated this state. There is an
implication of a sinister conspiracy --
MR. HULTMAN: I
didn't mean that.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Not that Counsel has any connection with it or responsibility for --
THE COURT: I
think I understood what Mr. Hultman said and I understand what you're
saying.
What is your
response to the suggestion made by Mr. Taikeff? MR. HULTMAN: I have no
objection, Your Honor. I think the Court --
THE COURT:
Well, I'm not going to bring anybody in without the lawyers being present.
MR. HULTMAN: I
understand.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
understand.
{123}
THE COURT: So
I do think --
MR. HULTMAN: I
have no objection, Your Honor, to that.
THE COURT: Mr.
Taikeff's solution is probably a better solution than mine.
If there are
three persons that will, if the other two people substantiate or
corroborate what has been said here, then I think my duty is to make a
decision as to what should be done as far as this juror is concerned.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, could I ask a question? I would take it from the procedure
that's been suggested that it would be the Court that would first make the
inquiry of these particular witnesses in the presence of all of us.
THE COURT:
Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
would hope so.
THE COURT:
That is my intention. I would make the inquiry.
MR. HULTMAN:
Yes.
THE COURT: I
want it to be done on the record and the lawyers be present.
MR HULTMAN:
Government would have no objection and join in it.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
would like to voluntarily bind myself not to contact those people or to
have any of my investigators or other legal workers contact them. I'd like
these people to come into the courthouse without any interference or
inquiry {124} made of them until such time as they appear before the
Court.
MR. LOWE: Are
you willing to make a similar offer?
MR. HULTMAN:
No question.
THE CLERK: I
wonder, Your Honor, would you like to go to the extreme of having Summons
issued for these three persons and served upon them by the marshals to
appear before you at a certain time?
THE COURT: I
don't think I have any authority to issue Summons.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, a Subpoena could be issued. I would think if these people were
asked to come they undoubtedly would come. They apparently did this as a
voluntary act.
THE COURT: As
long as you're here, I have been thinking about the request made by Mr.
Lowe yesterday.
We'll follow
that procedure and I'll leave it up to you to see if you can arrange for
them to come in at some time. And I assume then that Counsel are agreeable
that this juror will remain on the jury until I get these people in? We'll
try to get them in today.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Yes, Your Honor.
THE CLERK: Any
particular time of the day, Judge?
THE COURT:
Find out when they can come in. We may have to accomodate the court
proceedings accordingly.
MR. CROOKS: I
would suggest that be done after court and after the jury has left. If
these are fellow employees, {125} that in itself might create a problem. I
would suggest it be done with as few spectators as possible.
MR. LOWE: It
won't be a problem if they're brought to chambers. The jury will be in
their jury room. It can't create problems possibly.
THE COURT:
Ralph, would you find out when they can come. I would like to see all
three of them.
Just one thing
more. I have given some thought to the suggestion made by Mr. Lowe that
the marshals be required to monitor the TV shows to exclude any police
shows and I think the only authority, I have kind of concluded the only
authority the Court has on sequestration is to prevent the jury from
reading or hearing any report on the case and I don't really believe that
I have got any authority to move into the area of normal TV programming
that they might otherwise be entitled to watch.
MR. LOWE:
Would you be willing to receive from authority from that, Judge, other
than -- there's a district court decision that just recently did that.
Would you be willing at least to tell the jury in your judgment it would
be wiser for them not to do that because it might, you asked them as a
matter of grave not to do it?
THE COURT: The
other thing is the jurors do not have a TV, they do not have radios, they
do not have the TV in their room.
{118}
(Whereupon, at
10:50 o'clock A.M. the following proceedings were had in judge's
chambers:)
Pages 118-125
placed by Clerk in sealed envelope in file, upon order of the Court.
{125}
THE COURT:
Ralph, would you find out when they can come. I would like to see all
three of them.
Just one thing
more. I have given some thought to the suggestion made by Mr. Lowe that
the marshals be required to monitor the TV shows to exclude any police
shows and I think the only authority, I have kind of concluded the only
authority the Court has on sequestration is to prevent the jury from
reading or hearing any report on the case and I don't really believe that
I have got any authority to move into the area of normal TV programming
that they might otherwise be entitled to watch.
MR. LOWE:
Would you be willing to receive from authority from that, Judge, other
than -- there's a district court decision that just recently did that.
Would you be willing at least to tell the jury in your judgment it would
be wiser for them not to do that because it might, you asked them as a
matter of grave not to do it?
THE COURT: The
other thing is the jurors do not have a TV, they do not have radios, they
do not have the TV in their room.
{126}
MR. LOWE: I
did not know that.
THE COURT: If
they're going to watch TV they have to go down to the marshal's control
post and watch it.
MR. LOWE:
Maybe I have a suggestion, Your Honor. You certainly have control over the
marshals. Order the marshals not to watch television programs that are of
violence, police and detectives. It may knock out 85 percent of the
programming, I know.
We feel
strongly about this, Judge. There is a lot of psychological studies and
I'd like to make an offer of showing on it.
THE COURT: You
may make a showing on it.
One thing
more. A motion has just been handed to me for a sequestration of
witnesses. I presume this is a rule of evidence 615 motion for exclusion
of witnesses.
MR. CROOKS: I
might inform the Court this has been filed moments before coming in.
THE COURT:
Have you seen it?
MR. TAIKEFF:
We have a copy of it.
Does that mean
to exclude them from the courtroom?
MR. HULTMAN:
That's correct.
MR. TAIKEFF:
I'm sorry it was necessary for the government to put that in writing. We
would have stipulated.
MR. HULTMAN: I
thought we had an understanding. Really had not put down and the Court had
not so ruled.
{127}
THE COURT: As
I read the Rules, if either party asks the Court shall --
MR. TAIKEFF:
There's no objection to it being done in any event.
THE COURT:
Very well.
How to
implement it now. Are there witnesses sitting --
MR. CROOKS: We
don't know.
MR. HULTMAN:
There are none as far as the government. I think merely if the Court
would, as well as Counsel know maybe, the Court would make an announcement
from the bench to those people that if there is somebody that Counsel has
not contacted that is anticipating being a witness, they will be aware.
MR. TAIKEFF:
There's no one in the audience, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Very well.
I also am
planning to follow the procedure during this trial of having the jury
brought in after I have gone in and after everybody's ready to proceed. By
that time the spectators have cleared the corridors and I think it will
work much smoother. And then occasionally I'm confronted with matters by
Counsel which the jury shouldn't hear and if the jury is in when I come
in, then we have got the problem of either going to the bench or sending
the jury back out again.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Would Your Honor suggest a time, I realize {128} it's after 11:00 now, it
would not be appropriate, when Counsel could see Your Honor about a matter
relating to a marshal's office that I don't think concerns the government.
It has to do with the problems that the defense team is having.
MR. HULTMAN:
Would you want to take it up now?
MR. TAIKEFF:
My question is, it needs about three minutes. I don't mind if the
government stays.
MR. HULTMAN:
We have no reason --
THE COURT: If
you don't mind if the government stays, let's take care of it right now.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, I understood that the order which Your Honor issued in
connection with our motion to modify the visitation arrangements said in
essence, if not in words, that the matter was wholly within the discretion
of the Clay County Law Enforcement officials who run the jail, subject to
what their needs were and their desires were, keeping security in mind, et
cetera, and that we would therefore be in a position to negotiate with the
jailer as to visitation hours and things of that sort.
Yesterday a
matter came to my attention that the defendant was trying to have a
medicine man come into the jail and perform a pipe ceremony for him. As
reported to me, I can't tell Your Honor by firsthand knowledge, but as
reported to me the jailer said, "We would like to do it. We have no
objection, perfectly all right, except the federal authorities {129}
wouldn't like it," or, "Have told us not to do it, You get their okay." So
I went to see a Mr. Warren last night who was very cordial in his demeanor
but who said, "I can't allow that to happen." I said, "It's my impression
that the judge's attitude towards the jail is that it's to be run by the
jail officials and if they want to permit something it isn't necessary for
us to keep going back to bother the judge for an order for some nominal
thing that's of really no importance and shouldn't take the Court's time."
He said, "That's not my understanding. You have to get everything you want
through the Court." I said, "Are you aware of the fact that the Judge has
in essence superceded the letter to the sheriff with his order which
says," and then I repeated to him what my interpretation of Your Honor's
order was. He said, "No, I'm not aware of that." So I brought him a copy
of Your Honor's order with attached the letter to the sheriff and he and
he said as far as the subject matter of counsel's visitation is concerned
he does not read that order as saying that counsel have a right or an
opportunity to negotiate with the sheriff for visitation hours which are
acceptable to the sheriff. Now if he doesn't read that order that way,
then truly the role he's playing in preventing our client from having this
religious ceremony is inconsistent with what we think is Your Honor's
attitude on the subject.
THE COURT: The
problem as reported to me by the {130} marshal's service is that this
person that came down to have this ceremony or powwow, or whatever they
call it, went down and told, or at least, of course this is second or
thirdhand now, told the sheriff that the Court had ordered that he would
be permitted to have a powwow down there.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, that is inconceivable. I know the conversation I had with Mr.
Warren and I know he was unambiguous about it. He said, "You cannot
change." I was trying to use that as a stepping stone to persuade him up
to a certain point Your Honor didn't want to be bothered with certain
things and I tried to persuade him that we had a right to change the
visitation hours from 7:30 A.M. to 8:30 instead of from 9:30 to 10:30
without consulting with him, or with you because that's how we read Your
Honor's order. He said, "That order doesn't say that." Now if his
limitation with the English language or his attitude toward the defendant
is such that he has trouble understanding what that order says, we can't
get the simplest thing done without bothering Your Honor.
THE COURT: I
did not intend that order would change that, I simply intended if you were
to be given access to the defendant in addition to those times that were
set out in that order and if it was consistent, security would have to be
worked out with --
MR. TAIKEFF:
That's exactly -- when I first approached {131} Mr. Warren last night, I
said, "Mr. Warren, you're probably going to get a call from the sheriff's
office because we're about to deliver a certified copy of this Order to
the sheriff with a verbal explanation by one of the attorneys on the
defense team that we believe that order is a signal to the sheriff when it
comes to minutia, as long as the sheriff has been asked and he's willing
to accede to it, subject to the necessary security arrangements that it's
all right for us to deal with the sheriff on minor matters." He said, "No.
That's not true," and that's what brought us to a discussion of the order.
When we got to
the order itself he showed an understanding of the order which was wholly
inconsistent with its plain language which I can only attribute either to
his attitude or to his limitation with the language.
THE COURT: The
other thing is I had discussed the matter with him before the order was, I
had discussed it with him informally here in chambers, whether he
remembers that or not, because I wanted to be sure I was not suggesting
anything that was in any way going to interfere with the relationship
between the marshal's service and the Clay County Law Enforcement Center.
MR. TAIKEFF:
There's no problem about the relationship except as those problems are
generated by Mr. Warren when he says there is a problem. He creates a
problem when he says {132} there is a problem. Your Honor's orders seem to
be clear cut. We would go to the sheriff and say, "Would you mind if we
had a conversation between 9:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. tonight?" If the
sheriff thought it would be okay there would be no intrusion upon the
Court's intention. Mr. Warren says that's not true. We have to come to you
and ask you if we can make such an arrangement. That seems to be wholly
inconsistent with Your Honor's order.
THE COURT:
I'll talk to Mr. Warren.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Thank you, Your Honor.
{133}
(Whereupon, at
11:12 o'clock, a.m., the Court reconvened in the courtroom; and the
following further proceedings were had out of the presence and hearing of
the jury, the Defendant being present in person:)
THE COURT: The
record may show that pursuant to Rule 615 of the Rules of Evidence,
witnesses who are to be called to testify in this case are excluded from
the courtroom until after they have testified, and they are excluded from
the courtroom after they have testified if there is any probability that
they will be recalled for rebuttal or for any purpose.
The jury may
be brought in.
(Whereupon, at
11:14 o'clock, a.m., the jury returned to the courtroom; and the following
proceedings were had in the presence and hearing of the jury:)
THE COURT: You
have just experienced an example of the inability of the Court to keep the
time schedule that it sets. I had originally stated that we would
reconvene at 11:00 o'clock, but some matters came up which had to be
handled and so we are 15 minutes late.
You may
proceed.
(Witness
resumes witness stand.)
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Mr. Adams, I want to go back with you a little bit -- during the
course of the afternoon, the things {134} you testified to.
Earlier you
testified that Wallace Little, Sr., had driven into the area of the
houses, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q Would you
describe the type of vehicle he was driving?
A It was a red
and white pickup. I believe it was a Ford.
Q And when he
went out, did he have anyone with him?
A Yes. There
were at least two individuals seated in the front seat of the pickup with
him.
Q Do you know
who those people were?
A No, I do
not.
Q During the
course of the afternoon were there any sounds other than gunshots?
A Yes. At some
time during the afternoon I heard some loud explosions.
Q And where
did these sounds come from?
A They came --
it appeared to me they came from in behind the -- south of the three
residences, the log house, the white house and the green house, referring
to Government Exhibit No. 71.
Q To the
southeast of that direction?
A Yes. Yes,
the south or southeast. I couldn't tell. They were loud explosions,
shaking type of explosions, appeared to be dynamite.
Q Shaking
types, you mean the ground shook?
{135}
A Yes.
Q I had one
other question about the warrant that you had earlier.
When you would
go out to make an apprehension, do you have the warrant with you on all
occasions?
A No. We are
not required to have the physical warrant in our possession.
Q You
indicated earlier that you had observed the area of the crime scene where
the bodies were found and so on. Were a number of photographs taken?
A Yes, they
were.
Q And are
these photographs compiled in any book or anything?
A Yes, they
are.
Q Are you
familiar with these items?
A I have
examined them, yes.
Q I would show
you what is marked as Government Exhibit 54, and ask you whether or not --
I ask you to look at Government Exhibit 54 for identification, and ask you
whether or not you do recall those photographs and whether they depict
what you observed?
A (Examining).
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, these matters, most of these photographs the Government and
the Defendants have stipulated as to certain foundation. There are
questions of relevancy, but otherwise stipulations have been made; {136}
and we have a written stipulation prepared which has not been signed by
all counsel.
MR TAIKEFF: We
have so stipulated, your Honor, and we will sign the written stipulation.
THE COURT:
Very well. This is as to the foundation?
MR. TAIKEFF:
Yes, that's correct, your Honor.
THE COURT:
Thank you.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Do you recognize these photographs?
A Yes. The
photographs depicted in Government Exhibit No. 54 are a fair
representation of the crime scene as we found it.
MR. SIKMA: I
would offer into evidence Government Exhibit 54.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I examine briefly, your Honor?
THE COURT: You
may.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Agent Adams, you can recall, can you not, the contents of Exhibits 6-a, b,
c and d which are already in evidence as photographs?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, sir.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Are there any duplicates of those photographs?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, I believe there are, sir.
MR. TAIKEFF:
To the extent that they are duplicates, your Honor, I object.
THE COURT: Are
there duplicates of the photographs?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes, your Honor, there are duplicates; {137} but as a matter of using
them, we can take them out insofar as later on going to the jury, but it
is easier with regard to some witnesses who will testify to these items if
we may maintain some of the photographs in a book and some independently
as separate exhibitis for identification purposes.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Perhaps, your Honor, it would be simplest if Exhibits 6-a, b, c and d were
withdrawn, and the entire book taken into evidence; and then there would
be one complete set of photographs.
MR. SIKMA: We
would withdraw them -- we would like to use them for identification at
certain times.
MR. TAIKEFF.
We would have no objection.
MR. SIKMA: You
are indicating to withdraw the duplicates, is that correct, in the album?
MR. TAIKEFF: I
was suggesting that the easiest thing would be to put the entire album in,
withdraw the others from evidence; and they could be used for
identification purposes because it would be more convenient to handle the
individual photographs than the entire album.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, we would rather withdraw the duplicates from the album because
the others are exhibits and we will be using them for identification
purposes.
THE COURT:
Exhibit 54 will be received with the {138} exception of any pictures in
that exhibit which are duplicates of 6-a, 6-b, 6-c and 6-d.
(Plaintiff's
Exhibit No. 51, having been previously duly marked for identification, so
offered in evidence, was received.)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) O.k. Would you go through and describe on each page of that exhibit
what the exhibits portray?
MR. TAIKEFF:
Objection, your Honor. The photographs are in evidence, and they speak for
themselves.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I think that the witness should tell what each of these
exhibits are and also should be able to testify, to identify them to the
jury.
THE COURT: The
witness may testify relative to the identity or what the pictures are.
Otherwise the pictures would be meaningless, it would seem to me.
MR. TAIKEFF:
That is not what I was I objecting to. I thought we were going to take a
photograph at a time and give a detailed description. In view of the
observation of many years ago that a picture speaks a thousand words, it
is not necessary.
MR. SIKMA: I
propose to have him tell generally for the jury, your Honor, what the
pictures are so that the jury would be able to later look at the
photographs and know what he is talking about.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection, your Honor.
{139}
THE COURT:
That procedure will be permitted, and you may proceed.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you do that, Mr. Adams?
A Referring to
Government Exhibit No. 54, Photograph No. 1 is taken from the rear of
Agent Coler's car. It shows Coler's car as it was found and the two bodies
of the two agents alongside the car.
Q Would you
indicate where it was found and where that picture was taken from, by
pointing to the map there, 71?
A Agent
Coler's car was found in this location (indicating). The bodies of the two
agents were found immediately to the northeast of the car. The car was
facing toward the direction of the houses, the log house, white house,
green house on Government Exhibit No. 71. This photograph was taken from
the rear of the car looking in a southerly direction.
Q Would you go
to Page 2, please?
A Again
referring to Government Exhibit No. 54, Page 2 is blank. Page 3 is a
duplicate.
Q And which
one is that?
A I believe
6-a.
Q Thank you.
A Photograph
No. 4 --
Q
(Interrupting) Would you remove that photograph of 6-a then?
A Photograph
No. 4 is again of Agent Coler's car in the {140} condition we found it on
that afternoon, and it shows the remains of Agent Williams and Agent Coler.
It is taken from the northeast side, from just about where the arrow is
that points from SA Williams and SA Coler, toward the car.
Photograph No.
5 is a duplicate of Government Exhibit 6-d as in "David".
Photograph No.
6 is a duplicate of Government Exhibit No. 6-b as in "boy".
Photograph No.
7 is a duplicate of Government Exhibit No. 6-c.
Photograph No.
8 is a photograph of Agent Coler's car as taken from the -- essentially
the corral. That would be the southwest of the area marked Coler's car on
Government Exhibit No. 71.
Photograph No.
9 is a photograph of the rear area of Agent Coler's car -- shows the
bodies of Agent Coler and Agent Williams, looking in a southeasterly
direction toward the residence.
Photograph No.
10 is a photograph of the front end of Agent Coler's car taken from more
or less an easterly direction from the area marked Coler's car on
Government Exhibit No. 71.
Photograph No.
11 is a photograph of the rear window of Agent Coler's car taken from the
left side of the car, left rear side of the car.
Photograph No.
12 is a photograph of Agent Coler's car, {141} and that would be looking
in the direction of the tan and red house as depicted on Government
Exhibit No. 71. It would be again back from where there would be a small
corral there then.
Q On that
photograph what is the condition of the trunk of the vehicle?
A The trunk
lid of Agent Coler's car was open when we found it.
Q This was
taken from the side. Would you point out to the jury, by holding the
photograph up in front of them so they can see where it is, and what the
car is, so they will recognize this?
A I might
continue, that Photograph 13 appears to be an enlargement of Photograph
No. 12; and this is the side view of the car. The trunk is open, and you
can see through the window the driver's door is open.
Q O.k. On the
photograph on Page 1, would you go back to the photograph on Page 1, and
also hold that up so that the jury will know the general area -- yes?
A This is the
-- as I stated earlier, from the rear of the car. You see the trunk door
is open, the driver's door is open, and you see the remains of the two
agents on the side.
Q Would you
hold it in various directions so that the jury is able to see it?
A
(Indicating). As I stated, it appears Photograph No. 13 is an enlargement
of Photograph No. 12.
{142}
On Page 14
there are two photographs, both depicting the rear of Agent Coler's car,
and looking up toward the residences marked "log house, white house and
green house" on Government's Exhibit No. 71.
On Page 15
there are four photographs. A is a close-up photograph of the trunk
interior of Agent Coler's car. Photograph B is a -- it appears to be the
windshield, a close-up of the windshield of Agent Coler's car. Photograph
C is a photograph of the green house which is the far right house in the
group of three houses on Government Exhibit 71. This shows also the
remains of Joe Stuntz, and Photograph D is a photograph of a revolver
which was -- and it is on a blanket or quilt, which was taken or was with
the remains of Mr. Stuntz.
On Page 16
there is a -- it is a photograph of a -- appears to be a hubcap, and it
has several spent cartridge casings in it.
Photographs B,
C and D are of Mr. Stuntz, and it depicts he has a jacket with the
insignia "FBI" on the pocket. It is a green military fatigue type jacket.
The photograph
on Page 17, there is one photograph, and it is of the white house, the
Jumping Bull residence which is in the middle of the three residences on
Government Exhibit No. 71.
On Page 18
there are three photographs. A is the -- A {143} and B both appear to be
garments that were found in the vicinity of the crime scene, and
Photograph C is the checkbook and some other papers belonging to Agent
Ronald Williams.
Q In the
afternoon did you have occasion -- you indicated earlier that you had
occasion to go to the area of the residence. About what time of the day
was this that you went to the residence?
A I estimate
the time to be about 6:00 p.m., when we went into the residences.
Q O.k. Was
anyone there other than law enforcement officers when you arrived?
A No, there
was not.
Q Did you --
you indicated that on one of the pictures you observed a -- the remains of
a Joe Stuntz?
A Yes.
Q Would you
describe to the jury where he was -- where you found him in relationship
to Government Exhibit 71?
A Referring to
Government Exhibit No. 71, Mr. Stuntz was found right on the northeast
corner of the green house.
Q O.k. Now,
there is an indication on the map there, is it, that says "body of Joseph
Stuntz"?
A Yes, that's
correct. That's printed on Government Exhibit No. 71.
Q And would
you indicate how his body -- what position it was in?
{144}
A His body was
face up, and to the best of my recollection his head was facing in a
northerly direction.
Q And what was
he wearing at that time?
A He had on --
to the best of my recollection he had levi trousers on, and he had one of
our FBI Squat jackets.
Q Did it have
anything to identify it as FBI?
A Yes, it did
on the pocket. In the vicinity of -- the left-hand side, in the vicinity
of the pocket it had the letters stenciled "FBI".
Q Can you
state whether or not you observed any firearms in this area of Joseph
Stuntz' body?
A Yes. He had
a revolver, and there was a 3.30 rifle in the immediate vicinity of his
body.
Q Where was
that rifle in relationship to his body?
A To the best
of my recollection it was on his left-hand side. I don't really recall
that, but it was right alongside the body.
Q
Approximately how long did you stay in the area of the -- in the area of
the houses?
A I was only
there a brief time, and then I went down to the vicinity of the area of
Coler's car and the remains of the two agents.
Q Now, I would
direct your attention to earlier in the afternoon. Did you have occasion
to see any other persons in the area to the southeast and across Highway
18 to the east, {145} any other persons in that vicinity?
A Yes.
Q
Approximately what time was that?
A It was about
a quarter to 6:00.
Q And would
you describe for the jury what you saw and how it came about that your
attention was directed to that time and place?
A Yes. I
received a radio communication over the State radio that there were some
individuals fleeing out of the south -- well, out of the south end of this
wooded area; and I at that time heard gunshots, appeared to be firing. I
looked up and saw some individuals fleeing up the side, across this area
(indicating), up on to the south.
Q And how many
did you see?
A I personally
counted six or seven. The radio communications said there were 11 or 12,
or 11 to 15, I don't recall. I just glanced up there and happened to see
six or seven people running out of the area.
Q Were they
carrying anything?
A It was about
a mile and a half or so away. I didn't pay too much attention to them
because we were attempting to secure the residences at that time.
Q Where did
you go after you left the residences?
A After I was
in the vicinity of the residences and Agent Hughes was going to secure the
crime scene area, I, along with {146} some other law enforcement people,
decided to sweep the wooded area to the south of the residences and
attempt to locate the persons who were the perpetrators of the crime.
Q Is there
anything in the wooded area -- describe the wooded area, first of all, for
the jury, if you will.
A It is
heavily wooded. There is a lot of underbrush in there, and through the
area, which is marked "wooded area". The White Clay Creek flows in a
zigzag fashion. It empties into Oglala Dam which is in the northwest area,
and it goes back and crosses the highway in the southeast area.
Q What is the
elevation of the ground at the treeline or just below the treeline on the
map?
A Again the
area drops off into the creekbed. There is a plateau in the vicinity of
Agent Coler's car to the -- where it is marked "plateau", and it rises up
to Highway 18; and similarly, to the treeline the area again drops down to
the creek area.
Q How far does
it drop down to the creek area, is it a sudden drop?
A In places it
is rather severe, and I would estimate it to be about 10 feet. It varys
throughout the location. Some places it is deeper, and other places it is
not so deep.
Q Is it fair
to state -- you can tell me whether or not it is fair to state -- if you
are in the wooded area you can't see out onto the plateau or up higher?
{147}
A That's
correct. It is heavily wooded in most of the areas, and it is difficult to
see in or out.
Q
Approximately how long did you stay in the wooded area, and tell us what
you did while you were in the wooded area?
A There were
10 or 15 law enforcement officers with me. We left the area, entered into
the wooded area. As I said, the creek zigzags across the wooded area,
referring to Government Exhibit 71.
Q You entered
where, what is on the map that would indicate approximately where you
entered?
A To the best
of my recollection we just came down from the three houses here as
indicated and into the area right here (indicating).
Q That's at
the top of the plowed field?
A Yes, little
area marked "plowed field" here (indicating), which is southwest of the
three residences. To the best of my recollection we entered into that
immediate vicinity there and proceeded down the creek area.
Q And what, if
anything, happened while you were there?
A We spread
out through here (indicating), and proceeded to work this area. Somewhere
in this area here (indicating) -- I don't know the exact location -- I
crossed the creek several times with other individuals where the water was
about waist deep, and one time when I was crossing the creek I slipped and
received a severe cut to my hand. At that time they decided {148} that I
should have medical attention because it was bleeding quite severely, so I
left the group and proceeded to what I thought to be Highway 18.
Q Which
direction did you go?
A I went more
or less in an easterly or northeasterly direction. From my orientation I
had when I was in the trees, I felt that the Highway 18 would have been in
a northeast direction and so I headed that way.
Q O.k. Now,
you were in the area there which is a larger square "plowed field", is
that correct, to the west of that?
A Yes. I was
past that because when I walked out, I walked out through the trees and I
came out in this vicinity right here (indicating).
Q In that
vicinity where you are pointing is SA Williams' car?
A Yes, that's
correct, so indicated on the map.
Q O.k. Tell
the jury what you observed as you were going through the area back to
Highway 18.
A As I was
leaving the wooded area here (indicating), my attention was drawn as I
proceeded out of the area to some loud radio transmissions.
Q And tell the
jury what happened.
A I came into
this area here (indicating), and I first observed a red and white van
parked in the area. Then I observed some tents in the area. I saw a green
car parked {149} behind the van. I didn't know what it was, or if anyone
was there. From an examination of the area from the edge, it appeared
there was no one around there. I then proceeded around here (indicating),
and found Williams' car.
Q O.k. You are
speaking then of the area which is marked "tents" and it is a
cross-thatched area on the upper right-hand corner of the map in the
wooded area, is that correct?
A Yes, on
Government Exhibit 71.
Q O.k. Would
you describe to the jury what the red and white van -- what the condition
of it was?
A It was
parked in front of the green car and facing -- it was on a little road in
there (indicating), and it was facing in a west or southwesterly
direction. The back gate of the van was open, and there was a lot of items
stacked in the back of the van.
Q O.k. You
have indicated there by a movable red magnetic object, is that correct?
A Yes, that is
correct.
Q O.k. The
other object which is green, which is directly behind it, is the green car
that you observed?
A Right. On
that particular afternoon I only recall -- I don't remember it to be a
Ford. All I remember, there was a green car parked behind the red and
white van.
Q Would you
recognize it if you saw a photograph of it?
A Subsequent
to that I found the same car in the same {150} location, yes.
Q Would you
describe -- tell the jury whether or not you saw any items in the red and
white van?
A Yes. There
were several items, a lot of various items stacked in the rear of the van.
I didn't at that point, didn't pay too much attention. I was concerned if
somebody was in there, and I didn't scrutinize in any -- spend any time
determining what was in the back of the van.
Q Would you
describe where the other automobile, you said you heard the radio, the
sound of a radio. Tell the jury where that was.
A There is a
rise out of the treeline up on another plateau here (indicating), and
Agent Williams' car was parked right up at the edge of the treeline,
visible from both these two cars and the tents that were situated in the
area.
Q And you say
from back in the area of the tents you could hear the radio
communications?
A Yes. They
were on rather loud. The windows were down or either shot out. You could
hear the radio transmissions for some distance.
Q Was there a
door open on the car?
A To the best
of my recollection, the right front door may have been open, yes.
Q And would
you further describe the car as you observed it?
A There were
numerous bullet holes in the car all the way {151} around the car. The
glass was shot out. The car had numerous bullet holes in it. There was on
the front seat floor -- his briefcase was there, and the papers were
strewn around; and in the back seat his clothing was strewn around, and
possibly a suitcase had been opened.
Q Are there
photographs of this automobile which will depict what you observed?
A Yes, there
are.
Q And its
general condition?
A Yes.
Q Are there
photographs also of the area of the tents which you were familiar with?
A Yes.
Q I will show
you first what is marked Government Exhibit 55. I ask you to look at
Government Exhibit 55.
{152}
Did you have
occasion on the following date to go the area which is marked "tents" on
Government Exhibit 71?
A Yes. I did.
Q And when you
returned to the area that following day were things in the same
substantially, or in the same condition that you found them the day --
A It appeared
to be in the exact same condition as when I left it that night before.
Q What did you
do as far as the car was concerned, Special Agent Williams' car? Did you
do anything with it?
A Yes. I went,
as I left the area I went to the driver's side of the car, reached in,
turned the keys off which activated, which would deactivate the radios and
then I left the area.
Q In the
Government exhibit for identification which you have in front of you, does
that, do those photographs represent what you observed in your
investigation of the area of the tents on the following day and on the day
before?
A Yes.
Referring to
Government Exhibit 55, they depict the area as I saw it initially on the
night of the 26th and again on the early morning hours of the 27th of
June, 1975.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would offer into evidence Government Exhibit 55.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May counsel have a moment to look at it, {153} Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, there are many photographs in here. Most of them are not
objectionable from the point of view of the defense. A few are.
Does Your
Honor wish at this time to hear counsel or should we reserve that for a
convenient time when the jury is not present?
THE COURT: Are
you able to identify the photos which at this time you may have some
objection?
MR. TAIKEFF:
Yes. I am.
THE COURT:
Would you state that for the record.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Yes, Your Honor. I would.
Yes. I think
it would be appropriate, Your Honor, if we approached the side bar even
for the identification purposes.
THE COURT: You
may approach the bench.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
MR. TAIKEFF:
Our objection, Your Honor, I want to state that if we identify it when we
object and Your Honor overrules our objection, the jury would then
specifically know what our concern was.
THE COURT:
Very well.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, on page 13 there are two photographs marked C and D.
{154}
MR. LOWE: The
picture with the three, maybe they can explain --
MR. TAIKEFF:
Well, let's pass that for the moment.
Those two
photographs depict homemade explosive devices.
On page 15
there are four photographs which are of a similar nature or relate to
those devices.
On page 16
there are four more photographs depicting those devices.
On page 17
there are two photographs which are A and B depicting those devices. I
can't tell what --
MR. LOWE:
That's a compass and that's a canteen unless you want -- can you represent
what this is?
MR. SIKMA: I
believe it is a flare.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Could you tell us what photograph B on page 19 is?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes. That is from the area just across the creek by where the individuals,
I believe the evidence will later show, went, are cartridge casings which
are found and marked and I don't have on the top of my head the exhibit
number.
MR. TAIKEFF:
They're not explosive components?
MR. SIKMA: No.
They are not. It's an empty shell casing.
MR. LOWE: I
think we should add a general statement {155} to the extent that any of
these pictures depict such an explosive device that are not immediately,
some of these pictures are not immediately, we would object to them at
least so far as they describe in such terms
MR. TAIKEFF: I
think we identified them all to Your Honor.
Our position
is that they're not relevant to any of the charges in the indictment.
MR. LOWE:
There's no showing that they were used, there's no showing that the
defendant had any knowledge that they existed in the camp.
MR. TAIKEFF:
It makes no difference. Even if he did, Your Honor, the point is that
they're not relevant to any of the issues in the case and in any event
they would constitute proof of a connection of another crime if the jury
should connect them to the defendant, a crime not charged in the
Indictment and they are prejudicial.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, the defendants have indicated clearly that they intend to show
that the defendant was living in this area, that he was in the area on the
afternoon in question, that he's agreed that they were there but they were
there for a friendly purpose, a, to help various people.
It certainly
does go to show the state of mind, the defendant is in this area where
these are filled with gasoline and the record will show they are Molotov
cocktails, common term, {156} and I think that if the state of mind of the
defendant is going to come up, that these sort of things are certainly
relevant to the issues before this Court. They do show his state of mind.
Molotov
cocktails are generally not used in defensive means to protect oneself.
They are generally used more in an offensive manner than a defensive
manner to protect someone from massacre or something of this nature and
therefore we would think that they are very relevant and they are also
relevant to show the place as it was left, found at the time the incident
occurred or shortly thereafter.
THE COURT:
What was your last statement?
MR. SIKMA:
They show the general nature and condition of the area as it was left
immediately after the incident.
MR. TAIKEFF:
There is one point I'd like to respond to, Your Honor. The Government has
articulated our position in a way that does not describe our position.
We do not take
the position that the defendant and his associates were unarmed or that
they were peaceful people in a way that they would not touch any
instrumentalities or violence or guns or anything of that sort. Quite the
contrary.
I can issue to
Mr. Sikma and I represent to the Court that our proof will be that our
client and his fellow workers were heavily armed and there will be no
effort to deny that or to adduce proof to the contrary by the defense.
{157}
The point
we're making is that within the spectrum of instrumentalities there are
certain instrumentalities, the possession of which is a separate federal
crime and since there is going to be and there's already on the record an
admission of being heavily armed it is not necessary for the Government to
prove the contrary because we're going to admit to the heavy armament but
to introduce that instrumentality which is a separate crime under Federal
law is prejudicial if it is relevant to be in with and that's proof of
another crime that is not related to the charges in this Indictment in any
way.
THE COURT:
Well, how is it prejudicial if the jury doesn't know that it's proof of
another crime?
MR. LOWE:
Well, it is because it tends to indicate something -- first of all bypass
for the moment whether it's relevant to the charge. Unless there is, some
mention is created where Mr. Peltier, that he knew they were there, Mr.
Peltier will be unfairly charged with the knowledge of them.
Now if you are
going to introduce a witness that says that Leonard Peltier knew they were
there and, but I ask for an offer of proof from the Government that they
intend to introduce such testimony and tell us who it is because I think
that might change the Court's ruling on it.
But it's
highly prejudicial. The word Molotov cocktail means a lot of terms but I
think it's one of the scariest {158} terms in the English language for
most low-class people and Mr. Sikma is the only one who contends that it's
primarily offensive and not defensive.
{159}
In fact in the
history they've been defensive. For example, in history the Russians came
in with their tanks and they used them. In almost all of history they've
had guerrilas who were resisting the strong force but in any event it's
simply not, it's inflammatory and at least the prejudicial value outweighs
the motive value, particularly where I think we're making it clear to Your
Honor that the only issue that's going to be in dispute in this case is
what the identity of the actors was out in the Pine Ridge area where these
agents met their deaths and these can not be probative of these facts.
MR. CROOKS:
Well, Your Honor, it seems to me that the very fact that the defendant is
objecting to this proves the relevance of the thing, that counsel is,
counsel is in effect conceding with us that it is relevant. Otherwise they
wouldn't be concerned about it and as Mr. Sikma said, we are talking in
this case about state of mind and that's going to be the defense. They've
indicated that numerous times already on voir dire and on opening
statement and certainly the fact that these items were items which were in
the place where he was living, which he would have had access to is very
definite and the specific relationship to his state of mind to refute in
effect any argument that this is more or less a peaceful camp.
We're talking
about, we're talking about a camp that's armed with numerous deadly
weapons and that's the way the camp was left and I think it certainly is a
factor which the jury can {160} consider in determining whether or not
they were reacting to a quote, unquote, "self-defense initiative" or
whether they were simply there in an aggressive posture.
This has a
very direct bearing on state of mind.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, might I enter just one sentence. Counsel in opening statement
indicated with a number of statements what he expected to prove, that
there was a peaceful encampment.
MR. LOWE: I
did not say that. I specifically avoided that.
MR. HULTMAN:
Let me refer to it.
MR. LOWE:
Well, at least be accurate.
MR. HULTMAN:
He specifically referred to the fact that there was some types of bath
activity, there was a number of other things.
This proof
goes to clearly refute the primary propositions that counsel has indicated
are a critical part of their defense and the Government certainly has the
opportunity and the right and it's relevant for that reason if no other
reason.
MR. SIKMA:
It's also there, to say that they're simply armed and not show how is
misleading. It's misleading.
MR. LOWE: You
can show all the guns you want.
MR. SIKMA:
Well, of course, but they weren't only {161} armed with guns.
MR. LOWE: Are
you making an offer or proof that anybody used one of those on that day?
Will you make --
MR. SIKMA: No.
I don't need to.
MR. LOWE: The
tent area is about two hundred yards long and a hundred yards wide. This
is not a little patch ten yards by twenty yards with a couple people in
pup tents.
To attribute
the knowledge of information or items in one part of that forty thousand
square yard area to Mr. Peltier without evidence would be the worst
possible form of prejudice without any basis of fact so that even if Your
Honor says, well, it would be relevant, if you connected to Mr. Peltier,
at least an offer of proof how they're going to connect it to Mr. Peltier
or to somebody else in this case. They can always at least offer --
THE COURT: How
will you be connecting this defendant?
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, one way and a couple of ways. Number one, I think our evidence
will show that he was a leader of the people that were here; number two,
his fingerprints are all over the area on a number of items and I don't
know --
MR. TAIKEFF:
On any of these items?
MR. SIKMA: I
don't know specifically but these were left right out in the open. They
were laying out in the open when they were found just as they're seen
there and as a result of this he was in that area that day, slept there
for, stayed {162} there for days and it would be from the photographs,
looking at all the photographs it would be inconceivable that he would, he
would not know that these items were here if he was in the position that
he maintains, he was one of the leaders there.
MR. TAIKEFF:
It shows a Cola 6-pack which overall is not more than twelve by seven by
ten inches high in an area of several hundred yards by --
MR. SIKMA: No.
Wrong.
MR. TAIKEFF:
We're talking about --
MR. LOWE:
That's what it depicts, your exhibit, Mr. Sikma.
MR. SIKMA: No.
Look at the photographs and you'll see --
MR. LOWE: Look
at your exhibit you've introduced and you vouched for the foundation or
the accuracy within five per cent.
MR. SIKMA:
We'll check with the witness.
MR. TAIKEFF:
This is the entire objection we're talking about, Your Honor, which is
depicted on page 13 in photograph D. It's a very small object. We don't
know who left it there, which individual or even whether that individual
was a member of that encampment.
If any, any
other person leaving the area in passing through that zone, there has
already been testimony and it will be elaborated upon in cross-examination
that there were large {163} numbers of people including the number of
people who are living in the, or staying in the area who were seen coming
through or leaving the area. We don't know who put that there and whether
that person was a member of the community, if I can call it that, that was
living in tent city and just because it was there they wanted to introduce
it and it is a highly prejudicial thing to show to the jury, not in any
way connected with the evidence offers which are under scrutiny.
If it were
charged or alleged that in the process of attacking the agents such
devices were used against the agents, then most assuredly that would be
proof, that would be quite relevant and quite significant but the mere
presence of that in that location, because the defendant had stayed there,
is not a basis for offering it.
MR. SIKMA:
There were explosions there also, Your Honor, some other types of things
and there will be other evidence that the explosions came from this area.
THE COURT: I
will reserve ruling on the pictures to which objections have been made and
will rule on it and they may be reoffered later when there's been some --
MR. LOWE: In
rebuttal, Judge, we may open the door to them. That's another possibility.
THE COURT: At
this time I'm reserving ruling.
MR. SIKMA: May
I retain these in the book?
MR. TAIKEFF:
We have no objection.
{164}
THE COURT: You
may retain them.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the presence of the
jury:)
THE COURT:
Exhibit 44 with the exception of photos 13, 15, 16 and 17 is received and
the Court reserves ruling on the photos on the pages enumerated.
{165}
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Mr. Adams, would you take this book and set the pages which are
indicated, I believe it's 13.
THE COURT: 13,
15, 16 and 17.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) 13, 15, 16 and 17. Indicate what you observed on those pages in the
book.
A Referring to
Government Exhibit No. 55.
Q Would you
also on these larger photographs make it so that the jury can get an idea
what you're talking about then.
A On the
photograph on page 1 is an aerial photograph through the trees into what
is referred to on Government Exhibit 71 as the tent area. If you look
closely you can see part of one tent there. Likewise to the photograph
depicted on page 2.
The photograph
depicted on page 3 is a teepee, one of the tents I referred to that were
located in the tent area.
Photographs on
4 and 5 are also of the tents which we found in that area.
The
photographs on page 6 and 7, this is of the tents in the general area.
This is looking into the interior of the teepee, I believe, at least one
of the tents in the tent area.
The
photographs on page 8 is looking into the interior of one of the tents.
On page 9
there are four photographs so identified by the letters A,B,C and D. They
are all of the tents in the general area there.
The
photographs on page 10 marked A, B, C and D are {166} again photographs
taken in the tent area. There was one little red and white, or orange
nylon tent in photograph A. There's a wall tent in photograph B and
photograph C was a cooking area, fire pit and a, appears to be the making
of a shade, a structure they use, put poles up on stilts, lay tree boughs
across the top and it keeps the sun from penetrating underneath. The
photograph identified by the letter D is a, appears to be a lodge type
tent. This was located some short distance from the other tents and was by
the creek.
The four
photographs on page 11, there are three photographs, A, B and C -- excuse
me, A,B and D are photographs of tents. The photograph marked C is of the
green Ford automobile located in the tent area and some items that were
found on the hood of that car.
The photograph
on page 12, four photographs marked A, B, C and D. Photograph A and C are
photographs of some rifles and weapons we found in the vicinity of the
tents. Photograph B is again of the green Ford automobile and photograph D
is a photograph of a backpack.
THE COURT: On
page 13 I believe the objection went only to C and D.
A All right.
Photographs A
and B on page 13 are of, photograph A is of some weapons that were stashed
in the underbrush there. Photograph B is a photograph of a knapsack or
some kind of a {167} backpack or bag that has some ammunition in it.
THE WITNESS:
14 was all right, is that correct, Your Honor?
THE COURT:
There was no objection to 14.
A On the four
photographs on page 14 marked A,B,C and D are all of rifles that were
recovered in some of the underbrush area.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you tell where those rifles were found generally?
A I believe
these pictures depict rifles that were found in the, in the trees between
the tent area and the creek, the best of my recollection.
15 is -- on 17
I guess.
THE WITNESS:
The whole page 17?
THE COURT: The
objections on 17 went to A and B.
THE WITNESS:
All right.
A The
photograph marked C and D on page 17, photograph C is a stick of dynamite
that was found in the area and photograph 2 is a, D is a photograph of the
canteen that was found in the area.
18 is again,
there are three photographs, A, B and D. A is is the markings on one of
the tents in the area, B is the photograph of the general area showing the
teepee and photograph D is on the neck scarf, or appears to be a red
handkerchief, neck scarf, something, and some items of clothing {168}
which were found away, found in an area leading from the tent area.
On page 19
there are four photographs. Photograph A is a red shirt that was found in
the area. Photograph B is a cartridge casing, appears to be a 44 caliber
which was found in the area. C and D appear to be a couple address books.
On page 20
there are three photographs, two marked with the letter A and the one B.
The first one is, it shows the name Joseph B. Stuntz on a Delta Airlines,
some kind of a Delta Airlines card. It has a photograph and also marked A
appears to be that of Mr. Stuntz and on photograph B marked B is a
selective service card for Joseph B. Stuntz.
The photograph
on page 21, here, the big photograph, is of two new tires that were taped
together that were in Williams' car that were recovered out of the back of
the van.
Q They were
found where?
A In the back
of the red and white van.
The photograph
on page 22 is a shipping tag or an address tag that were on the tires that
apparently was placed on there by the office in Minneapolis and the tires
have been sent to us in Rapid City.
Q Whose tag is
that?
A It says,
"Special Agent, FBI, U. S. Courthouse, 260 Federal Building, 515 Ninth
Street, Rapid City, South Dakota." That would be our office in the
courthouse in Rapid City.
{169}
Photograph 23
is again of the green Ford with the items as found on the car.
Q Now is that
the way you observed, can you tell whether or not that's the way you
observed those items on the 26th when you went through there in the late
afternoon?
A As I stated,
I saw the car in there and I know there was a rifle on the hood of the car
and as far as identifying the other items on that night, that's as far as
I could go.
The
photographs on 24 is of a Commando Mark 3 which was found under bark and
brush in the vicinity of the tent.
The photograph
on page 25 is of, again of some kind of canvas type bag which contains
some ammunition.
Both
photographs 26 and 27 are again photographs of some rifles which were
found in the vicinity of the tent.
Photographs on
28 is a stick of dynamite. This was a compass that was placed there by the
agent or one of the agents that was taking the photograph showing the size
of the stick.
The other one,
photo 29 on page 29 is a canteen that was found in the area.
Photo 30 is
again of the red handkerchief, possibly neckerchief type thing and some
other items of clothing that were found in the area.
Photograph 31
is a picture of the red and white van. This photograph was taken after the
vehicle was removed from the tent area and in a compound in Pine Ridge.
It's B & U Compound, the {170} location.
32 and 33 are
again photographs of the van, 32 being the front end of the van with the
license plates, 33 is a side shot of the van.
34 again is a
side shot of the van.
35 has six
pictures. Photograph A is the front of the van, photograph B the rear of
the van, photograph C, D, E and F are all photographs of items removed
from the rear of the van. It appears to be some kind of electronics gear.
36, six
photographs. Photograph A is again of the rear of the van with some of the
items of electronic gear in the van. Photograph B is the rear of the van,
photograph C is the side of the van and the same way with D, E and F.
Photographs of the side of the van.
On page 37 all
six photographs are of items removed from the rear of the van. There is
electronic gear again, the photograph of the tires that were in the back
of Ron Williams' car.
Page 38, one
photograph marked A of tires belonging to the FBI.
Photograph on
page 39, photograph A, F and I, also E are of various shots of Agent
Williams' car as it was found on the 25 and 26th of June, 1975.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, may we approach the bench?
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had at {171} the bench:)
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, the application is made upon the assumption that the
misstatement of fact by Mr. Sikma was inadvertent and not to be
interpreted otherwise.
When we went
through the book of photographs which the agent has just finished
describing, I asked Mr. Sikma what a certain object was and he said it was
a flare. I believe indeed he thought it was and I thought it was but I
wasn't sure, and it may very well be. As a result it now appears that that
object which apparently appears in two places was a stick of dynamite. Now
under the circumstances I think it would be appropriate the government
would recognize its error was the basis for that piece of testimony and if
Your Honor would instruct the jury that the witness was mistaken and that
government concedes what he thought was dynamite was a flare and leave the
matter at that.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, the defense counsel has seen these pictures and had
opportunity to look at them last night and go over them. It's agreed that
I made a mistake on it. He's testified already that he heard dynamite
being exploded.
I wasn't sure
what it was. It was a mistake on my part but I don't think -- I think I
can get experts to come in and show there was dynamite there.
There is one
thing with the defendant saying, "We'll admit that these defendants were
armed," but throughout the {172} entire proceedings they're trying to
leave a false impression with this jury. The true impression is they
weren't merely armed, there was dynamite there, there were Molotov
cocktails there.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your description can be heard.
MR. SIKMA: I
think it's important there were hand grenades in the various areas in
possession of people involved in these events and I think that it's
important to note and make the jury aware of what the state of mind of
these individuals was.
We're not
contending that one individual committed this offense, we're contending
that the defendant aided and abetted in that offense and that he was a
part of a conspiracy involved in this event. I think that these things are
relevant. I don't think this, I think there is sufficient showing at this
time that the defendant, and from the proffer made by the defense counsel
that this man, they objected to what I said in opening statement that he
lived there a couple weeks, indicated that he had lived there for a couple
months instead of a couple weeks.
We have seen
the number of tents there are. I'll go into that. It wasn't a city of
tents. There were about, I think, five or six tents there at the very
most.
Now I think
the evidence will show later on that there {173} were only about at most
ten people living there. Many of the witnesses who lived other places will
indicate they didn't go down there. It wasn't something that was generally
known, something that surprised this witness. He didn't know it was, so
for this reason I would say that there is absolutely no prejudice and it's
essential this information come before the jury in light of the lines that
have been drawn by defense counsel in their presentation of this case.
THE COURT: On
the basis of the testimony that there were explosions, what objection do
you have to this evidence, this testimony standing?
MR. TAIKEFF:
The explosions may have occurred but that doesn't tell anyone what the
source of those explosions were.
THE COURT: It
would be a reasonable inference that dynamite would be a source.
Your objection
is overruled.
MR. LOWE: I'd
like to make a record. You said you would reserve ruling on a motion and
that this testimony was brought out in direct violation of this ruling. I
think that's a bad precedent to set this early in the trial that Counsel
would be insensitive to being sure that would not happen.
THE COURT: I
reserved ruling on specific pictures to which objections were made.
MR. LOWE: Yes,
sir. I specifically objected to any {174} other pictures which depicted
explosive devices and were not readily identifiable as such.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Specifically had the answers been correct, I most assuredly would have
included that picture in the list of pictures. That was the purpose of
asking that --
MR. LOWE: I
wonder if we could offer proof. Maybe it is a flare.
MR. SIKMA:
We'll go into it later with another witness.
MR. LOWE: I
want to know if it's proved. Make an offer of proof.
MR. SIKMA: I
don't have to make an offer of proof, Your Honor.
Counsel's
demanding I make an offer of proof at this time. I think there is
sufficient evidence to show in this area right by the crime scene
individuals were running out of here from the opening statement. Unless
the opening statement is not any indication at all what the defendant's
theory is.
MR. LOWE: You
missed my point. I made an offer of proof to show --
THE COURT: The
Court has reserved its ruling on the pictures to which specific objections
were made. There is no way that the Court can act on an objection on any
other pictures that might show thus and so.
MR. LOWE:
Judge, I think it's reasonable to ask the government represent to you that
at some time during this trial {175} they will testify that object was a
stick of dynamite. That's very reasonable.
THE COURT:
This witness has just testified to that.
MR. HULTMAN: A
lay witness can, if a stick of dynamite was sitting there right now --
THE COURT: You
may cross-examine, but this witness has testified to that and that's all
that's required, the testimony of one witness.
MR. LOWE: This
is the purpose of our making such motion. I would hope in the future the
government would obey the Court's order.
MR. SIKMA: We
have had some other things here. You've indicated that a stipulation for
the last three weeks, that you are stipulating to foundation. We get up
here and foundation objections are made to these very photographs.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Not yet. You might be watching another trial, Mr. Sikma.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, just so there is no misunderstanding, one, all of the exhibits
that are involved here are not new to Counsel. In fact they have been
exhibits in another trial. Two, we set down weeks ago an exhibit list
specifically with the items which Counsel has had an ample opportunity
through their investigators and through Counsel themselves to view every
single one of those. Last night again we sat down. {176} Counsel had still
another opportunity. Today in this courtroom Counsel has had an
opportunity to specifically look at the photos, make whatever objections
that they had and that is the manner in which we agreed to proceed.
MR. LOWE:
That's the entire description right there.
MR. SIKMA:
They had been available to you all the time.
MR. LOWE: We
take your representation --
MR. HULTMAN:
Look at the rest of the photos today one more time, John.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Anyone who read our trial memorandum could not misunderstand that our
position was that every item of that nature was objectionable, so if the
government accurately represents the kind of pretrial activity that went
on and consistent with that and in the spirit of which it occurred, we
gave advance notice of virtually 75 or maybe 90 percent of our objections
in the course of the trial in advance, in writing so there'd be no
misunderstanding about it. Now that doesn't mean we're limiting ourselves
only to those objections, but surely an examination of that memorandum
would show every single explosive device identifiable was indicated and an
item we would object to and we took the precaution of coming to the side
bar in advance. So to the extent that the government is saying we have not
objected properly, I don't think that they make a proper statement and I
think that our position is clear that the devices which in and of
themselves are of a crime to {177} possess, if they are not directly
connected with the defendant and with the issues of this case we first and
foremost object on the grounds of relevancy and in the alternative object
on the grounds of prejudice and we're willing to stipulate any fact
necessary to avoid the prejudice.
MR. LOWE: May
I suggest something: we're three minutes from the lunch recess. Could we
excuse the jury and have a voir dire?
MR. HULTMAN:
The government objects to any voir dire.
MR. LOWE:
Perfectly proper voir dire when you have a foundation issue raised. That
will clear the issue up for the record whether it is or not.
MR. HULTMAN:
That question has been asked and answered already, Your Honor.
THE COURT: The
Court will recess at this time and we will reconvene. Of course, the jury
would not be brought in under the procedure that I have set up. At that
time you'll be permitted to voir dire this witness.
MR. LOWE:
Thank you, Judge.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the hearing and
presence of the jury:)
THE COURT:
This Court is going to recess at this time until 1:30 this afternoon and I
remind you of the admonishment that I have mentioned a few times on
preliminary instructions. That is, you must keep an open mind in this
case, not to form {178} any conclusions until after you have heard the
entire case and have been instructed on the law, heard the arguments of
the lawyers. And furthermore, you should not discuss it with anyone. I
realize that because of the sequestered nature of the jury you have
limited opportunity to discuss it with anyone, but you shouldn't discuss
it among yourselves.
Court is in
recess until 1:30.
(Recess
taken.)
{179}
AFTERNOON
SESSION
(Whereupon, at
the hour of 1:30 o'clock, p.m., the trial of the within cause was resumed
pursuant to the noon recess heretofore taken; and the following further
proceedings were had out of the presence and hearing of the Jury, the
Defendant being present in person:)
MR. LOWE: Your
Honor, may I make a report to the Court? I have not been able to locate
that witness that I was going to report on yesterday primarily because of
some mixup on the witness room and everything; and as soon as I can locate
the witness, I will make the inquiry and report back. As a matter of fact,
Mr. Hultman and I both tried to find him a little earlier today, and there
was a confusion as to where they would sit.
THE COURT:
Very well, You wanted to voir dire the witness?
MR. TAIKEFF: I
wondered whether the Government wishes at this time to address the Court.
I think an objection may be resolved by agreement between counsel.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, we discussed with defense counsel during the noon hour
objectionable photographs in the Government Exhibit 55, and they were
those on which the Court reserved rulings on. The Government has decided,
for reasons discussed with defense counsel, to withdraw them to avoid any
conceivable error of prejudice.
{180}
THE COURT:
Very well.
MR. SIKMA: And
so we are going to withdraw those photographs and I will take them out of
the Government exhibit.
THE COURT:
Have you withdrawn your offer then also?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes, we have at this time. If we have other evidence during the course of
trial, when it comes in, we may reoffer them. We will withdraw our offer
at this time.
MR. HULTMAN:
Could I make one other observation? Your Honor, by this withdrawal, I
would want to make it clear to the Court that the Government is not taking
any different position legally on similar items that we have just decided
in this particular instance. I would want that made very clear to the
Court.
THE COURT:
Very well.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I inquiry, your Honor?
THE COURT: You
may.
MR. TAIKEFF:
There remains the photograph or photographs that were identified.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, may the record reflect that I am withdrawing photographs (C
and D on Page 13, and I will also withdraw the stickers that say "Ruling
reserved". Pages 15 and 16, and Photographs A and B on Page 17.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I inquire, your Honor?
{181}
J. GARY ADAMS,
having been
previously duly sworn, resumed the stand and testified further as follows:
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I approach the witness?
THE COURT: You
may.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Mr. Adams, I am placing before you Government Exhibit 55, and in
particular calling your attention to two photographs, one of them is
Photograph C on Page 17 --
THE WITNESS:
(Interrupting) Back, I believe.
MR. TAIKEFF:
(Continuing) -- and the photo on Page 28. Now, the second photo is an
enlargement of the first photo, is that correct?
THE WITNESS:
It appears that way, yes, sir.
MR. TAIKEFF:
And in your testimony before the jury you identified an object as being a
stick of dynamite, is that correct?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, I did.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Have I correctly identified the photographs that you were looking at when
you said you saw a stick of dynamite?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, you have.
MR. TAIKEFF:
What is the basis of your understanding or knowledge that depicted in
those photographs is a stick of dynamite?
{182}
THE WITNESS:
This particular -- I am referring to, there is a stick of dynamite here
(indicating), and then it was -- which I related to the jury which was
laid there for identification of size. This particular stick of dynamite
was found in a sweep of the area south of the tent area where we saw the
individuals leaving on the night of June 25th.
MR. TAIKEFF:
For the guidance of the Court, as well as counsel, would you be kind
enough to point with the pointer to the area, as close as you can identify
it, where that stick of dynamite was found -- assuming for the moment that
it is a stick of dynamite?
THE WITNESS:
Sir, the only thing I know, in reviewing the FD-302 of the individual who
picked up this particular stick of dynamite, there was some red components
given, from his description given it was south or southwest of the tent
area, and that's all I can recall in that particular area, and it was
brought back to the area of the tent and our demolition expert took the
sample of the dynamite, preserved the wrapper and it was retained as
evidence.
MR TAIKEFF:
Can you indicate on the chart in light of what you have said, as best as
you can, where the item was found?
THE WITNESS:
The only thing I would attempt to say {183} would be in either this area
(indicating) -- it was an open area or off the edge of the map here
(indicating).
MR. TAIKEFF:
How wide approximately is that so-called open area going in a southerly
direction?
THE WITNESS:
The area is open to the trees on top of the bluff a mile or so away.
MR. TAIKEFF:
So far as you know as of this time, that stick of dynamite, if it is a
stick of dynamite, could have been found as much as one mile away from the
tent city area, correct or incorrect?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, it could have been.
MR. TAIKEFF:
You may return to the witness box.
MR. SIKMA: I
have a couple of questions.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
am not finished. I am just getting started.
THE COURT:
Well, I think maybe you have gone as far as you need go as far as the
Court is concerned.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
accept the Court's suggestion.
THE COURT: As
far as that particular photo -- that would be Photo C on Page 17 -- and
also the enlargement of that on Page 28 -- now, have you withdrawn those
photos?
MR. SIKMA: No,
I have not, your Honor; and I have one other one that I will show and make
an offer to connect up with this photograph and also with the Defendant in
this case.
{184}
THE COURT:
Well, at the moment the ruling of the Court is that there is insufficient
foundation on those photos to be received as a part of this exhibit.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, when we went into that, we were prepared to go into that sort
of thing; but there was a stipulation as to foundation as to these various
items, at least that was my understanding. If we need the witnesses
present to testify to those things and draw the chain, we can do that and
will do that; but that's why I went about it through this witness because
he was in, as I understood, in charge of that particular aspect of the
investigation.
THE COURT: It
seems to me the relevancy is going to depend somewhat on the location
where this particular piece of evidence was found,
MR. SIKMA:
Well, I didn't cover that with him specifically at this time because I
understood as to the foundation stipulation -- there is one other thing I
would like to ask some questions about, another photograph here which I
believe will connect it up.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Could we clarify or finish with one point at a time, your Honor? I don't
want Mr. Sikma to be insecure about the good faith or the text of our
verbal understanding about foundation and chain of custody which we have
already indicated, with rare exception and {185} we have identified the
exceptions, will not be in issue in this case and many witnesses need not
come; but Mr. Sikma may have suggested to the Court that we were making
some sort of chain of custody objection. We certainly were not.
I understood
the witness' testimony to be that the book in question contained
photographs of what he saw, more specifically objects which he saw when he
entered tent city, and it was offered on that basis; and the argument at
the side bar went to the assumption that it was in tent city, and then the
various arguments which followed because there was no connection between
the objects shown and the Defendant.
Now, I think
we have shown that it is totally removed from tent city, and I would ask
that your Honor strike those two photographs for that reason at this time
and give the jury an appropriate instruction because they have heard the
word "dynamite", and an effort was made at the side bar to make sure that
a separate ruling was had as to any explosive device that may come up.
It came in
because of a good faith misunderstanding between counsel. Now it appears
it shouldn't have been in there in the first place, so I think some
curative instruction at the very least should be presented to the jury at
this time.
{186}
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I believe I indicated, and I have in the past indicated as to
the whereabouts of these various items as being across the culvert which
is understood as the -- during earlier testimony and statements and so
forth as being the escape route or the area from which the Defendant and
various individuals left; but if your Honor will permit me to ask a
question about one other thing, I think that the other photograph -- thing
here will connect up with this particular photograph if you will let me
ask a further question.
{187}
THE COURT: You
may ask the question.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I will direct your attention to photograph D on page 12 and
photograph B on page 12, also to the photograph on page 22. With
relationship to photograph B and D on page 12, would you relate what you
see on page 23.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, before the answer is given may Counsel look at the photograph
so testimony can be followed?
THE COURT: You
may.
Was that B and
D on page 12?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes, Your Honor.
A Referring to
Government Exhibit No. 55, photographs B and D on page 12 and photograph
on page 23, contained in this photograph is a canvas bag, or canvas sack,
backpack type thing.
This bag was
found just exactly as depicted in the photograph.
THE COURT:
Excuse me. How was it depicted in the photograph?
THE WITNESS:
It is just to the right front, just beside or in the immediate vicinity of
the right front tire of the green Ford automobile in the tent area.
THE COURT:
Very well.
A Examination
of this bag revealed there was some dynamite, some wires and some other
items in the sack. This was found on the morning of the 27th. It was
carefully removed from this area, placed to the side of the tent area and
we got a, one of {188} our FBI laboratory men, a demolisions expert came
in and they disassembled the contents of this bag, and in fact there were
several sticks of dynamite, some wire and other items, tape and other
items in the bag.
Q Now can you
tell me whether or not the stick of dynamite resembled the stick of
dynamite which was found out the side of the culvert area on the way which
has been referred to as an escape route?
A Yes. Both
appear to be the exact same thing, appear to me to be the exact.
Q There's one
other photograph in here that contains an item which was found there, is
there not, one other item which was found not in the tent city, which was
found along that same place?
A Yes.
Q Would you
point out what that is.
A Referring to
Government Exhibit No. 55, photograph No. A on page 17 and the photograph
on page 29. The photograph on page 29 is an enlargement of the photograph
on page 17, photograph A. This is a canteen that was found in the same
general vicinity of the stick of dynamite.
Q Do you know
about how far that was found off of the, past the culvert?
A No, I do
not. All I know it was along the escape route where I saw the individual
fleeing the night before.
{189}
THE COURT: Mr.
Sikma, do you intend to have, expect to have an explosives expert, too?
MR. SIKMA: We
had not intended to, your Honor.
THE COURT: To
tie up the similarity of the dynamite found in the knapsack by the
automobile and so-called tent city and the dynamite found along the trail?
MR. SIKMA: We
had not intended to, Your Honor, because we had intended to have other
testimony concerning persons as to the facts, if that's what it was, who
was there in the vicinity. Eyewitnesses, Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Could I amend my application, Your Honor, for an instruction and ask that
at this time given the state of the record as it presently exists that Mr.
Sikma when the jury is back in the courtroom ask the witness to identify
those objects which contrary to the way the record presently stands were
not found in tent city but were found elsewhere and identify those
photographs. That's my first application.
My second
application is that the government withhold any testimony concerning the
content of the canvas bag until Your Honor rules on the application he
made earlier with respect to the other devices which the photographs,
which have been removed because I believe the exact same arguments would
be made with respect to that testimony, and Your Honor's ruling presumably
would cover the objects discussed earlier as well as the contents of the
canvas bag.
{190}
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I can ask the questions. I would ask one other question of
this witness concerning the matter of the dynamite, his knowledge of it.
THE COURT: You
may.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Had you prior to this time ever seen dynamite before?
A Yes, I have.
Q Were you
familiar with what it looked like?
A Yes, I am.
Q Was there
any writing or anything on this?
A Yes. There
was some writing on that particular stick and it was noted and it is on
record in our office.
Q And what was
that writing? I mean, was there any writing that indicated what it was?
A The only
thing I can recall is it had Trojan Brand of dynamite, had the percentage
on there, the exact notation I cannot recall.
Q Are you
familiar with that brand of dynamite?
A Yes, I am.
THE COURT:
What then is your position, Mr. Sikma?
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, my position is with regard to this matter that it is, dynamite
is not a thing that is identity as such. It's a type of item that needs an
expert to identify. In light of the testimony of the explosions, in light
of the testimony of this witness' familiarity with it, in light of his
{191} presence during the examination of it and so forth and in light of
the other items that were found with it, wires and so forth, Your Honor, I
think that there is sufficient evidence to establish that this item was in
fact a stick of dynamite.
THE COURT:
What is your response to Counsel's suggestion that the situation is not
any different than that which exists on the exhibit which you have
withdrawn, at least temporarily?
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, those exhibits were not brought before the jury, number one.
Number two, these items were found along the trail which will be
established later in evidence with the escape route which I don't believe
is denied by either party. In addition to that, that fact, this matter has
already been before the jury and that's why I think our establishment of
it and the evidence of the explosions and so forth which are before the
jury make it unnecessary to withhold those items.
I believe that
there is sufficient evidence on those items at this time.
Also, Your
Honor, I would agree with Counsel, I will go back and indicate the items
which were not found in the tent area.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, Mr. Sikma suggests that there is some contest as to whether or
not the substance was dynamite. That's not the issue and not the basis of
our objection.
{192}
THE COURT:
That was a concern of mine, however.
MR. TAIKEFF:
It is not contested. If the government, we have not specifically conferred
with them about it, but as in the case of many other technical things, if
Mr. Hultman represents to us that he has an expert who would testify,
that's all he has to say to get a stipulation out of us, and I think he
will confirm that that's the way we have done business during the pretrial
phase of this case. Whether it's dynamite or not is not the issue. The
issue is is it relevant to the charges and if relevant, is it prejudicial
to introduce it. As Your Honor has heard at great length, I need not press
that point further.
I'm
approaching the witness, Your Honor, in order to look at the exhibit and
as Mr. Lowe suggested I might observe.
The book which
is Government Exhibit 55 is entitled "Tent City" and I think in the
interest of clarity and getting everything straight in a case that's going
to have many exhibits, we ought to see objects not found in tent city are
not depicted in the book entitled "Tent City."
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I might add one other thing: defense counsel, to answer the
Court's question, has had opportunity to have the expert's reports
concerning these items. They have had them available to them.
THE COURT: The
ruling of the Court on this particular item, these particular items, based
on the foundation and {193} information that has been put in the record to
this point first by counsel on opening statement, that it is not disputed
that Mr. Peltier was making his home, at least temporarily, in this area.
Secondly, based on the testimony of this witness, that this bag of
dynamite was found by the Special Agent Williams' automobile which was
found also in the immediate proximity; and that it did contain dynamite,
and his testimony that the dynamite in the bag was similar to the dynamite
depicted in that picture, the Court's ruling is that that evidence is
received and will be admitted. Now whether or not Mr. Peltier had anything
to do with the dynamite is simply something to be brought out on
cross-examination or the defendant's case, if the defendant puts in a
case, and goes to the weight of the evidence and not the relevancy of it.
So the Court's ruling is that it is relevant, it will be received, except
Counsel will be required to identify those objects depicted in Exhibit 55
which were not in fact found in the proximity, of the immediate proximity
of Tent City as was testified to by this witness. I mean by that this
witness testified that those objects were found in the proximity of Tent
City and it is now developed that some of them were not.
MR. SIKMA:
Very well, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You
may bring in the jury.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the hearing and
presence of the jury:)
{194}
THE COURT:
Members of the jury, the Court did in fact reconvene at 1:30. I give you
this just for your information. But we have been involved on legal
problems which, as I have previously indicated to you, will arise during
the course of this trial and that accounts for the delay in the jury
coming in.
THE COURT: You
may proceed.
MR. SIKMA:
Thank you, Your Honor.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I will show you what is marked and received into evidence as
Government Exhibit 55. Now it's entitled "Tent City." Would you state for
the jury if there are items in there which were not found right in the
area, in the tent area itself?
A Yes, there
are.
Q Would you
point those out to the jury, please, and tell the jury what they are.
A Referring
now to Government Exhibit No. 55. On page 17 the two photographs marked A
and B, excuse me, C and D and there are enlargements of these photographs
on pages 28 and 29.
The photograph
on 28 corresponds to the photograph on page 17 marked C. and the
photograph on page 29 is an enlargement of the photograph marked 17A.
The photograpn
on page 28 is of the dynamite, one piece of dynamite. The photograph on
page 29 is of a canteen. Both of these items were found away from the tent
area to the {195} south which I described earlier as the escape route
where the individuals were seen, I saw fleeing up the side of the hill.
Also the
photograph 18D as in David and 19B as in boy, some articles of clothing
and a shell casing. They were also found in the same area where the
dynamite and the canteen were found on the escape path.
A photograph
on page 30 is an enlargement of photograph on page 18 marked with the
letter D as in David. Now I haven't described the remainder of this album
so do you want me to continue with that now?
Q Yes. Would
you please.
A I believe I
concluded with, I was on page 39. On page 39 are six, excuse me, nine
photographs. Photograph marked A, E, F and I are photographs of Agent
Williams' car as it was found on the night of the 25th or 26th of June and
again on the morning of the 27th of June.
{196}
Q Before we go
on I will show you Government exhibits marked for identification as
Government Exhibit 9A and 9B. Would you identify these as well.
A Yes.
Referring to Government Exhibit 9A, this is a photograph of Agent
Williams' car as I found it on the night of the 26th.
It is taken
from the right rear side. It shows the trunk lid to be open and the door
open.
9B is taken
from the left front -- excuse me. I think I said 9A was from the right
rear. It's from the left rear.
And 9B is from
the left front depicting the front side of the car.
MR. SIKMA: I
would offer 9A and 9B into evidence, Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection.
THE COURT: 9A
and 9B are received
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I would also show you 9C.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection if offered.
MR. SIKMA:
Since there's no objection, Your Honor, we will offer and let the witness
explain to the jury what it is.
THE COURT: 9C
is received.
A 9C is a
photograph taken from the front of Agent Williams' car as it was found on
the 26th of June.
{197}
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I will show you Government Exhibit 13A and 13B.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection if offered.
MR. SIKMA: And
would offer them into evidence also, Your Honor.
THE COURT: 13A
and 13B are received.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you describe to the jury what Government Exhibit 13A and 13B
portray.
A Yes. 13A and
13B --
Q Would you
hold them also so the jury can see them.
A --are
pictures of the Ford, I believe it's a 1967 Ford automobile which was
located in tent city and you can see there are items on the hood of the
automobile as I saw it on the 26th and again on the, 25th and 26th.
Q Now when you
came upon the tent city on the 26th can you tell the jury whether or not
it appeared to be as it is portrayed in the photographs that you have just
shown of the vehicle, the Ford, green Ford?
A Yes. It
appears to be the same way.
As I stated
earlier, I saw a green car in there and I saw a, a rifle on the hood of
the car and that's the extent of my examination of that particular area.
Q I will show
you what is marked, I've shown it to defense counsel, Government Exhibits
12 and they've indicated there's no objection to Government Exhibits 12.
{198}
MR. SIKMA:
I'll offer that into evidence, Your Honor. The defendant has no objection.
THE COURT: Is
there no objection?
MR. TAIKEFF:
That's correct, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Thank you. Exhibit 12 is received.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you tell the jury what that is.
A Government
Exhibit No. 12 is a photo of the red and white van.
Q And did you
see that red and white van?
A I saw that
in the tent area.
This photo was
taken at the B and U complex in Pine Ridge.
Q Will you
point that out on Exhibit 71.
A Referring to
Government Exhibit No. 71, this marker here, the red and white van,
depicts the location of the van and the car was parked to the rear of the
van. The car was found parked on the rear of this road at the edge of the
tent area.
Q Now is that
a red and white pickup that you observed going into the Jumping Bulls'
residence?
MR. TAIKEFF:
Objection to the form of the question, Your Honor. It assumes a fact not
in evidence.
THE COURT:
Sustained.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) You testified earlier that you observed a red and white vehicle
going into the Jumping Bull residence earlier. J. {199}
MR. TAIKEFF:
Objection to the form of the question. It assumes a fact not in evidence.
The testimony
was it was a pickup.
MR. SIKMA: I
indicated a vehicle.
MR. TAIKEFF:
The witness did not say vehicle. Only Mr. Sikma said vehicle. The witness
has been saying quite clearly a pickup.
THE COURT: The
objection is sustained.
You may
rephrase your question.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) You indicated you saw a red and white pickup going into that area,
did you not?
A Yes. I did.
Q Now can you
tell the jury that there is any difference, if that's the same kind of
vehicle that you see in that photograph?
A No. They're
entirely two different vehicles.
Q Have you
ever flown over this particular area, the tent area and the Jumping Bull
Hall area in an aircraft?
A Yes. I have.
MR. SIKMA: I
show defense counsel Government Exhibit 56 for their objection and,
possible objection before showing it to the witness.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, if these photographs are offered, there will be no objection
from the defense.
THE COURT:
Very well.
{200}
MR. SIKMA: I
would offer them at this time.
THE COURT: You
are offering Exhibit 56?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Exhibit 56 is received.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you, Mr. Adams, please explain to the jury what Government
Exhibit 56 consists of.
A Referring to
Government Exhibit 56, the photographs contained herein are all aerial
photographs of the area of Jumping Bull, in the vicinity of Jumping Bull
Hall and the tent area there as referred to on Government Exhibit 71.
Q During the
course of the afternoon, or excuse me, during the course of the following
day did you have occasion to examine Special Agent Williams' car?
A Yes. I did.
Q And during
that examination did you look at the back part of the car, --
A Yes. I did.
Q -- taillight
area?
A Yes. I did.
Q And what if
anything did you observe?
A There was,
to the best of my recollection there were at least two bullet holes into
the taillight assembly.
Q Was
anything, can you tell whether or not anything was missing from the
taillight?
A Some of the
glass particles, yes, from the taillight were {201} missing.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, I'm referring to Government, Counsel, Government Exhibits 57
and 58. If offered there would be no objection from the defense.
THE COURT:
Very well.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I will then offer Government Exhibits 57 and 58.
THE COURT:
Exhibits 57 and 58 are received.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I will show you first Government Exhibit 58 since we're talking
about Government Exhibit 58 at this time.
Now does one
of those areas show the taillight section of Special Agent Williams'
vehicle?
A Yes, sir.
There are two
photographs here that show the rear end of Agent Williams' car. They are
photograph number 7 and photograph number 17.
Q Okay. Now at
that time what was the condition of the taillight section of the vehicle?
A On
photograph number 7, this was taken at the B and U compound at Pine Ridge
after the vehicle was towed from the vicinity of the tents.
The photograph
on page 17 is a photograph taken at the National Guard Compound in Rapid
City, South Dakota.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, Government has shown the defense Exhibit 14B. If offered there
will be no objection.
{202}
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, we'll offer into evidence Government Exhibit 14B.
THE COURT:
Exhibit 14B is received.
{203}
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you examine 14B and tell the jury what it is.
A Referring to
Government Exhibit 14B, this is the left portion of the taillight assembly
which was removed from the car and which is shown as a blank or bare area
on Government Exhibit, on the photograph number 17 of Government Exhibit
No. 58.
Q And you, can
you describe the condition of that particular item for the jury.
MR. LOWE: Your
Honor, we can save an awful lot of time. We are perfectly willing to
stipulate that that vehicle at any time was located by Agent Coler's
vehicle if the Government will just make a representation. There's no need
to go through the process of, identifying process of the car.
MR. TAIKEFF:
There's no dispute about that fact.
MR. SIKMA:
That's something I didn't know we had an agreement to stipulate to, Your
Honor.
MR. LOWE:
Well, I will so offer now. There's no dispute on that and Mr. Sikma, I've
talked about this with him in the past and Mr. Sikma can just make a
representation of where the car was found and where this would purport to
show early in the day. There's no dispute on this. That's fine with us. No
dispute on this.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I might indicate that the vehicle, Special Agent Williams' car
which is designated here by {204} a small magnetic square piece. If the
jury can see, it indicates, it says on the top there, "SA Williams' car."
I would
represent, Your Honor, that the vehicle was found, or would have been in a
location somewhat similar to this, running parallel to the area from the
tan and white house, to the road from the tan and white, tan and red
house, excuse me, marked "residence" directly above the sign that says
"bodies of Williams, SA Williams and SA Coler" on Government Exhibit 71 to
the area of Coler's car here, that it was parked, or at some time would be
in a position where it was parallel to that, slightly to the front of or
forward of the position of SA Coler's car.
MR. TAIKEFF:
We'll stipulate to this, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Very well.
The jury will
remember that when counsel has stipulated to a fact, factual matter the
jury may take that as having been proved.
MR. SIKMA:
Could I have the Court's indulgence for just a moment, please.
THE COURT:
Okay.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, the Government and the defendant stipulate that the car was in
this position at the time of Special Agent Williams and Coler's death at
approximately 12:00 noon on the 26th of June, 1975.
MR. TAIKEFF:
It is so stipulated, Your Honor.
{205}
THE COURT: The
record may show and the jury will know the stipulation.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Mr. Adams, Government Exhibit 57 is also in front of you. It has
been admitted into evidence.
Would you
describe for the jury what Government Exhibit 57 consists of.
A The
photographs contained in Government Exhibit No. 57 are photographs taken
of Agent Coler's car.
Q And are
those photographs taken from a number of different angles?
A Yes. They
are. Almost every direction.
Q And those
photographs I take it were made after the vehicle was removed from the
scene as it's portrayed on Government Exhibit 71, is that correct?
A Yes. All of
the photographs were taken after the vehicle was removed from the area
where it was found at Jumping Bull Hall.
Q In the tent
area you indicated that you observed a firearm on the hood of a car. Can
you describe that firearm.
A Yes. It was
a 22 bolt action rifle.
MR. SIKMA:
I'll show the defense counsel Exhibit 41A, Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection if offered in evidence, Your Honor.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, we would offer Exhibit 41A.
{206}
THE COURT:
Exhibit 41A is received.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you examine this and tell the jury what it is and if you know
where it was found.
A Yes. This is
the 22 caliber rifle with scope.
It was found
on the hood of the 1967 Ford in the tent area.
It was tagged
by Agent Robert Thompson as so reflected on this tag here.
Q Special
Agent Adams, after leaving the tent area on the -- or can you tell me what
areas you examined on the 27th, the day following the date of the murders
of Special Agent Williams and Coler.
A Pursuant to
Search Warrants I was involved in the examination of the log cabin and the
white house and the, the residence here, the little residence which lays
between the log cabin and the red and tan house.
Q And would
you state what it was that, what kind of an examination you conducted.
A We examined
the houses in the area and around the houses for any proof of the crime
and anything we might use to identify the individuals that there, were
there the night before that were involved in the murder Agents Williams
and Coler.
Q What kind of
items did you look for and what kind of items did you find?
A We found
several shell casings, empty cartridges, shell {207} cartridges and some,
then we picked up paper or anything that could identify people by name
that might live in the area at that time.
We didn't know
exactly who was living there or who might have been there.
Q I will show
you Government Exhibit 32C, 33G, 34E, 41B and 69E. I will first show them
to the defense counsel for their inspection.
{208}
(Counsel
examine documents.)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I will show you, first of all, Government Exhibit 32-C, and ask you
whether or not you can identify Government Exhibit 32-C?
A (Examining)
Yes, I can.
Q And do you
recognize it?
A Yes.
Q Is this an
item that you found during the course of your examination?
A Yes, it was.
Q Can you tell
the Court whether or not this was coming from a -- you found this in an
area from which shots were being fired on the 26th of June, 1975?
A Yes. These
items did come from that area.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would offer into evidence Government Exhibit 32-C.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
have just one question on the voir dire, your Honor, if I may.
THE COURT:
Very well.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Agent Adams, did you find those items personally?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, I did.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection.
THE COURT:
Exhibit 32-C is received.
(Plaintiff's
Exhibit No. 32-C, having been previously {209} duly marked for
identification, so offered in evidence, was received.)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Could you tell the jury where it was exactly that you found them?
A Yes. These
two shell casings were found in the vicinity of the white house, so
depicted on Government Exhibit No. 71.
Q O.k. Would
you point it out on the map, Government Exhibit 71?
A It was found
in the vicinity of this house right here, white house (indicating).
Q I would show
you what is marked for identification as Government Exhibit 33-G, and ask
you whether or not you can identify Government Exhibit 33-G?
A Yes, I can.
Q And are
these items which you found on the 27th of June, 1975?
A Yes, they
are.
Q And can you
tell the Court whether or not these were found in an area from which you
observed shooting on the 26th?
A Yes, they
were.
MR. SIKMA: I
offer into evidence Government Exhibit 33-G, your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, my understanding from the testimony is that the agent found
them personally, and if that's the case, there is no objection; and that
would be {210} true of the additional exhibits which are about to be
offered.
THE COURT: You
did testify you found them personally?
THE WITNESS:
Yes, your Honor, I did.
THE COURT:
Very well. Exhibit 33-G is received.
(Plaintiff's
Exhibit No. 33-G, having been previously duly marked for identification,
so offered in evidence, was received.)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Now, what are these items which you have in Government Exhibit 32-C
and 33-G?
A 33-G are two
.44 Remington Magnum shell casings, expended cartridges.
Q What was
their condition when you found them?
A They were
laying on top of the ground as if they had been recently fired and in a
shiny, new condition.
Q Now, earlier
is it correct that you testified that on the night of the 25th there was a
severe rainstorm in that area?
A Yes, there
was.
Q Is this true
of all the shell casings which you found?
A Yes, it is.
Q I would show
you what is marked for identification as Government Exhibit 34-E and ask
you whether or not you can identify Government Exhibit 34-E?
A Yes, I can.
Q And is it
also true that Government Exhibit 34-E was {211} found, as the others were
found, in the general area in which you observed shooting on the 26th?
A Yes. As a
matter of fact, this particular cartridge was found in the vicinity of the
log house.
Q O.k. Would
you point out to the jury where it was that that was found?
A Referring to
Government Exhibit 71, it would be in the vicinity of the log house here
(indicating).
Q Which side
was it on?
A To the best
of my recollection, this particular cartridge, was found -- the entrance
of the house is on the northeast corner, on the east side, and it was
found in the general vicinity of the entrance to that house.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would offer into evidence Government Exhibit 34-E.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection, if personally found.
THE COURT:
34-E is received.
(Plaintiff's
Exhibit No. 34-E, having been previous duly marked for identification, so
offered in evidence, was received.)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Is it true about this shell casing, that you indicated about the
other shell casings, as far as their condition at the time they were
found?
A Yes. It was
in the same condition as the others.
Q I will show
you Government Exhibit 41-B, and ask you to {212} identify this -- and you
will have to take it out of the package unless you know what it is inside
it.
A (Examining)
Yes, I know what this is.
Q And what is
it?
A It is a .22
caliber cartridge.
Q And where
was this found?
A It was found
in the vicinity of the white house.
Q And who
found it?
A I found it
personally.
MR. SIKMA: I
would offer into evidence Government Exhibit 41-B.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I have a question or two on the voir dire, your Honor?
THE COURT: You
may.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Did you say it was a cartridge or a casing?
THE WITNESS:
It is a casing. It is an expended casing.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection.
THE COURT:
41-B is received.
(Plaintiff's
Exhibit No. 41-B, having been previously duly marked for identification,
so offered in evidence, was received.)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you point out to the jury on Government Exhibit 71 where it
was that you found it?
{213}
A Referring to
Government Exhibit 41-B, I found this in the vicinity of the white house,
as so depicted on Government Exhibit 71.
Q And which
side of the white house was it?
A To the best
of my recollection it was on the southwest corner, in the vicinity of the
southwest corner of this house.
Q Your Honor,
I show the witness Plaintiff's Exhibit 69-E for identification. Would you
examine that and tell the jury what that is and whether or not you can --
first tell the jury whether or not you can identify it?
A Yes, I can.
Q And did you
find that particular item?
A Yes, I did.
Q And would
you tell the jury approximately the general area in which you found it?
A I found this
in the vicinity of the white house.
Q What was the
condition of this item when you found it?
A It again was
laying on top of the ground. It was not covered in any way. It appeared to
be in a recently fired condition.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would offer into evidence Government Exhibit 69-E.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No objection, your Honor.
THE COURT:
69-E is received.
(Plaintiff's
Exhibit No. 69-E, having been previously {214} duly marked for
identification, so offered in evidence, was received.)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) Would you tell the jury exactly where it was on the map, on
Government Exhibit 71, where it was that you found this item?
A Plaintiff's
Exhibit 69-E was found, to the best of my recollection, on the south and
west side, southwest, in the vicinity of the southwest corner of the white
house as depicted on Government's Exhibit 71.
Q I would
direct your attention to what has been marked or has been designated as
Government Exhibit 20 which is to my far right, which appears to be a
mock-up, to the right side of the courtroom. Have you examined the
mock-up?
A Yes, I have.
Q And do you
recognize what area that mock-up covers?
A Yes, I do.
Q In general
terms -- and what is that area?
A That is the
Jumping Bull Hall area which is near Oglala, South Dakota.
Q And that's
the area which is also in part depicted on Government Exhibit 71, is that
correct?
A Yes, it is.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Excuse me, your Honor. Did I understand Mr. Sikma to say that that area
was depicted in part on that exhibit?
{215}
MR. SIKMA:
Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
had the impression that Exhibit 71 was more comprehensive in scope than
the mock-up. The question seemed to put it the other way around.
MR. SIKMA: I
beg your pardon, your Honor. I guess perhaps I did.
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I understand that Government Exhibit 71 covers a greater area than
the mock-up, Government Exhibit 20, is that correct?
A Yes, it is.
MR. SIKMA:
Very well.
May we
approach the bench, your Honor?
THE COURT: You
may.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
THE COURT: Mr.
Lowe, I did not want to mention it to you, but you violated my rule
against two counsel on one witness.
MR. LOWE: What
rule?
THE COURT: On
this witness. It was my understanding Mr. Taikeff would handle this
witness.
MR. LOWE: I
didn't think I did.
THE COURT:
Well, that was the stipulation.
MR. LOWE: I
thought this stipulation would not cover that. In many instances I am
familiar with the evidentiary {216} matters because of my involvement with
the matter, and Mr. Taikeff is not. I think the stipulation facilitates so
much time saving, I would hope your Honor would allow that as an
exception, the only exception.
THE COURT: It
would be very simple for you to simply lean over and whisper something to
Mr. Taikeff.
MR. LOWE:
Except many of the stipulations will be limited in scope. I would like to
think that that would be enough of a time saving, Judge, that you would
allow that as an exception. We did it last summer very successfully.
THE COURT:
Well, I do not allow two counsel on one witness.
MR. LOWE: All
right. I will certainly abide by your ruling.
THE COURT:
Thank you.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, this is at the Defendant's request, we intend at this time to
offer into evidence, which was found in the white house, Government
Exhibits 50-A and 50-B which are handi-talkies, about the white house
which Special Agent Adams found; and I would like to let them know. They
have a standing objection to it, and I would like to let them know at this
time -- the jury is aware of it -- we are going to offer these to show as
was indicated -- will be indicated by an offer of {217} proof, your Honor,
that the handi-talkies will be evidence to corroborate the fact that -- as
one witness will testify -- that they had a means of communication from
the area of the houses to the area of the tent area.
MR. LOWE: Your
Honor, may I just inquire as to the nature of the extent of the offer of
proof? There are two handi-talkies. They were each in a recharger when
found. To my knowledge they were in the house. There were no handi-talkies
found anywhere else in this case.
Do I
understand there will now be evidence that there was in existence another
handi-talkie somewhere the area of the tent city?
MR. SIKMA:
There was all kinds of radio equipment in the red and white van.
MR. LOWE:
Operative?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes, all kinds of it.
MR. LOWE:
Operative?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes. I have understood all the time it was.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Do you know the frequency of the handi-talkies?
MR. SIKMA:
Just a minute here.
(Counsel
confer.)
MR. SIKMA:
This is a common channel, your Honor, at 23, a 23 channel unit that was
found there. That {218} would have the same capabilities as these handi-talkies
would have.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Well, your Honor, if there is a sufficient foundation that there was an
operable radio in the tent city area and an operative radio that worked on
the same frequency in the white house, I don't think that the same --
there would be a lack of sufficient foundation or lack of relevancy
because it is clear that the Government would be entitled to make the
argument that flows from that. However, until such time as they have laid
that foundation, I think it would be prejudicial to admit, subject to
further evidence, because if that evidence never develops, the jury has
seen the object.
Now, we will
stipulate at a later time that this witness found those handi-talkies so
that the Government will in no way be prejudiced by waiting until they
have a proper foundation.
MR. LOWE: We
have stipulated foundation already.
MR. SIKMA: I
will indicate one other factor, your Honor, that the Government will offer
testimony that there was capability of communicating, you know, between
this area where they were found and the tent area; and that the Government
with its offer of proof will have sufficient evidence to show the
capability. It is very well conceivable that the Defendants -- the
Defendant and {219} his companions could have carried out items to
communicate without the Government ever finding them, but I think that the
evidence is relevant.
This goes
again to what it is relevant to show as to the capability of the area in
question, that that is an important matter of proof, and the prejudice to
it, if it is so easily attached, is not that great because this witness is
not going to testify that he knows of the capability or anything of this
nature; and so at that point if it is later excluded, it shows no great
prejudice, but I think that it is important that we establish -- this is
the last, these are the last exhibits that I have with this witness.
MR. TAIKEFF:
This is not an argument concerning prejudice, this is an argument
concerning the fact the picture is not the home of the Defendant or the
home where he stayed. They take two units which can communicate with each
other and try to show the existence of those two units in one house. It's
possible that someone in another house could have communicated with the
other area. It is just improper to make that offer and offer that evidence
on that basis.
MR. LOWE: We
have already stipulated as to the foundation on it. If they just wanted to
offer it, they could go ahead on the stipulation made at that time. We
{220} are not fighting that.
MR. SIKMA: We
would request the opportunity to proceed at this time by offering evidence
as to where they found it.
THE COURT: You
are offering them at this time?
MR. SIKMA:
Yes. We are showing them to establish that the witness found them there,
at the white house, that he found them in the white house. Your Honor, we
would not -- yes, we would offer them at this time.
MR. LOWE: We
would stipulate at the appropriate time later if it is connected up by the
evidence.
THE COURT: I
think the proper method probably -- if you are unwilling to go along with
counsel's proposed stipulation -- would be for you to have this witness
identify them and withhold offering them until you have additional
evidence to tie it up with something or some similar equipment at tent
city.
MR. SIKMA: We
will do that, your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, we have to object to that because the mere bringing of them
into the courtroom in the presence of the jury accomplishes what we are
trying to avoid.
We would
stipulate that this witness can identify them, where they were found and
what they are, but not for the jury to see them and start wondering about
them {221} or consider them, until such time as the Government has made a
sufficient showing to warrant the introduction into evidence.
THE COURT: On
that theory, if you have a piece of equipment here viewed by one person
and a piece of equipment over here viewed by another person, there is no
way that you could ever get that evidence.
MR. TAIKEFF:
That's not true, your Honor. We are giving them the foundation.
THE COURT: I
know there is no way --
MR. LOWE:
(Interrupting) When they come in with the second piece of evidence, well,
sometimes the first piece gives the foundation for the second piece.
MR. TAIKEFF:
There isn't going to be the second piece of equipment. This is a
bushwhacking operation.
MR. SIKMA:
There is going to be testimony.
MR. TAIKEFF:
As to the act of communicating, they can do that with smoke signals.
MR. SIKMA:
There is substantial radio equipment the evidence, and the testimony will
be that that was loaded up into the van from the tent city area in
preparation for running the roadblocks. There will be that testimony later
in the trial, your Honor, so they wouldn't carry this additional equipment
if it was inoperative.
{222}
MR. LOWE:
There is no conceivable prejudice to the Government. There is conceivable
prejudice to the Defendant if this testimony does not materialize, and it
seems to me that makes the decision clear.
THE COURT:
What prejudice do you see for the Defendant if they simply identified the
equipment as the equipment that was found?
MR. LOWE: Last
year, Judge, there was an allegation of ambush. It was a wild allegation
that somehow, something, 35 miles away in Aldrich, South Dakota, there
might have been another unit. They might have been transmitting and
setting up the agents. It was so farfetched they never did produce another
unit, and it was very prejudicial.
The prejudice
here is to suggest some sort of preplan. The charge is nothing like that.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, he is talking about evidence in another trial which was
evidence -- which was an admission by one of the Defendants, perfectly
admissible -- I mean, if the witness testified that the Defendants said
that to him, why, it was evidence of this kind that the Government would
be violating its obligation to its case if we didn't present that kind of
evidence -- that was being set up.
We cannot
offer that evidence this time because {223} that witness was against
another Defendant, and it was an admission by another Defendant after the
close of the conspiracy much later; and it didn't relate to this
Defendant, so we cannot offer that kind of evidence in this case and we
don't intend to use it.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
think your Honor has been taken away from the main point. There can be no
prejudice to the Government by waiting with this. We have already
acknowledged if they produce the other unit, we recognize that this is
relevant. Of course, it is an argument that they should be permitted to
make to the jury; but until they can show some connection between either
the Defendant or the area in which he was known to be with an equipment --
or the equipment in somebody else's house, I think it is improper for them
to parade it in front of the jury.
THE COURT:
Well, it won't be paraded in front of the jury, and there is no way that I
can require one side or the other to proceed on the basis of a suggested
stipulation unless both sides are willing to stipulate.
MR. TAIKEFF:
And maybe the witness could be shown the unit in an enclosed container,
and asked: "Anywhere did you find what is in this bag that is marked for
identification?" and let it rest at that, unless the Government's real
motive is only to want to inform the {224} jury of the existence of
something that is not in evidence.
THE COURT: Mr.
Sikma, what is your response?
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I think that's absolutely ridiculous. We intend to proceed in
an orderly manner. We are offering it in good faith.
THE COURT: How
will you tie it up?
MR. SIKMA: We
will tie it up by testimony there was a capability by an eyewitness. There
was a capability of communicating between this area and the area of the
houses, and I expect that we will also be able to connect it up with the
radio equipment; but I haven't recently looked at it, but I was definitely
going to because I am quite certain that the radio equipment was
substantial. If you review the photographs you will see that there was not
only communication with this but also, your Honor, the radio in the FBI
Agents' vehicle was also -- those radios were also turned up.
MR. TAIKEFF:
It is the Government's responsibility to have a physical examination of
that equipment to see that it is not operative.
MR. LOWE: May
I ask, your Honor, that the witness be identified?
MR. SIKMA: I
didn't hear.
MR. LOWE: The
name of the witness who is going to {225} testify for the offer of proof.
MR. SIKMA: One
of the witnesses is Draper, your Honor.
MR. LOWE: Any
other one?
MR. SIKMA: It
is possible, your Honor.
THE COURT:
Well, on counsel's representation that it will be tied up, the witness
will be permitted to identify the object as being an object that he found.
It will not be received in evidence at this time.
MR. SIKMA: I
understand.
THE COURT: It
seems to me that is a regular standard procedure and --
MR. LOWE:
(Interrupting) Would this be an appropriate time for your Honor to
instruct the jury as to the distinction between an object which is simply
identified and one which is received as far as their consideration is
concerned?
THE COURT: I
will give the jury such an instruction.
{226}
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were in the courtroom in the hearing and
presence of the jury:)
Q (By Mr.
Sikma) I will show you what has been marked as Government's Exhibit 50A
and 5OB and ask you whether or not you can identify these items.
A Yes, I can.
Q And can you
tell the Court and jury where you first saw those items?
A I saw these
items in the white house as depicted on Government Exhibit 71 as we were
inside the white house searching pursuant to a search warrant.
Q Where were
they in the white house?
A On a table
inside the white house.
Q And do you
remember what the room of the house was?
A To the best
of my recollection it was a kitchen or eating area. A kitchen type table.
Q And what did
you do with them after you found them?
A I was in the
company of Fred Coward. Agent Coward put his initials and a date on each
one of the four units and we retained them as evidence.
Q What
condition were they when you found them? Were they out of the unit or were
they as you see them?
A The Handi-Talkie
was in the charger and as I recall, the chargers were plugged in.
Q And were
they operative?
{227}
A They were.
Q At the time
you found them?
A Yes, they
were.
THE COURT:
Members of the jury, I want to caution you that, as I mentioned in my
preliminary instructions, when this case is finally submitted to you you
will consider all the evidence in the case and that will be testimony of
witnesses, exhibits received in evidence and any matters which may be
stipulated between the lawyers. There are times because of, required by
the orderly, in order to have an orderly procedure in the trial that
certain objects must be identified but are not offered in evidence at that
time. They may be offered later. If an object should during the course of
the trial be identified and not later received in evidence, the jury must
disregard that item entirely, attach no significance at all to it because
you can only give consideration and weight to any exhibits that the Court
actually admits in evidence. As I say, I give you this caution because
there may be items, as in this case, this item which was just identified
which has not been offered and if subsequently it should not be received
in evidence, then it would have no signifance at all insofar as your
consideration is concerned.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I might ask if the jury might have some time to look at the
photographs and question. If the Court would rather reserve that for a
later time, but I {228} think it might be helpful for the jury to observe
and look at these photographs prior to cross-examination. I have completed
my examination on direct of this witness.
THE COURT: My
procedure is to permit Counsel that offers an exhibit, or even if it's
offered by the other side, any exhibit that's been received that I permit
that exhibit to be circulated to the jury. My only restriction is that
there would be no interrogation of the witnesses while the jury is viewing
photographs or any other exhibits. If you desire have the jury view the
photographs, it may be done at this time.
MR. LOWE: May
we stand easy while this is going on and confer about cross-examination
and so forth?
May we
approach the bench.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
MR. LOWE: From
the beginning of this trial Mr. Hultman has raised objections about
procedures which tend to emphasize one exhibit or part of a testimony or
issue. We believe that the gun racks which are set up on the right are
calculated to, and in fact do affect, they do that exact thing, they
present continuously to the jury certain exhibits but not all exhibits;
namely, the guns. To the extent that it is handy to have the guns readily
available in the courtroom, we can understand using such a rack, but we
believe that racks should be turned {229} facing the walls so that an
agent can go over and retrieve the guns but so they're not constantly in
the view of the jury while they're in the courtroom or moving in and out
of the courtroom.
THE COURT: I
thought we had resolved that.
MR. LOWE: I
don't know if we have. It's my understanding it would not be in view of
the jury.
THE COURT: I
remember that the matter was discussed, I think last Friday afternoon.
MR. LOWE:
Unless I misunderstood.
THE COURT: You
heard my suggestion that, somebody suggested, I don't know if Mr. Hultman
or who it was suggested they could be turned toward the wall.
MR. HULTMAN:
Turned toward the wall.
MR. LOWE:
That's all I'm asking.
THE COURT:
They'll be turned to the wall.
MR. HULTMAN:
In fact, I would ask the Clerk to do what he can in terms of handling them
that way.
MR. LOWE:
Fine. That's all it was.
THE COURT: You
may ask the bailiff --
MR. LOWE: I
would like to raise an issue. I don't know if it will come up with Mr.
Taikeff, I don't know how he feels about this particular witness. We have
had a considerable amount of flap last summer about these green stick ons
on Exhibit 71. I take the position, certainly as to some witnesses I do
{230} not want the green magnetic items on the board.
THE COURT:
Certainly as to what?
MR. LOWE:
Certainly as to some witnesses.
Both because
it would suggest to them what their testimony should be or what previous
testimony has been and also because at some point it starts to clutter a
lot of lines because you have all these stickers around. Secondly, as to
some of the witnesses, I think there may be dispute as to where one item
was found or another. They have to look to the board when they assume the
stand or while they're sitting there and see the item marked. It suggests
what their testimony should be. I don't know whether you have any feelings
of how that would be. Last year Judge McManus allowed us to remove them
prior to cross-examination if we chose. I don't know if we want to do that
each time.
MR. HULTMAN:
John, I think we could do that. I think we ought to put them up because
they do have, what it saves, Your Honor, is normally we would have the
witness examine and examine on the board and so forth and we're pretty
much all of us agreed there is no real issue on basically most of those
items so we prepared these to put on one exhibit once they come in, once a
weapon comes in. It's been testified where it was found, it then goes on
the board, on Exhibit 71. The problem then that Counsel is raising, he
feels there are times when in order to properly examine his witness on
cross he would like them {231} removed. What I would suggest is we put
them, I strenuously resist anything else, we put them up and leave them
there except in those instances when you want to do it. I have no
objection.
MR. LOWE:
Fine.
THE COURT:
There is an understanding?
MR. LOWE: Yes.
Thank you.
{232}
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, could we approach?
THE COURT: You
may.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, I thought we could possibly take advantage of the lull and
call Your Honor's attention to the fact that amongst the things listed in
our trial memorandum is an objection to the manner in which certain
objects have been numbered.
Mr. Lowe just
called my attention to the possibility that in fairness to the Government
and to make sure there are no undue delays in the trial, perhaps Your
Honor would want to rule on that at the earliest possible time.
Very briefly
to state our position, some objects are numbered with the same numerical
reference followed by a letter where apparently the Government is not in a
position to prove the connection between the item whose number we object
to and the principal item to which it is ostensibly related and we believe
that as to those items there should be renumbering.
The Government
can offer whatever proof is appropriate, make whatever argument is
appropriate but it is, there is some prima-facie nexus shown. We believe
that it is improper to label it that way because it constitutes an unfair
advantage.
The jury is
also hearing a number in connection with a principal item whose numerical
designation is the same.
{233}
In fact it is
our understanding that it is the, generally the proceeding of this Court
to number all exhibits numerically and consecutively and to have these
letter exhibits constitute both the deviation from the normal practice
here and a suggestion by the very numbering that there's a relationship.
Now we do not
object to most of the items being numbered in letter because in fact we
recognize that there is indeed a connection and we're not disputing that.
But where
there is not at least a prima-facie evidence showing we feel that the use
of the same number gives the Government an advantage it does not have.
MR. LOWE: May
I just add, Mr. Sikma told the jury in his opening that they would notice
Exhibit 34A and 34B were so numbered because it will be shown that Exhibit
44B was fired from Exhibit 34A and now a logical extension would be that
every time they see Exhibit 34G they would draw a similar conclusion when
in fact the items we complain of are items which I believe the Government
will candidly say will only be shown as possibly having been fired from
that weapon or many other weapons. In other words, there is no unique
connection to the weapon that is numbered so we feel that while it is
relevant for them to give that testimony, that it ought to have a
different number so that the jury does not have an unwarranted inference
merely from the number of the exhibit.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, the Government objects for {234} a number of reasons.
First of all
the system of numbering, and I don't mean that as a result of this that
counsel committed to anything but to, just to show the background and the
history because there has been a previous trial and there were literally
very, very few exceptions. All of the exhibits in this case, or exhibits
in the last trial, I gave them the number again, the same as the last
trial because if I had not nobody would have been able to understand the
transcript from last time.
I did that
with the knowledge of counsel from the beginning because if they had a
problem I wanted to know it early and I think generally speaking as
counsel's agreed, they agreed it was a good idea because there would be no
way --
THE COURT: As
I recall, the Briefs that were filed in this matter, there are only about
four --
MR. LOWE:
Three or four, Your Honor, and all four of them are bullets.
MR. TAIKEFF:
That's all we address ourselves to at this time.
THE COURT: And
I have not had an opportunity to fully read the Government's Brief so I
would --
MR. HULTMAN:
Why don't I leave it at this time, at this point rather than argue the
matter and we're only talking about a limited item and I think without a
question that counsel with the evidence can make it very clear as you know
they will {235} do, that either this exhibit is related to this exhibit in
some measure but only to that degree. I mean I have full confidence that
there's going to be no question that unless a round is fired from that
specific weapon, that's going to be made very clear by both the Government
and if not by the Government by the defense. But that there is a
relationship, for example, that will be shown that it is capable of being
fired from this particular weapon and when placed with the rest of the
evidence there is at least this much of a connection and that's the only
reason. There is a probability and that's the only --
MR. LOWE:
Possibility.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
agree with Mr. Hultman that counsel is going to endeavor to do as good as
possible and that's exactly why this application is made.
THE COURT: I
will probably rule on it tomorrow morning.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Thank you, Your Honor.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the hearing and
presence of the jury:)
THE COURT: I
suppose everybody has been sitting long enough -- oh, I'm sorry. I thought
you were through with the pictures.
Everyone has
been sitting long enough so that we should take a recess before we
commence the cross-examination of this witness so the Court will recess at
this time and {236} reconvene at five minutes to 4:00.
(Recess
taken.)
{237}
(Recess
taken.)
(Witness
resumes witness stand.)
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had the in courtroom, out of the presence
and hearing of the jury, the Defendant being present in person:)
THE COURT: Are
you ready to proceed with your cross examination?
MR. TAIKEFF: I
am, your Honor.
THE COURT: You
may bring in the jury.
(Whereupon, at
3:56 o'clock, p.m., the jury returned to the courtroom; and the following
further proceedings were had in the presence and hearing of the jury:)
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I inquire, your Honor?
THE COURT: You
may.
CROSS
EXAMINATION
By MR. TAIKEFF:
Q Mr. Adams,
you are familiar with the model that's on the far side of the courtroom,
are you not?
A Yes, I am.
Q Do you know,
as you sit there, what its scale is?
A Not off the
top of my head, no, sir.
Q If I told
you that the scale was one inch equals ten feet, that is to say one inch
on the model equals ten feet in real life, would you have any quarrel with
that?
{238}
A I believe it
is marked on the scale on the mock-up. If that's what it reads, I would
accept that.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Would the Government accept my observation in that regard?
MR. HULTMAN:
Yes.
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) Would you very generally -- I don't expect you to be precise in
any way -- for the benefit of the Court and the jury tell us approximately
where in this courtroom the center of tent city would be if it were placed
on the same scale and relative to the model, do you understand the
question?
A No, I do
not.
Q Would you
turn around and look at the diagram?
A All right.
Q No. 71?
A All right.
Q It shows the
area called the Jumping Bull Hall area, does it not?
A Yes, it
does.
Q That's
roughly at the center of the diagram?
A Yes.
Q In the upper
right-hand corner it shows an area that is shaded darkly which we call, or
everybody has been referring to as the tent city area, is that right?
A Yes.
{239}
Q Now, the
model which is beyond the defense table only portrays a portion of Exhibit
71, is that right?
A Yes, it
does, that's correct.
Q And it is
that central portion around the houses?
A Yes.
Q And in front
of the houses?
A Yes.
Q Could you --
and I don't expect you to be precise or accurate in any way -- just
roughly using a pointer, demonstrate for the Court and jury what part of
Exhibit 71 is represented by the model?
A All right.
It would be an area --
Q
(Interrupting) If you will just put your pointer down there so I can
describe it for the record --
A (Continuing)
-- start with the north boundary.
Q All right,
close to Highway 18, in the upper left-hand part of the diagram, coming
straight down, keep going, to a point somewhat below, I would say, about
six inches below the white house and about two feet to its left on the
diagram?
A That's the
tan and red house there.
Q That's the
red house?
A Tan and red,
yes.
THE COURT:
Excuse me. Did he say two feet?
MR. TAIKEFF:
Yes, I said two feet on the diagram. Yes, your Honor.
{240}
A (Continuing)
Then we go on the west quarter.
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) You are now moving the pointer about a foot above the lower edge
to the right, into the trees?
A
(Indicating).
Q And you
stopped -- can you describe the point where you stopped?
A Well,
actually it would be in the wooded area, south and west of the small
plowed field that is in that general area.
Q All right,
and then coming up?
A
(Indicating).
Q And then can
you close it?
A Right across
here (indicating), and up to the Jumping Bull Hall area.
Q Would you
say that a very rough verbal description is that it is the lower
two-thirds of the middle third of Exhibit 71?
A That would
be fairly accurate, yes.
Q Roughly, all
right. Would you mind taking the seat again, please?
What is the
distance approximately, not on the diagram but in real life, between the
white house and the center of tent city?
A I think
about a thousand yards.
Q All Q All
right, a thousand yards, one inch equal -- excuse me. (Counsel confer.)
{241}
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) Mr. Adams, Mr. Sikma has kindly advised me that the pointer has a
scale on it.
A Yes, it
does.
Q You can use
the pointer to measure it. Would you prefer to measure it?
A A thousand
yards would be a guess on my part, sir.
Q Do you want
to check that?
A (Examining)
About -- be about sixteen hundred feet.
Q O.k. Five
hundred yards roughly?
A Right.
Q Now,
according to the scale employed in making the model, sixteen hundred feet
would be a hundred sixty inches, do you agree with that?
A Yes.
Q And that
would be about 13 feet in this courtroom, would be the equivalent to the
distance between the white house and the center of tent city?
A Yes.
Q Now, the
only thing that remains is for you to tell us in which direction you would
measure off the 13 feet to locate tent city in this courtroom, if the
model were expanded, is what I am saying, so that it included tent city,
where would tent city be in this courtroom?
A It would be
over to the left, left side here (indicating).
Q I am going
to move, if I may, your Honor?
{242}
THE COURT: You
may.
Q (By Q (By
Mr. Taikeff) Tell me whether or not I am now standing in a position
approximating where tent city would be.
A I think it
would be back behind you more.
Q Well, let me
ask you this: Is tent city not southeast of the white house?
A Yes, it is.
Q And isn't
this the white house (indicating)?
A Yes, it is.
Q Right here
(indicating)?
A Yes.
Q And isn't
the direction north, this way (indicating)?
A If so
depicted, yes, I would accept that.
Q Well, if
that's north, then that's south, and southeast would be this way
(indicating), wouldn't it?
A All right.
Q So then you
agree that I am standing at a point that would approximate where tent city
would be if we expanded that model?
A Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF:
May the record reflect that I am to the left of Mr. Hanson, approximately
four feet.
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) Mr. Adams, what is a 302?
A It is a
document or piece of paper that we transcribe notes or our recollection of
a certain event on it. It remains, {243} it is a part of a file that we
have in our office.
Q Is it fair
to say that a 302 is an FBI report?
A No, it is
not.
Q It is not an
FBI report?
A No, it is
not.
Q What am I
incorrect about it, isn't it something that the FBI uses?
A Yes, it is,
but the 302 in no way is a report. It is strictly a piece of paper which
contains a certain incident and a report contains numerous 302's.
Q Oh, I see.
The information which is recorded in the 302, does that reflect activities
of an agent?
A It can.
Q Well, tell
us all the things generally that go into a 302.
A Well, you
can use it to show the results of an interview. You can use it to show the
results of some activity you did. Some of them are used -- a signed
statement is reproduced on them. Anything that we want to make a record
of, we usually put it on our standard FD-302.
Q If you were
to interview a witness and the witness were to tell you certain things,
that fact or those facts would end up in a 302 most likely, isn't that
true?
A Yes, usually
they would.
Q And if you
made observations when you went some place, you would probably record that
and preserve that information {244} in a 302, wouldn't you?
A Yes.
Q Now, you
have a file for each case as a rule, do you not, each case that you are
working on?
A Well, your
terminology "file" disturbs me. If that's how you want to refer to it --
Q
(Interrupting) What is your terminology? I would be happy to use your
terminology.
A Well, there
could be -- on some cases there are numerous files -- a file.
Q I mean
folders. I am talking about a case file.
A Each folder
can contain several files which to me is the bound portion of numerous
302's or reports, or whatever it might be.
Q When an
incident occurs and it appears that the FBI has authority under the law to
investigate, that incident becomes a case, that gets a number, isn't that
correct?
A Yes, that is
correct.
Q And
everything that's done in connection with investigating that case is, as a
general rule, if it has any importance or value, is written down, is it
not?
A Yes.
Q And as a
general rule it is written down on a 302?
A Yes.
Q And those
302's are kept perhaps in several places, but {245} at least in the case
file, if I may refer to it as that, where you collect all of the 302's
concerning a particular separately numbered case?
A Yes.
Q What are the
reasons for doing this?
A Just to
maintain a record of what was done in this particular case.
Q Well, is it
so that you can get your paycheck or so that you can make some other use
of it?
A Well,
primarily so the record is there if we need it for Court purposes,
whatever it might be, to review for other leads in the case, or whatever
purpose it might serve.
Q So you use
it to refresh your recollection?
A Yes, I do.
Q To analyze
what has been done up to a certain point?
A Yes.
Q Perhaps to
allow your co-workers or supervisor to catch up on what has been happening
in a particular investigation?
A Yes.
Q Do you as a
general rule use or reread the 302's in order to refresh your recollection
before you testify in court?
A Yes.
Q Do you make
use of 302's in the course of the trial to interview or otherwise refresh
the recollection of a potential witness?
{246}
A No, I don't
personally.
Q Does anybody
that you know of?
A I think --
Q
(Interrupting) I don't mean an individual by name, just generally
speaking.
A Yes, I think
the attorneys probably do.
Q In fact, one
of the additional functions of the 302 is to provide the attorney who will
ultimately try the case with some idea of the kinds of information
available in connection with that case, isn't that right?
A Yes.
Q So the 302
serves an important and official function,
isn't that
correct?
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would object to this, first of all, as irrelevant. 302's are
generally inadmissible.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
am not offering any in evidence, your Honor. I may use them in the course
of this examination. I want to establish what they are.
THE COURT:
Overruled.
THE WITNESS:
May I have the question again, your Honor?
MR. TAIKEFF:
May the question be repeated?
THE COURT: The
question may be repeated.
(Question was
read by the reporter.)
{247}
A Yes.
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) And because of that fact, is it not true that 302's, as a general
rule, are to be prepared accurately and truthfully?
A As a general
rule, yes.
Q Now, I
understand that in connection with the events that you personally
participated in, in the early part of June 26, 1975, you were not taking
notes?
A That is
correct.
Q Do you
sometimes take notes of what you do in order to be able to write up your
302's?
A Yes, usually
I take notes.
Q And then you
use those notes and your memory to write the final report?
A Yes, that is
correct.
Q Do you type
your own report?
A No.
Q Do you see
them after they are typed?
A Yes.
Q If you find
any mistakes in them, do you correct those mistakes?
A Usually,
yes.
Q You mean you
sometimes find a mistake which you don't correct?
A Yes. Under
some circumstances on occasion there might {248} be a mistake or something
might be left out that doesn't get
taken care of.
Q Maybe you
don't understand my question. Do you ever identify the existence of a
mistake in a 302 so that you are conscious of it and not correct it?
A Yes, I have.
Q And you
purposely don't correct it?
A Not
purposely. It is under the circumstances that it doesn't get corrected.
Q Well, give
me an example of what kind of circumstances would cause you to read a
typed report that you had given to typist to prepare, and you would
recognize a mistake and you would not see to it that it was corrected
before you either signed it or put it in the case file?
A Are we
talking about a report or a 302?
Q I am talking
about a 302, and I apologize for making that mistake.
A All right.
The instance I can think of offhand is when the 302 has been prepared and
has been disseminated to different areas and perhaps even the original is
in the file before we get to see it.
Q Well then,
perhaps you misunderstood my original question. I said that after you have
given your writing to the typist and you get back now the 302 in
typewritten form, you read it over, don't you, to see that it is correct?
{249}
A There are
occasions when we don't get a chance to read
it over before
it is placed in the file.
Q Do you keep
a log of those that you don't read?
A No.
Q So you
couldn't say with any certainty which 302's in the course of your history,
as an FBI Agent, you did not read after typing, isn't that correct?
A That is
correct, yes.
Q And if I
showed you a 302 with an error in it, you wouldn't be able to tell the
Court and jury now that, "Oh, that's one I didn't read," generally
speaking?
A I might
recall a certain 302, yes.
Q I said,
generally speaking.
A Generally
speaking, I think I could, yes.
Q You could
tell us which ones you didn't read?
A Yes, I
could.
Q O.k. Tell us
the 302's that you haven't read.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would object to that form of the question. The witness
indicated that there might be a number of occasions which he might be able
to recall if he were shown a particular 302. However, he is asking him now
to recite from recollection all those that he didn't read.
THE COURT:
Objection sustained.
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) Did you say that shown a certain 302 {250} you might remember
that that was one that you did not read?
A Yes.
Q All right.
Now, I ask you, other than the possibility of your memory of a specific
event being triggered, are you able now to tell us about the 302's in the
course of your career that you have not read?
{251}
MR. SIKMA: I
would object again, Your Honor. The same question essentially has been
asked.
THE COURT: He
just asked if he's able to tell.
MR. TAIKEFF:
I'm not going to ask him to tell us, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Overruled.
THE WITNESS:
Could I have the question again, please.
THE COURT: The
reporter may read back the question.
(Whereupon,
the last question was read back.)
A Yes.
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) Do you sign or initial the 302s after they are typed when you see
them?
A Yes. We
usually initial them.
Q I'm not
asking you about more than one person, I'm asking about you.
A Yes.
Q And if your
initials are on a 302, is that an indication that you've read it after it
was typed?
A Generally;
yes.
Q What's your
current assignment?
A I'm in the
process of being transferred to the Phoenix division of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation.
Q You Q Your
most recent assignment prior to the transfer?
A Rapid City,
South Dakota.
Q And does
that place you on the Pine Ridge Reservation?
{252}
A Yes, it
does.
Q And when did
that assignment begin?
A I first
started working the Pine Ridge Reservation in June of 1973.
Q So for a
period of approximately three and a half years you worked that particular
area?
A Yes, I did.
Q Your
jurisdiction, of course, was outside the reservation as well as inside the
reservation?
A Yes, it was.
Q How much of
your time did you spend on the reservation, would you say, during that
three and a half years?
A Probably 90
to 95 percent of my working time.
Q Did you have
any senior status? Were you an agent in charge or anything other than a
special agent of the FBI as far as the Pine Ridge Reservation was
concerned?
A No. I did
not.
Q How many
fellow agents worked with you in that capacity, the capacity in which you
worked?
A What period
of time are you speaking of?
Q Well, if it
varied, did it vary very much as to the number of colleagues you had?
A Within 10 to
15 agents; yes.
Q Let's say
during the year 1973, the average figure for the year. I'm looking for a
qualitative answer, not a quantitative.
{253}
A That's 15 to
17 agents.
Q And during
'74?
A The figure
dropped to about 11 agents.
Q And during
the first half of 1975?
A Again,
around 10 or 11 agents.
Q And during
the second half of 1975?
A It went up
to 26 or 27 agents.
Q Now you have
certain equipment supplied to you by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
do you not?
A Yes, I do.
Q You have a
357 magnum revolver?
A No, I do
not. Excuse me, supplied to me by the Bureau?
Q No. The
question was do you have a 357 magnum?
A Yes, I do.
Q That's
personal property?
A Yes, it is.
Q How about
the shotgun you were carrying on June 26th, 1975?
A That was FBI
issue.
Q And the
rifle?
A FBI issue.
Q And the
bulletproof vest?
A FBI issue.
Q Where did
you receive each of those items?
A From our
office in Rapid City.
Q And when?
{254}
A I checked
them out on the Monday prior to the 25th or 26th of June, 1975.
Q And when
prior to that Monday had you checked out any of those three items?
A I usually
carried a shotgun and the vest with me.
Q So it was
the rifle that you picked w on that Monday?
A No. I
checked them out on a weekly basis.
Q The
beginning of your work week you checked them out --
A When I was
going on a road trip out of town I'd check them out. Yes. That's usually
the way it worked.
Q When you say
out of town, is that a euphemism for going to the reservation?
A Anywhere. If
I was going to leave Rapid City area for an overnight trip I'd usually
take them with me, wherever it might take me. To the northern part of the
state, eastern part of the state, I usually carry them with me.
Q That is the
shotgun, the rifle and the vest?
A Shotgun and
the vest.
Q How about
the rifle?
A On occasion
I would check a rifle out and this happened to be one of the occasions.
Q Is there any
special reason for taking that much equipment with you, let's say, when
you go out of Rapid City into the northern part of the state?
A No. It was
just habit I got into and I just followed that {255} pattern.
Q Did you feel
then any particular necessity to carry that kind of protection on the
reservation as opposed to what you would carry in Rapid City?
A No. It was
no different as far as I was concerned.
Q Why didn't
you carry it with you when you were in Rapid City?
A Because it
was immediately available.
Q Where did
you usually carry the shotgun?
A Usually in
the front seat.
Q In Rapid
City, too?
A If I had a
shotgun with me in Rapid City, yes, it would be in the front seat.
Q Where did
you usually keep the rifle?
A It was
usually in a case in the trunk.
Q And the
bulletproof vest?
A In the
trunk.
Q Now in
connection with the investigation which took place beginning at
approximately 4:00 o'clock on June 26, 1975, did you play any role in that
investigation?
A No, I did
not.
Q Did you
conduct any of the interviews of prospective witnesses or people who had
information about this matter?
A No, I did
not. On June 25, 1975?
Q And
afterwards?
{256}
A After that?
Yes.
Q Did you have
any special role in connection with that investigation?
A No, I did
not.
Q You were
just another special agent working on that case?
A Yes, I was.
Q In your
years on the reservation, did you see many pickup trucks?
A Yes, I did.
Q Did you see
many vans?
A I saw --
yes. I guess I could say many vans.
Q Would you
say that pickups were more prevalent than vans?
A Yes, I
would.
Q Would you
say that pickups were a rather common sight on the reservation?
A Yes, they
are.
|| Q Q Would
you say you know the difference between a pickup and a van?
A Yes.
Q You made
reference to a jacket that was found on the body
of Mr. Stuntz
which said "FBI" on the left breast area.
A Yes.
Q Was that an
official piece of property issued by or belonging to the FBI?
A Yes. I think
I could say that.
{257}
Q Do you know
where it came from immediately before it was on Mr. Stuntz' body?
A I know now;
yes.
Q Of your own
personal knowledge?
A Yes.
Q Where did it
come from?
A The trunk of
Jack Coler's car.
Q In
connection with qualifying as a special agent of the FBI, did you attend
any school?
A Yes, I did.
Q For how
long?
A 14 weeks.
Q Was that in
Virginia?
A Part of it
was in Virginia.
Q And the
other part of it?
A Washington,
D.C.
Q And as part
of your training to prepare you to be a special agent of the FBI, did you
receive any instruction or training and/or practice in testifying in
court?
A Yes. Some.
Q Until what
time was there gunfire in the Jumping Bull area on June 26th?
A I would say
about, it would be recollection, 4:00 o'clock. Q And is it fair to say
that from the time you got there until 4:00 o'clock, except for that one
hour truce, I think you {258} referred to it, that there was firing at all
times during that period? Not every minute that intermittently throughout
that period there was firing?
A Yes.
Q Would you be
kind enough to use the pointer and show the Court and jury based on your
observation or any investigation you subsequently conducted the several
places by area where firing came from?
A Toward my
direction?
Q Well, you
can identify each place and tell us specifically what you know about the
firing from that place and then we don't have to do it by categories.
|| A A There
was firing from the vicinity of the log house and the vicinity of the
white house and the trees to the west of the white house (indicating). I
also observed individuals around this house, the red and tan house
(indicating).
Referring to
Government Exhibit No. 71.
Q Now so far
you have mentioned three places. Do each of those places represent places
from which in your opinion firing was directed at you?
A I can state
for record that, I was fired upon from the log house, from the white house
and from the vicinity of the trees adjoining the white house (indicating).
Q Now how
about that fourth place, the red and tan house?
A I saw
individuals around there during the afternoon. To {259} the best of my
recollection they never fired at my direction.
Q You saw them
firing though?
A Well, I saw
them in the area and I heard the shots from what appeared to be this
general vicinity in the course of the afternoon (indicating).
Q How many
such people?
A It appeared
to me to be two different people.
Q Could you
say whether they were Indian or white?
A No. They
appeared to be Indian to me.
Q Were they
carrying long guns or rifles?
A I don't
recall seeing a weapon with either one of them.
Q You mean you
don't recall seeing the kind of weapon but you know they had weapons?
A I don't
recall seeing either one of them with a weapon. There was trees. I could
see them walking between the edge of the house and in the trees here and I
can't state positively that I saw them with a weapon (indicating).
Q Were there
any other places from which firing came that you can identify?
A As I stated,
when I pulled in here and parked it appeared to me that the first shot
just from sound came from this direction down here somewhere (indicating).
Q Now there's
no house there. Let's see if we can describe that direction in some way
for the record.
{260}
A I would say
just to the south of the area marked "Coler's car," Government Exhibit 71.
Q Would you
say ten inches away on the chart?
A Can I state
it appeared to me by the sound it came from this area (indicating).
Q Did you see
any people down there?
A Not when I
came in; no.
Q Did you see
any people down there at any time?
A No. I did
not.
Q Are there
any other areas from which you're able to identify firing?
A Except for
the area of where, as we referred to as the escape route.
Q Yes. Putting
that aside.
A That would
be it.
Q Would you be
kind enough to take your seat again.
Now in your
direct testimony I believe you made reference to the areas of jurisdiction
that the FBI has on Indian reservations and although you don't use the
phrase you were referring to the act known as the Major Crimes Act, were
you not?
A I believe
it's referred to as that; yes.
Q And I think
you alluded to it by saying there are certain categories of crime such as
robbery, murder, rape, I don't remember all the examples you gave.
{261}
A Yes.
Q And that's
the category of crimes which the FBI is authorized by law to investigate
on Indian land, isn't that correct?
A As I
understand it; yes.
Q Now murder
is in fact included amongst those crimes?
A Yes, it is.
Q And in the
course of your duties while assigned to the Rapid City office, you had
occasion to work on a certain number of murder cases, did you not?
A Yes, I did.
Q Did you have
in the course of your official work some idea or indication of the number
of cases, irrespective of whether you personally were working on them?
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, I would object to this as irrelevant and immaterial.
MR. TAIKEFF:
The matter was opened on direct, Your Honor. I'm going to just explore it
briefly.
THE COURT:
Very well. Proceed.
Q (by Mr.
Taikeff) Do you have any information as a special agent to the amount of
business the FBI had, to put it that way, on the reservation?
A Yes. I have
general knowledge.
Q In 1974 how
many killings were there on the reservation?
A Just be a
guess. I'd have to say 10 to 12.
{262}
Q And one
final question. What would your guess be for 1975?
A It would
still be a guess. 12 to 15 maybe.
Q I believe in
your direct examination you said that you understood that Coler and
Williams were working on Jimmy Eagle's case. That's James Theodore Eagle.
Did you give that testimony?
A Yes, I did.
Q And that was
in connection with the question put to you as to whether or not you saw
either Coler or Williams or both early in the day, do you recall that?
A Yes.
Q What's the
basis of your understanding?
A It was just
in my brief conversation I had with Agent Price outside the Pine Ridge
jail.
Q That
morning?
A Yes.
Q He said
something to you which made you believe that Coler and Williams were
working on the Eagle matter?
A Yes.
Q ln your
official capacity as a special agent working on this case, have you been
Keeping up with the 302s in connection with the case and reading them in
addition to the ones that you yourself authorize?
A No. I am
not.
Q Did you
yourself ever discover, I'm only talking about what {263} your own
investigative efforts have uncovered, not what somebody else may have
uncovered or not uncovered, whether or not Jimmy Eagle was at the Jumping
Bull Hall area on June 26th?
A What I
personally found?
Q Yes.
A I don't
think anything that I personally did indicated to me that he was there;
no.
Q Did you not
testify on direct examination that there came a time when a person by the
name of Wallace Little with two people in the front seat with him were in
your immediate vicinity?
A Yes.
Q What time
was that?
A I estimated
it to be about 1:30 in the afternoon.
Q And he was
driving away from your area, was he not?
A Yes, he was.
Q As opposed
to arriving in the area?
A He arrived
alone and departed with two occupants, at least two occupants in the
vehicle.
Q That
departure was approximately 1:30 in the afternoon?
A That was an
estimate of the time.
Q I mean
approximate time, 1:30?
A Yes.
Q What time
did you arrive at the Jumping Bull area?
A I estimated
my arrival to be about noon.
{264}
Q And what
time was the transmission from either Coler or Williams that you heard
referring to the red pickup?
A I do not,
there was no transmission that I can recall of either one of them
referring to a red pickup.
Q Did you ever
have any communication from them in any form indicating that they had some
contact with or perceived a red pickup?
A No.
MR. TAIKEFF:
If I might have a moment, Your Honor, please.
THE COURT:
Okay.
Q (by Mr.
Taikeff) Let me modify my question to eliminate the word red from the
question. Or do I have to repeat the entire question?
A No. I would
accept pickup. I recall him saying something about a pickup.
Q What time
was that?
A I'd estimate
that to be about 11:50 A.M
Q Where were
you when you first heard that transmission?
A Somewhere
between Pine Ridge and Whiteclay, Nebraska.
Q How many
miles from the Jumping Bull area would you say you were?
A 12 to 14
miles.
Q And what
would you say your average rate of speed was, including and taking into
account any stops that you made?
{265}
A At what
time?
Q Getting
there?
A What time
period are we talking about, sir?
Q You received
a radio transmission, you were 14 or more miles away from the scene, you
drove to the scene, perhaps you stopped along the way and you arrived.
That's the time period I'm talking about.
A Well, when I
first received the transmission I was going south and then later I turned
around and went back north and there was two different speed elements
there.
Q Well, from
the time you first heard that transmission at approximately 11:50, what
did you do first?
A I was
enroute to Whiteclay, Nebraska for lunch.
Q Were you
traveling, generally speaking, in a southerly direction?
A Yes, I was.
Q Then you
heard the transmission?
A The first
transmission; yes.
Q You turned
around?
A After I
heard "We had been hit."
Q But those
two transmissions came very close to each other?
A Within a
minute or so; yes.
Q Now at the
time you heard the second transmission, what's your best estimate as to
how many miles you were from the Jumping Bull area?
{266}
A That might
have been 12 to 14 miles. Probably 14.
Q Probably 14?
A Yes.
Q What would
you say the time was then?
A 11:52,
11:53.
Q Did you stop
before you got to the Jumping Bull area?
A Yes, I did.
Q For how
long?
A Just long
enough to get in the trunk to get my rifle and vest and get back in the
car.
Q How much
time did that take?
A I would say
less than that.
Q Could we say
a minute?
A Minute would
be fair.
Q For an
estimate. That would be the equivalent of starting back at 11:55 and not
stopping or 11:54 and not stopping?
A Yes.
Q Did you stop
at any other time?
A No.
Q Other than
to get your weapon?
A No, I did
not.
Q And how fast
did you drive? I know you weren't driving the exact same speed every
moment, but how fast were you driving?
A I probably
averaged between 80 and 90 miles an hour.
{267}
Q And so you
would cover the 15 miles in about ten minutes?
A Yes. That
would be a fair estimate.
Q So then your
arrival would be sometime around 12:00 to 12:05?
A Yes.
Q When you got
there, did you see any other vehicles?
A Just the BI
police car that was with me and the two cars that were parked in the
vicinity of the log house.
Q Would you
point out the log house.
A
(Indicating.)
Q Thank you.
Now there was
a roadblock somewhere in the vicinity, was there not?
A Later that
afternoon; yes.
Q How much
later?
A Well, I
would say within the first half hour. I know the police units arrive there
were, as I understood, were dispatched to both north and south of the area
to set up a roadblock.
{268}
MR. TAIKEFF:
May I have a piece of paper marked for identification, Your Honor?
THE COURT: You
may.
Q (By Mr.
Taikeff) I'm placing before you Defendant's Exhibit 75 for identification
and I'm putting it face down.
Do you know a
person by the name of George D. O'clock?
A Yes. I do.
Q Would you
tell us who he is.
A Who he is?
Q Yes.
A He's a
retired FBI agent.
Q And on June
26, 1975 was he a retired FBI agent?
A No. He was
not.
Q What was he
then?
A He was an
agent assigned to the Rapid City office of the FBI.
Q Did you have
any occasion to speak with him on the FBI radio that day?
A Yes. I did.
Q And from
these communications do you know where he was during the time of the
transmission?
A Yes. I did.
Q And where
was he?
A He was in
the office in Rapid City.
Q And there
are radio facilities there that can both hear your {269} transmissions
from your car and send transmissions to your car, isn't that correct?
A Yes.
Q Now let's go
back to the question of the vehicles.
You say that
when you got there there was your vehicle and a BIA vehicle.
A Yes.
Q BIA means
Bureau of Indian Affairs?
A Yes.
Q Was it a BIA
vehicle or a BIA police vehicle?
A Well, it
had, it was a police car; yes.
Q It was a
police car belonging to the Bureau of Indian Affairs?
A Yes.
Q Now you saw
certain vehicles near a house.
A Yes. As I
recall there were two vehicles parked in the vicinity of the log house
there.
Q During that
afternoon or at least the first few hours that you were there those
vehicles didn't move, did they?
A No. They did
not.
Q And did you
see any other vehicles moving?
A Moving, no.
I saw Miss
LaDeau drive in and I saw --
Q That was
later in the afternoon?
A 12:30 or so;
yes.
{270}
Q All right.
Let's talk about 12:29 or earlier in this particular area of inquiry.
A Not as I
recall; no.
Q Did you make
a transmission on your radio announcing that you were receiving or had
been receiving heavy fire from the vicinity of the Jumping Bull Hall?
A Yes. I did.
THE COURT: Mr.
Taikeff, excuse me.
I'm going to
have to interrupt you at this point because we will have to recess fifteen
minutes earlier today due to another matter that I have scheduled.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Thank you, Your Honor.
THE COURT:
Members of the jury, we will reconvene tomorrow morning at 9:00 o'clock.
I will not
repeat this every time we recess now but I will, not at the beginning of
the trial, but I again ask you that you might not discuss the case or form
an opinion until after the entire case has been presented.
The Court is
in recess until 9:00 o'clock tomorrow morning.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had in the Judge's chambers, the Defendant
being present in person:)
THE COURT:
There are three persons -- I think most of you are aware of why we're
here. There are three persons who have alleged that one of the jurors in
this case prior to
{270}
The Court is
in recess until 9:00 o'clock tomorrow morning.
(Whereupon,
the following proceedings were had in the Judge's chambers, the Defendant
being present in person:)
THE COURT:
There are three persons -- I think most of you are aware of why we're
here. There are three persons who have alleged that one of the jurors in
this case prior to {271} being selected as a juror made a statement in
their presence that she was prejudice against Indians and so I've asked
those three persons to be brought in and it is my intention to question
them about it.
You may have
them brought in.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, could I make a request of the Court, Your Honor?
THE COURT:
Yes. Just a moment.
MR. HULTMAN:
Your Honor, as is normally the case and as I indicated, we had an
experience of this kind before and I would make a request to the Court
that the Court interview each of these three individuals, not singularly
but not in the presence of each other because on a previous experience we
found that the observations as happens in the courtroom, likewise when you
set three people down in a group you get a group discussion but when you
get three individuals individually you get what they heard without two
others then having heard what one of them said.
MR. TAIKEFF:
We have no objection, Your Honor.
MR. HULTMAN:
So I would request of the Court that the Court deal with them
individually.
THE COURT:
Well, okay. Bring in, it looks like Margaret Foss.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Would Your Honor among the questions being asked include the question what
relationship if any this {272} person has to the courthouse or any of the
participants.
MR. HULTMAN:
And also we would make a request, Your Honor, that if it would be Your
Honor's wish, that you pursue the chain. We think that it is very
important.
THE COURT:
Pursue what?
MR. HULTMAN:
The chain of individuals, Your Honor, on how this came about that, the
event itself plus who overheard and then how does it end up being brought
to the Court's attention, whether or not there has been any communication
of any kind that may have in any way contributed to this act.
MR. TAIKEFF:
We concur, Your Honor.
MR. HULTMAN:
It's a very unusual act. That's what I'm attempting to go beyond, whether
it was an act that had no influence or not.
THE COURT:
Have a chair. Are you Margaret Foss?
MARGARET FOSS:
Yes, sir.
THE COURT: The
people in the room here are lawyers and the defendant in this lawsuit and
other persons connected with the case.
Patricia O'Day
called the Clerk of this court this morning and gave the Clerk a message
and I ask that she reduce it to a sworn statement and she did do that and
I have the statement in my hands.
And what she
has said is that one of the jurors, Shirley Klocke, in the presence of her
and you and one other {273} made a statement with reference to her
possible jury, her possible, the possibility of her being selected on this
jury.
Do you recall
that that happened?
MARGARET FOSS:
Yes, sir.
THE COURT: And
where did it happen?
MARGARET FOSS:
In the cafeteria of Blue Cross-Blue Shield.
THE COURT: And
when did it happen?
MARGARET FOSS:
The day I'm not sure. It was in the afternoon, coffee break.
THE COURT: Who
was present?
MARGARET FOSS:
Patty O'Day, Shirley Klocke, Carol Schatzke and myself.
THE COURT:
What was said by Miss Klocke?
MARGARET FOSS:
At the time she said that she was very prejudice against Indians.
THE COURT:
What caused her to say that? I mean, what led up to her saying that?
MARGARET FOSS:
That I don't remember.
THE COURT:
What were you talking about at the time?
MARGARET FOSS:
It was just general things at the time.
THE COURT: Do
you remember any other part of the conversation?
MARGARET FOSS:
Just that and that she didn't, and {274} Patty O'Day started defending
them, the minority and Shirley said that she didn't want to talk about it.
"Let's just drop the subject."
THE COURT: Who
opened the subject?
MARGARET FOSS:
As far as I remember if was Shirley.
THE COURT: And
you don't remember what you were talking about when it was opened?
MARGARET FOSS:
No. Because at our coffee breaks we, everybody in general and --
THE COURT: How
do you happen to remember that she made this comment that she was
prejudice?
MARGARET FOSS:
Because I was shocked at the time that she said it.
THE COURT: Did
Carol Schatzke say anything?
MARGARET FOSS:
Yes, sir. I believe she did.
THE COURT:
What did she say?
MARGARET FOSS:
That I don't remember either.
THE COURT: Did
Patty O'day say anything?
MARGARET FOSS:
Yes. She was the one that did the most talking.
THE COURT: And
what did she say?
MARGARET FOSS:
Well, to the effect that there are good and bad in all nationalities and
why should be pick on this one particular person or --
THE COURT: You
don't remember who initiated the {275} conversation or do you remember who
initiated the conversation?
MARGARET FOSS:
No, sir, I do not.
THE COURT: I
got the impression that you did not.
Was there any
other conversation among this group?
MARGARET FOSS:
Not on this particular subject; no.
THE COURT: On
this subject at this time or any other particular time?
MARGARET FOSS:
No.
THE COURT: Not
to your recollection?
MARGARET FOSS:
No.
THE COURT: Do
you work with Miss Klocke?
MARGARET FOSS:
I work with them but I am not socially involved with them so whatever is
said after work I do not know.
THE COURT: Mr.
Hultman, do you have anything else you want to ask this lady?
MR. HULTMAN:
Are you saying that this is the only part that you recall of the
conversation concerning this matter or are you saying this is all that was
said concerning this matter?
MARGARET FOSS:
At coffee break this is about all that was said.
Like I say, I
am not socially involved with these people. What is said after --
MR. HULTMAN:
What do you mean by the response that "I am not socially involved with
these people"?
{276}
MARGARET FOSS:
Because of our age differences, these other people and myself, I do not
chum around with them let's say.
I am workers
with them.
MR. HULTMAN:
Did you feel it was something at that time that was just a matter of
conversation?
MARGARET FOSS:
No. She was very strongly, she was very emphatic on her statement.
MR. HULTMAN:
But you don't remember anything else about the conversation other than
that one statement, is that right?
MARGARET FOSS:
That's right.
MR. HULTMAN:
Were you the one then, I'm asking a question, were you the one that
brought the matter to the Court's attention?
MARGARET FOSS:
No.
THE COURT: No.
No. I wanted to question the two witnesses before I --
MR. HULTMAN:
All right.
Who have you
had conversation with since -- what time of day approximately did this
take place?
MARGARET FOSS:
About 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon.
MR. HULTMAN:
And approximately when was this, what day was it?
MARGARET FOSS:
Well, it was last week. Wednesday or {277} Thursday I assume.
I'm not sure
on the date but it was in the afternoon.
MR. HULTMAN:
Who else was present? It was in a coffee room you say?
MARGARET FOSS:
Yes.
MR. HULTMAN:
Who were all the people that were present?
MARGARET FOSS:
You mean just at our particular table?
MR. HULTMAN:
Yes. First, who was at your table?
MARGARET FOSS:
The four that I named previously.
MR. HULTMAN:
Were there other people in addition to the four of you that were at your
table?
MARGARET FOSS:
No. There was just the four of us.
MR. HULTMAN:
So you were the only ones in the room, is that --
MARGARET FOSS:
Yes. Well, not in the room.
We have a big
cafeteria. There's several employees down at this time having their coffee
break.
MR. HULTMAN:
But you don't remember who initiated the conversation in any way or any
discussion about it?
MARGARET FOSS:
No. I'm sorry, sir. No.
MR. HULTMAN:
Who have you talked to since that afternoon around 3:00 p.m. about --
MARGARET FOSS:
Myself?
{278}
MR. HULTMAN:
-- this statement? Yes.
MARGARET FOSS:
No. Nobody.
MR. HULTMAN:
You had no further conversation with anybody about it?
MARGARET FOSS:
No .
MR.HULTMAN:
This is a conversation that only took place last week, is that correct,
and yet I'm just trying to probe, ma'am, but it seems to me that you would
remember something beyond the one statement that was said, what may have
led up to the discussion or something else about it.
MARGARET FOSS:
The only thing that I can vaguely remember, if it is correct, is that she
was going to be called for jury duty. That was about the only thing.
MR. HULTMAN:
Do you recall whether anybody asked her any questions about the fact that
she was being called as a juror?
MARGARET FOSS:
No, sir.
MR. HULTMAN: I
have no further questions, Your Honor. Thank you.
THE COURT: Mr.
Lowe or Mr. Taikeff, do you have any?
MR. LOWE: No.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
have --
MR. HULTMAN:
Could I have just one -- go ahead.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
have one question.
You said that
you did not speak with anyone about this. {279} Did anyone attempt to
speak with you or to otherwise contact you about this subject --
MARGARET FOSS:
No, sir.
MR. TAIKEFF:
-- since the time it occurred?
MARGARET FOSS:
No.
MR. HULTMAN:
Do you know, has there been anybody at your place of business to your
knowledge at Blue Cross-Blue Shield asking questions about prospective
jurors at all?
MARGARET FOSS:
Not to my knowledge.
MR. HULTMAN:
Did you respond in any way to the conversation?
MARGARET FOSS:
No. I didn't because we were shocked when she said it and we just tried to
kind of, I myself do not want to get involved in that because I have my
own feelings.
MR. HULTMAN:
Well, when you say you have your own feelings, what are your feelings?
THE COURT: I'm
not, we're going too far.
MR. HULTMAN:
All right. I just wanted to know, I wanted to know whether or not this
conversation had in fact, did you in fact hear this conversation?
MARGARET FOSS:
Yes. I did.
THE COURT: All
right. Ralph, you may, Mrs. Foss, you may leave.
Bring in --
MR. LOWE: Do
you want her to stand by, Your Honor?
{280}
THE COURT:
Yes. Have her stand by and bring in Carol Schatzke.
You are Carol
Schatzke?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Yes.
THE COURT: The
people in this room are the defendant, the lawyers and some other people
connected to this case which is now being tried.
The reason you
were asked to come down here is that Patricia O'Day has made a statement
concerning one of the witnesses, or one of the jurors in this case and
that she states that at a coffee break apparently sometime in the latter
part of last week she made a reference to Indians and apparently had
something to do with her prospective service on the jury and apparently it
was made in the presence of you and Margaret Foss. Do you remember such an
incident?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Yes. I do.
THE COURT: Who
was present?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
It was Margaret and I and Patty and Shirley.
THE COURT: And
what was the occasion; how did you happen to be together?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Oh, it was coffee time.
THE COURT: Who
initiated the conversation related to jury or Indians or trial?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
I can't really remember but I think {281} Shirley must have started it.
Yeah. I think Shirley started it.
THE COURT: And
what did she say?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
I really can't remember exactly.
Other than the
fact that she disliked Indians, she really didn't like them and she was
prejudice against and Patty said, "Well, why," and she said, "Well, I just
don't know but I am," and that was about it.
And then they
ended the conversation. It wasn't much more to go on.
THE COURT:
Have you heard any other conversation around -- you work for Blue
Cross-Blue Shield?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Yes.
THE COURT:
Have you heard any other conversation around there with reference to Miss
Klocke being a juror in this case?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
No.
THE COURT: Do
you know of any people that came around to investigate her background or
anything?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
No.
THE COURT: Do
you know anything other than what you've told me?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
No.
THE COURT: Mr.
Hultman.
MR. HULTMAN:
Have you talked with anybody since that {282} afternoon about the event
that the Court has just asked you some questions about?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Not until today when all this came about.
MR. HULTMAN:
Who have you talked to today?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Well, Patty and Margaret and a couple of the girls at work. That's about
it. It's all been in one area.
MR. HULTMAN:
Did, what was the name of the lady, Your Honor, that was just here? I'm
sorry.
THE COURT:
Margaret Foss.
MR. HULTMAN:
Did you talk to her today about it?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Yeah.
MR. HULTMAN:
What did you talk to her today about it?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Oh, we've been talking about it all day at different times.
MR. HULTMAN:
Did, do you remember how the conversation started with reference to this
particular matter?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
No. I really don't.
MR. HULTMAN:
Do you remember what any of the other people said in the conversation at
all?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
No. I -- just that Shirley said she was prejudice and Patty said why and
Shirley said she didn't really know, that she was and that was about it.
MR. HULTMAN:
Now what was the last sentence that you {283} said? Would you repeat that?
I'm sorry.
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Oh, she said that she was and she didn't really know why she was prejudice
but she just was.
MR. HULTMAN:
She was but she really didn't know why, is that it?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Yeah.
MR. HULTMAN:
Did she make any other explanation of any kind?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
No.
At that time
she said she didn't want to talk about it any more so then we just dropped
it.
MR. HULTMAN:
When, when did this conversation, what day did this take place, do you
recall?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
I think maybe it was Thursday of last week.
MR. HULTMAN:
And what, what was the occasion?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
We had coffee break at work.
MR. HULTMAN:
What time of day then: would this have been in the morning or the
afternoon?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
I think it was morning coffee. I'm not too sure. I can't remember.
MR. HULTMAN:
But there's no question that the four of you have discussed it today, is
that right?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
There's three of us that discussed it today.
{284}
MR. HULTMAN:
Three of you discussed it. I'm sorry.
Who emanated
that discussion? How did that start about?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Well, we found out that Shirley was on the jury and then Patty got upset
and said she didn't see how she could be on the jury if she was prejudiced
against Indians and she made a few phone calls and we got to talking about
it and she was told to write a statement.
MR. HULTMAN:
Whom did she call? In your conversations today who did she say she called?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
Well, she said this morning that she had talked to the Clerk. She called
here and I don't know who else, she must have talked to Judge.
THE COURT: No.
She didn't. Excuse me.
It was
reported to me that she called my chambers. My secretary referred her to
the Clerk.
MR. HULTMAN:
Beyond the Court or anything that happened as far as the courthouse, who
else did she say she called or had conversations with about it?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
She had, well, I don't know. She had the thing notarized.
I suppose she
said, she talked to one of our supervisors and one of the notary publics
and that's about it.
MR. HULTMAN:
No further questions, Your Honor,
MR. TAIKEFF: I
believe I have only one question, Your {285} Honor.
At the time of
the coffee break when the conversation took place, either at the beginning
or at the end of that conversation, or that coffee break, did you know
that Miss Klocke was a prospective juror in the case?
CAROL SCHATZKE:
No.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
have no further questions.
THE COURT:
Thank you.
And would you
ask Patricia O'Day to come in.
MR. TAIKEFF:
While that's happening, Your Honor, may I ask Your Honor to take judicial
notice of the fact that in today's Forum there is a front page article on
the trial and at the end of the article is a list of the names and
addresses of all the jurors, the last being on page 2 of the Forum.
THE COURT:
When I see the paper I'll take judicial notice of it. Thank you.
MR. TAIKEFF:
All right. I was speculating on the chance that Your Honor had already
read the paper.
THE COURT: All
right.
You are
Patricia O'Day?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Yes.
THE COURT: The
people in this room are the defendant and lawyers and others who are
connected with the trial that's going on here.
{286}
Is that your
statement?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Yes. It is.
THE COURT:
Would you just tell us what led up to this conversation that you had with
Miss Klocke
PATRICIA O'DAY:
We were just discussing the trial and stuff. She was on, going to be
selected, or not selected for the jury but she was in the jury process and
we just talked about the trial and we talked about Indian people in
general and she had made the statement that, "I am so prejudiced against
Indians," and I felt that she meant it, you know. Now whether, I don't
mean that maliciously or anything. Okay.
But she just
said, "I'm so prejudiced against Indians," and I said, "Well, do you
understand the background for do you understand what's going on or", I
just kind of felt around as far as compassion or whatever, what I felt.
Okay.
And she just
said she didn't want to talk about it any more.
So then we
just left it at that. We were starting to fight.
THE COURT:
When did this happen?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Last Thursday at coffee in the afternoon.
THE COURT: To
your knowledge has there been anyone checking on her background or
anything about it --
PATRICIA O'DAY:
No.
{287}
THE COURT: --
with reference to her prospective jury service?
PATRICIA O'Day:
No.
THE COURT: Did
you have any further conversation with her?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
No.
THE COURT:
What do you mean in that statement when you stated that later discussion
about general terms?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Oh, when we got back from coffee we were up in the offices and all, there
was maybe five or six girls and we were all talking at one time about it,
you know.
THE COURT: Was
she in the group?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Yeah.
THE COURT:
What was said there?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
I don't remember exactly because I really wasn't listening.
There are
other girls that had heard some of the conversation. They made that known
to me today, that they had heard some of the conversation, you know, that
she was saying. It was obvious to everyone that her feelings towards
Indian people wasn't in the best judgment as far as I was concerned and,
that's the impression I got.
THE COURT: Are
you having any problems, are there any problems between you and her at
work?
{288}
PATRICIA O'DAY:
No. I consider her one of my best friends. She probably won't be any more
though.
MR. HULTMAN:
You drew a comparison and you said your feelings or your position. What
are your feelings or your position as different from hers, vis-a-vis her
position?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
My feelings?
MR. HULTMAN:
Yes. And your discussion.
PATRICIA O'DAY:
More of an objective point of view I think.
I, I would
rather deal with people on a one-to-one basis as people rather than race
or creed.
I believe in
human rights very strongly and I don't think it matters whether a person
is an Indian or a black or whatever.
MR. HULTMAN:
Did the other, did Mrs. Foss say anything in response to what was said?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Did she say anything?
MR. HULTMAN:
Yes.
PATRICIA O'DAY:
No. We discussed it today and they agreed that, well, at that time, you
know, we all generally felt that Shirley felt this way. Okay.
But today they
agreed that they felt that she had meant it when she said it, you know.
MR. HULTMAN:
Well, did you, is it fair for me to conclude that -- what did you conclude
from the statement that {289} she made?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
That she was prejudiced against Indians, that she had a greater sense of
bias towards the Indian point of view rather than the man being on trial.
I think she --
that's the impression I got.
MR. HULTMAN:
Would it be fair for me to conclude that you have just the opposite
feeling?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
I would say that I do but I, consciously.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Which feeling may I ask Your Honor is Mr. Hultman inquiring about?
MR. HULTMAN:
The reverse of the attitude that was expressed because she brought it up
in her own words.
MR. TAIKEFF:
No. Your Honor I think two attitudes have been spoken about. One of them
is the consensus of the three workers. The other --
MR. HULTMAN:
I'm referring to this woman and the woman that made the statement.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Oh. I understand. Thank you.
MR. HULTMAN:
Would you feel then with the feeling and the attitude that you have that
you could not come into a courtroom and set aside that feeling that you've
expressed on that occasion to her and be fair and impartial to someone who
is not?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
No. I'm not saying that at all.
{290}
I'm saying
that I questioned, I questioned the process because I didn't know what
process, legal process you go through to select a juror and I was just
wondering if her, I don't know if Shirley can separate the two. That's
your judgment or that's the Judge's judgment. That's not my judgment to
make.
I'm merely
stating my point of view and what I heard and I felt it was relevant. It
was something that I had to say, something I had to question.
MR. HULTMAN:
Well, that's good. That's good.
I have no
further questions.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
have but one question.
THE COURT: All
right.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Did you read the Forum today?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
No. I haven't yet.
MR. TAIKEFF:
How did you know she was on the jury?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
I work with her and she had to call in and tell that she was going to be
gone. Word travels fast in an office.
MR. TAIKEFF:
And what motivated you to call the Clerk? Not general principles. What
immediate specific fact?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
I felt it was unfair. I felt that, I had heard her make the statement and
I didn't want there to be any question as to the credibility of any juror
that I knew of as to how they were going to try that man.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Has anyone contacted you and motivated {291} you in any way to take the
action which you took?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
No.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
have no further questions, Your Honor.
MR. HULTMAN:
May I just ask one more, Your Honor.
What is your
relation; how good a friend are you?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Very good friends.
MR. HULTMAN:
How long approximately have you known Miss Klocke?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Five years, going on five years.
MR. HULTMAN: I
have no other questions, Your Honor. Thank you.
THE COURT: I
have just one additional question.
In the five
years that you've known her have you had any other discussion about the
Indian race of people or bias or prejudice or human rights?
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Well, in the, saying many generalities certainly. Probably there are many
things that go on in society and we try to discuss them, you know, and we
try to be as intelligent in some things in life as we can.
THE COURT: No.
I mean you and Miss Klocke.
PATRICIA O'DAY:
Oh. No. Not specifics; no.
THE COURT: May
I have the statement. Thank you for coming.
MR. LOWE: Your
Honor, before these three witnesses are released I would suggest that the
appropriate, I would like {292} the Court to extend thanks to these ladies
for coming forward. It's certainly an act of bravery for coming forth in
the peer pressures in society and secondly I would think there could be
some measure taken to the extent possibly to keep them from being
embarrassed by this.
THE COURT: You
may leave the room.
Mike, would
you contact whoever's going to appear in this sentencing and tell them
we're going to be a little late.
MICHAEL
NELSON: I just did.
THE CLERK OF
COURT: Can they leave the building, Your Honor, the witnesses?
THE COURT:
Just have them stand by for a moment. It will just be a moment.
{293}
THE COURT: I
now have to decide what to do with reference to Miss Klocke's service on
the jury. Do you desire to express yourself on that?
MR.HULTMAN:
No, Your Honor. The government certainly knows the seriousness of a matter
of this kind. I think there is a good question that goes to whether or not
one single remark and the circumstances and from the point of view, and
without knowing the total conversation and remarks as just made, she's
evidentily shown no prejudices of any kind in any other conversations. But
at the same time I want to in no way minimize the impact. So I would
certainly indicate to the Court that I think the Court should give the
highest consideration to the impact of what the juror has said and the
government will certainly in no way resist in any way whatever the Court's
decision is.
THE COURT: Mr.
Taikeff, do you have any thoughts on that?
MR. TAIKEFF:
If Your Honor is asking generally what we think should be done, I would
have an answer, but I think Your Honor is asking whether we are
specifically asking whether she should be stricken from the jury. If
that's Your Honor's question, we are not able to say yes or no at this
time. Then that would bring me to the answer of the other question;
namely, what I think we should do.
THE COURT:
What do you think we should do?
{294}
MR. TAIKEFF: I
think we should have a voir dire of her after which defense will take a
position on it.
THE COURT: I
have concluded that certainly if she is released that she should be told
why she's being released.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
would have no objection to that.
THE COURT: I
don't know what Mr. Lowe feels about that.
MR. LOWE: I
only know the difficulty in getting people to come forward to do something
like that and unless there is some purpose to be gained in the trial, if
the decision is made eventually to release her, I wonder whether there is
really any need to release her. Didn't we last summer with that woman, did
the Court tell her why or was there just --
MR. HULTMAN:
He brought her in and questioned her, remember, John.
MR. LOWE: I
have real apprehensions when those three people are going to be on the
spot but I don't take a firm position.
MR. CROOKS:
Your Honor, if I could make an observation. This is a rather perplexing
thing, obviously. If in fact what this woman has said is true and if in
fact that is an opinion, then she has at the very least placed her
responsibility on the question and creates a serious problem and my
suggestion would be that whether she's going to be {295} released or not,
the matter should be taken up with her. If for no other reason than
fairness to her.
THE COURT: I
feel that.
MR. CROOKS:
Because certainly this is on the face of it a very devastating type of
thing to have to go on without an opportunity of some sort to explain.
MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor, it's possible she may not even remember the conversation.
THE COURT:
There's no question about it. I'm going to bring her in and -- is she
still here?
THE CLERK: I
asked the marshal to retain the jury.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, while that's happening, I would like not just by way of making
small conversation but because I recognized that we take a small legal
position at the early stages of this case to most respectfully call to
Your Honor's attention how difficult it is to root out this kind of fact
of life in spite of the fact that Your Honor spent a most generous portion
of the Court's time in a thorough voir dire and allowed Counsel to
inquire. I say this not so much by way of making a record, I'm motivated
primarily by the opportunity to perhaps plant the seed in Your Honor's
mind for future cases where some attorney may come forward and suggest to
Your Honor that although there are some and many very fine citizens in the
city, there are some serious problems along these lines.
{296}
THE COURT:
Mrs. Klocke, we asked you to come in to show you this statement.
Do you care to
make any response to that?
MRS. KLOCKE:
Yes. Your Honor, I did say this. And like I said in court that I would put
all prejudices aside and I would render a fair verdict and I still mean
that, too.
THE COURT:
Okay. Thank you.
Do you have
any questions?
MR. TAIKEFF:
Could I confer with Mr. Lowe and the defendant for a moment.
THE COURT:
Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: I
would like to put a limited number of questions to the juror, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You
may.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Do you understand that you will have to make a very serious, conscious
effort to make sure that the opinion which you have and expressed does in
any way come to play in this case because of the seriousness of the
consequences?
MRS. KLOCKE:
Yes, I do.
MR. TAIKEFF:
We're satisfied, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr.
Hultman. Do you desire to examine?
MR. HULTMAN:
Yes, I would just like to have a few questions, Your Honor.
Mrs. Klocke,
were you expressing something on that occasion which was a feeling that
you had and is a feeling that, {297} as you expressed in the court, that
without any question you could set aside, as I think I asked a number of
questions about it, all having various feelings and emotions and so forth
in varying degrees, that that expression that you made at that time is not
so deep rooted or so strong or so firm with you that in a matter of this
kind that you could honestly and fairly --
MRS. KLOCKE:
Yes, sir.
MR. HULTMAN:
-- do what the Court has discussed and the lawyers have discussed?
MRS. KLOCKE:
Yes, sir.
MR. HULTMAN:
Without the fact that the experience now that you in effect, somebody said
something and returned it here, would that in any way have any impact now
on you in going back to the jury room?
MRS. KLOCKE:
No.
MR. HULTMAN:
Would you now, feeling that you might have some compunction to do
something for the defendant that otherwise maybe had this occasion not
occurred that you would be feeling different about?
MRS. KLOCKE:
No, I don't. I would still base any verdict on the evidence and the court
alone and I really feel I could do it.
MR. HULTMAN: I
have no further questions.
THE COURT:
Thank you for coming in. I will have to {298} make a decision as to what
your status will be and for the time being you can return to the jury and
I would suggest you just not comment on it.
The jury may
now be taken back to their rooms.
MR. TAIKEFF:
Your Honor, so that the record is clear, when we said we're satisfied, we
not only meant with the scope of the inquiry but we do not wish to move to
exclude the juror.
THE COURT: I
interpreted your remark that way. I have some conern in my own mind about
this juror.
MR. CROOKS:
Your Honor, could the government have overnight to fully make a response?
I think it was pointed out with Mr. Hultman, this experience of coming in
here may have adverse consequences to the United States and we are not
really prepared to say whether or not we might not at this point want to
challenge the juror.
MR. HULTMAN:
She now may feel an obligation, Your Honor, in order to purge herself from
what others have now accused her of, this would be her genuinely and
honestly, I'm just saying the impact of genuinely trying to purge herself
and this experience and the accusation would have an impact upon what her
decision would be.
MR. LOWE: May
I make two comments. First of all, it is interesting to hear Mr. Hultman
make that argument because he was making the other argument when we
uncovered prejudiced, and although it would interfere -- but secondly, we
had a {299} potential problem, in any case, where we only have two
alternates that we could end up with a mistrial if more than two people
become disabled or sick or anything of that nature. That is one of the
facts that the defendant at this early stage of what will be a long trial
is considering. And we feel he has a constitutional right not to have that
juror removed without his motion in a situation that could lead to a
constitutional detriment. We're not just waiving the fact, we're objecting
to people with prejudiced during the voir dire and now we say we want to
keep the juror. There are different factors that play.
THE COURT: I'm
aware of that. That is why I said I wanted to think about it overnight.
MR. CROOKS: I
realize, obviously, there are considerations on both sides. A normal
reaction from strictly the government wishes of a to win position would be
this is a great juror, but obviously that's not our concern. Our concern
is a fair juror and contrary to what Mr. Lowe may believe. Secondly, as we
expressed the possible rebound affect which would in effect affect our
outcome and have just a reverse consequence. I simply ask we be allowed to
think about it overnight.
THE COURT: I
suppose if I think about it overnight you will have an opportunity to
think about it overnight.
Thank you for
coming in.
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