VOLUME III
Pages 300-520
{300}
J. GARY ADAMS
FRIDAY MORNING SESSION
March 18, 1977
Whereupon, the following proceedings were had and entered of record on
Friday morning, March 18, 1977, at 9:00 o'clock, a.m., the Defendant being
present in person:
THE COURT: There are one or two matters that I want to mention.
The counsel will recall that at the conference prior to the opening of
this trial which was held a week ago today I raised the question about
bench conferences or some of you refer to it as side bar conferences and I
stated that I would have no objection to a number of people from each side
approaching the bench so long as it didn't create any problem in the
conduct of the trial.
The court reporters tell me that it creates an almost impossible situation
for them and the problem arises out of the propensity of two or three
people to address the Court and each other at the same time so I'm going
to have to limit the bench conferences to one spokesman from each side.
I have no objection to the additional counsel approaching the bench but
they will have to decide when they approach the bench as to who's going to
speak.
And I also would ask the counsel who are not speaking to, to the greatest
extent possible, refrain from conversations between themselves which can
be very distracting to the court reporter attempting to take down what
needs to be taken down.
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The other matter that was before the Court was this matter of numbering of
exhibits.
I am not going to order the renumbering of Exhibits 33F, G, K, G and H,
33F, G and K and 34G and H.
I will, if requested, give the jury a cautionary instruction that, to the
effect that the numbering of exhibits has absolutely no significance at
all.
MR. TAIKEFF: We do request that, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Very well.
Are you ready now then to have the jury brought in?
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes I don't know --
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor, --
MR. TAIKEFF: I'm sorry.
MR. HULTMAN: Go ahead.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor perhaps noticed the absence of Mr. Lowe. The cold
that he has been fighting got very bad last night and he decided that it
was in the best interest of his ability to recover to take three days in
bed and we discussed the possibility of our being deprived of his services
and we concluded that given our anticipation for today, in view of the
thirty-five hundred material which was provided, that there would probably
be no difficulty in my handling it in his absence.
If something should arise that is not anticipated or is otherwise
unexpected, I would probably ask Your Honor for an {302} opportunity to
consult with him. He's available by telephone.
But otherwise I believe we can proceed today without --
THE COURT: Thank you.
It was reported to me that there's, further reported to me that there are
some, well, apparently Mr. Hultman and, did you indicate that there were
some witnesses also that are going to want to catch a plane?
MR. HULTMAN: Yes, Your Honor.
There is a problem with reference to, and I would request to the Court for
this one day and it would probably likewise help with the matter that Mr.
Taikeff has referred to, that we adjourn somewhere around 4:30.
There is a 5:30 plane that if some people don't get that today, they don't
get a plane until tomorrow and it creates a problem.
One of those, Your Honor, is very frankly myself. I've been away from my
offices now for in excess of two weeks and I will be again at least two or
three weeks and I would like an opportunity to have at least one day,
Saturday, to cover a number of matters back in my office including the
preparation of appellate matters and some matters for the Attorney General
that I am working on and so if I could catch that plane I can get a day
and if you can't there is no reason for me to leave because I can't get
there and back.
THE COURT: Well, I am not inclined to grant that {303} request.
MR. HULTMAN: I understand, Your Honor.
THE COURT: However, you will be excused because you do have associate
counsel to carry on and it may be that the evidence will develop in such a
way that we will decide to recess at 4:30.
But I would normally expect to go until 5:00 o'clock and I mentioned
before, one of the reason that we're keeping these hours that are longer
than you would normally schedule is because we do have the sequestered
jury.
MR. HULTMAN: I understand.
There is one other matter, Your Honor, and that is, on the record I would
like to indicate to the Court that, as concerning the matter that was
taken up in chambers without referring to it specifically other than that.
The Court indicated that the Government would have until the morning to
make an indication and the indication that the Government would like to
put on the record at this time is the fact that we join in the motion that
the defendants made late yesterday afternoon.
THE COURT: The Court will then proceed pursuant to the agreement of
counsel on that matter.
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: The jury may now be brought in.
(Whereupon, the jury returned to the courtroom and {304} the following
further proceedings were had:)
(Whereupon, the witness having been previously sworn, resumed the stand
and testified as follows:)
THE COURT: You may proceed.
MR. TAIKEFF: Thank you, Your Honor.
CROSS-EXAMINATION (Continued)
BY MR. TAIKEFF
Q Good morning, Mr. Adams.
A Morning.
Q Do you recall that at the time of the recess yesterday I was asking you
some questions about radio transmissions --
A Yes, sir.
Q -- from you to Rapid City?
A Yes.
Q All right. For a moment I'm going to divert your attention to something
else and we'll get back to that.
You said that you heard or felt some explosions during the course of the
afternoon of June 26, is that right?
A Yes. I did.
Q How many such explosions?
A To the best of my recollection there were three or four.
Q And at what time of day?
A I cannot recall that, sir.
It was sometime after Miss LaDeau left about 1:30.
Q What was the period of time that Miss LaDeau was in the area?
{305}
A I estimate it to be from 12:00 to 1:30.
Q And during this period of time am I correct that she was either in a
specific house or in the area of those houses that I'm now pointing to
which are labeled residences, log cabin, white house, green house?
A She was in the vicinity of those three houses and then I also saw her
walk in a westerly direction.
Q Did you see where she went when she walked in a westerly direction?
A No. She came back toward the tan and red house and I saw her disappear
off the crest of the plateau there in the direction of, well, when I saw
her walk she'd been headed toward the vicinity which is marked bodies of
SA Williams and SA Coler.
Q Now I've got my finger on that particular area.
A Back to your left, sir. I was just referring to the letter.
Q Over here?
A Yes. She was walking in that general direction.
Q Am I correct that this road along which we have the marker of Coler's
car and these houses up here are not at the same elevation?
A That is correct; yes.
Q What would you say is the difference of the elevation, I ask you only
for an approximation, between this road and the place where these houses
are to be found?
A Approximately twenty feet.
{306}
Q Now you were back in this area somewhere, were you not?
A Back toward the curve in the road there; yes.
Q Okay. That's the road that's to the left on the chart?
A Yes, sir.
Q When you are here can you see this road where we have the name Coler or
Coler's car marked?
A No. You cannot.
Q How close do you have to come before you can see this road coming in
this way from that road where you were?
A It would just be within a few feet of the crest of the plateau. The line
depicts the crest of the plateau there; yes.
Q That's this curved line here to the south of the tan and red house?
A Yes.
Q You have to get up to the edge of that crest before you can see the
road?
A Within a few feet of the crest.
{307}
Q Like while Miss La Deau was in the area, at least the extent that you
were able to personally see her, was there any firing going on?
A As I recall, there was not. But I think it was indicated to me by other
people that there was during that time.
Q Didn't you say yesterday that during that period you received some fire?
A Yes. That would be a correct statement because, as I said, as I recall,
there was not. Now when I think, when I prepared my documents I was under
the impression there wasn't any fire at all that afternoon, but in talking
with other agents now they, and discussing the matter, there could have
been some fire during that hour from 12:30 to 1:30.
Q Is it accurate to say that your attention was focused in this area of
the residences over here?
A During that time?
Q During that period; yes. Now only talking about that particular period
of time.
A No I think my attention was centered more around getting assistance in
there and getting law enforcement people around the south and the west
sides of this particular area.
Q Is it fair to say though that you observed no shooting coming from the
area of the residences during that period of time?
A I cannot positively state that; no. To the best of my {308} recollection
there was none, but I will not positively state that there was none.
Q You can only relate to us what you saw or heard, is that correct?
A That is correct.
Q As far as what you saw or heard, was there any shooting coming from the
area of the residences during that period?
A To the best of my recollection there was none.
Q Could you say where the firing was if there was -- withdrawn. Can you
say where the firing came from during that period? Not based on your own
observations, based on your investigation and consultation with other
agents.
A It would have been in that same general vicinity there of the three
houses.
Q And in which direction was the firing going?
A It could have gone to the west as there were agents across there
monitoring the situation or it could have been back our direction or more
to the northeast where there were other law enforcement people.
Q When you say to the west, you mean down in this area?
A Yes.
Q At l:30 in the afternoon there were law enforcement people down here
near Coler's car?
A There were law enforcement people across the creek to the west.
{309}
Q Where is that creek?
A It goes through the wooded area, sir.
Q Goes through this wooded area here, lower wooded area?
A Yes, it does.
Q Were there any people between the road where Coler's car was and the law
enforcement people?
A At 1:30 in the afternoon?
Q Yes.
A No. To the best of my knowledge there wasn't.
Q Do you know what prevented them, if anything prevented them, from coming
to the edge of the woods and looking at the road and seeing Coler's car or
the other car if they were both there?
A There was a group of individuals led by Delmar Eastman entered the area
to the north and northwest and proceeded in that direction. They at one
time in the afternoon were in this area and I don't know what time it was
they got in there. I know they received some fire from the creek area and
had trouble making it through the area because of the heavy brush and the
way the creek goes through there.
Q What you just referred to occurred late in the afternoon, didn't it?
A Well, Mr. Eastman was there shortly after I arrived at noon and they
were organizing this thing. I was up at my car and all I know is later on
that afternoon I talked with some {310} of the BI people and some of our
agents that were in there and backed out. As far as what time they were in
there, I have no idea.
Q Putting the time factor aside for the moment, do I understand that what
you're saying is that somewhere, but unspecified exactly where in this
lower area there was shooting going on?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object. I think that's a clear misstatement
of the record and the testimony of this witness.
MR. TAIKEFF: I'll withdraw the question, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Very well.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) I want you to focus your attention on that period of
time of approximately one hour which you estimate ended at 1:30 when Miss
La Deau was attempting to negotiate and she spent some or most of her time
in this area of the residences. Now do you know whether during that time
there were law enforcement people down here near the creek or in the
wooded area around the creek?
A No. I do not know for sure one way or the other.
Q Do you know whether a person standing at the edge of the wooded area
where it says "Corral," the one on the right, do you know if a person
stood there if that person could see the place where Coler's car was?
A No. I do not.
{311}
MR. TAIKEFF: May I have a moment to look at the model, Your Honor.
Could the witness come over here for a moment.
THE COURT: I might mention this to Counsel for both sides. That exhibit
which I believe was designated Exhibit 21 was identified but it has not
been offered or received in evidence.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I'm aware of that fact and I will phrase my
questions accordingly. I'm assuming only the witness has the ability to
look at this as if he were looking at something for identification.
MR. HULTMAN: Exhibit 20, Your Honor.
THE COURT: The Clerk just corrected me.
Do you have any objection to the use of the exhibit in that way?
MR. HULTMAN: No, Your Honor.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) For purposes of refreshing your own recollection as to
the terrain, I ask you to look at this and tell me yes or no whether I am
now pointing at that part of the model which coincides with the lower
portion of the chart where the word "Corral" appears twice?
A Yes.
Q And am I pointing to that thing which corresponds to the word "Corral"
that's written on the right-hand side of the chart? {312}
A Yes. It appears that way.
Q Now look at that and look at this area here and tell me, is the latter
area that I'm pointing to the place where Coler's car was found?
A Yes, it is.
Q Would you look at that, make sure that you have refreshed your
recollection as to the terrain and if you'd be kind enough to resume your
seat in the witness box.
Now, sir, let me repeat my earlier questions. If you were standing at the
edge of the wooded area at the western edge of the right-hand corral,
could you see the roadway?
A Yes, you could.
Q Are there any obstructions between that corral and the roadway?
A Just the corral fence and there is some wagons sitting there.
Q How tall is the fence?
A I'd say approximately six feet.
Q And what type of fence is it?
A Appears to be a board or rail.
Q Can you see through it?
A Yes, you can.
Q Now between the two corrals is there area I want you to focus your
attention on. If you were standing inside the woods but just at the edge,
is there any obstruction to one's vision that would prevent a person from
seeing Coler's car?
{313}
A Again there is just remnants of a fence across there.
Q Could you go through it or over it?
A Yes, you could.
Q Now, with the exception of these small courses of bushes or trees, if a
person were anywhere between the southern edge of the right-hand corral
and this part (indicating) of the wooded area, where this little peninsula
sticks out in an easterly direction, could you fail to see Coler's car?
A No, I think I could see it.
Q Did you at any time in the course of the afternoon see any people in
that creek or wooded area at the lower part of the diagram, up to 4:00
o'clock?
A No, I did not.
Q Yesterday you told us or identified for us several places that you
yourself knew firing was coming from. I think there may have been four
specific places that you mentioned?
A Yes.
Q Can you tell us the times, generally speaking, when firing was coming
from those areas?
A lt would have been intermittently all afternoon from the time I arrived
until 4:00 o'clock.
Q Now, earlier this morning you said that some of the law enforcement
personnel received fire from the creek area and the wooded area, or the
wooded area -- I am not exactly sure how you phrased it.
{314}
Q You are talking about this area here west of Coler's car?
A I can't state that specifically. All I know is they came in from the
northwest edge here (indicating) -- would have been even probably over the
edge of the board -- and came into it along the creek area in an attempt
to get up in the vicinity of the residence.
Q What you referred to before is in or below the lower left-hand corner of
Exhibit 71, is that correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q Were fingerprints taken of the various objects found in tent city?
A Yes, they were.
Q And in the tent city area some fingerprints were found of Mr. Peltier,
isn't that correct?
A To the best of my knowledge, yes.
Q Were his fingerprints found on the dynamite that was found there?
A I have no knowledge of that, sir. I have no knowledge of where the
prints were found.
Q Now, yesterday you identified two objects called handi-talkies?
A Yes.
Q What was the date and the time of day when you first saw those objects?
{315}
A It was on June 27th, 1975, and I would estimate the time around noon.
Q Now, between 4:00 o'clock on June 26 and the time you first saw those
handi-talkies, was this area sealed off?
A No.
Q Could you say whether those handi-talkies were there on the 26th? "Yes"
or "no".
A I do not know.
Q You don't know whether you could say?
A No, I do not know if they were there or not.
Q So you couldn't say whether they were there, is that correct?
A No. I was not in that house on the 26th.
Q Could you say whether they were on the 25th?
A No.
Q Or the 24th?
A No.
Q Or even on the morning of the 27th?
A Yes.
Q You could say they were there on the morning of the 27th?
A Yes.
Q How could you say that?
A Because we entered the house before noon on that morning, and they were
there at that time.
Q At what time did you enter the house?
{316}
A Well, all I know is it was before noon sometime because as soon as the
warrants arrived we started our search.
Q Could you say they were there two hours before you entered the house?
"Yes" or "no".
A Before I entered the house, no I could not say that.
Q Now, when you saw them, they were both there, is that correct?
A Yes, it is correct.
Q And were they turned on?
A I don't know if the radios were turned on. The chargers, as I recall,
were plugged in and they were charging the handi-talkies.
Q How could you tell they were charging?
A As I recall, there is a little light on there that was on which shows
they were active.
Q Did you check the radios to see if they were?
A No, I did not.
Q Now you have identified in the course of your direct testimony a number
of shell casings, that is to say, the brass that remains after a bullet or
a cartridge is fired. Were those the only indications which were found in
that area?
A No, they were not.
Q Can you tell us where other casings were found? Use the pointer if it is
convenient for you.
A Well, there were casings found in the vicinity of all the {317} houses
depicted on Government Exhibit 71 and in the vicinity of the tent area,
and in some of the vehicles located in the tent area.
Q How many casings were found in the vicinity of the house, in addition to
those which you identified yesterday?
A It wuld be an estimate of a couple hundred.
Q Were casings found anywhere else in the area?
A There were -- I know there were one or two casings found in the vicinity
of Coler's car or in Coler's car.
Q How about in the wooded area near the creek?
A To the best of my recollection I know of none. There could have been. I
was not in that area, did not conduct any searches in that area so I have
no knowledge of any.
Q Who did?
A Some of the members of the group from Denver were in there, I know. They
found some objects in that area. That off the top of my head is the only
people I know that were in there. I am sure there could have been others.
Q Do you know if they were looking for casings when there?
A Any remnants of a crime, sir.
Q What was the total number of casings that were found?
A In the entire area?
Q Um-hum.
A There were several hundred. I don't know exactly what the final count
was.
{318}
Q Do you know whether it is illegal for a person to carry a gun on the
Reservation?
A Not to my knowledge.
Q Do you know whether many people do, in fact?
A I would say a few, only a few. Now, law enforcement people do, but
outside of that, you know, you will see a farmer, a rancher now and then,
with a rifle in the rack behind him in his pickup. If you want an overall
figure, I would say few people do.
Q Now, yesterday you were asked about the number of agents who were
working on the Reservation in 1974, and the first six months of 1975, and
the second six months of 1975. Do you recall those questions?
A Yes.
{319}
Q Did you interpret that question to mean how many agents were permanently
assigned to the Rapid City office?
A Yes.
Q Were there other agents working on the reservation who were temporarily
assigned to the reservation?
A Yes. They were.
Q Okay. I want to ask you the same three questions but this time I want
you to interpret my question literally, the number of agents working on
the reservation, not the number of agents permanently assigned to Rapid
City.
How many in 1974 approximately?
A Ten to fifteen.
Q First six months of 1975?
A Again that same number. Around eleven or twelve to be exact I think.
Q And during the second half of 1975?
A Immediately following June 26 there was maybe as many as one hundred
fifty agents on the reservation and then that went down to twenty-six or
so at the end of the year.
Q Now the twenty-six or so, are those --
A Excuse me. Twenty-seven or so.
Q All right. Twenty-seven. By the second half of 1975 the number of
permanently assigned agents to the Rapid City office grew to twenty-six or
twenty-seven, is that right?
{320}
A Yes. By the end of the year.
Q And prior to that time how many were permanently assigned there?
A Eleven or twelve to the best of my recollection.
Q Now was it part of your function as an FBI agent who spent a
considerable amount of his time on the reservation to keep track of what
was happening generally, I'm not talking about specific facts with
reference to specific cases, but to have some sense of what was going on
in that community and what the general trends were and what was happening
in the communities in which you worked?
A Did you say --
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to this. There's no showing at this
time that Leonard Peltier was a member of the community in the Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation.
THE COURT: Read the question back.
(Whereupon, the last question was read.)
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, it also calls for speculation on the part of this
witness.
MR. TAIKEFF: I'm not asking him to speculate, Your Honor I'm asking
whether it was part of his function to be aware in that kind of way.
THE COURT: You may answer.
A No.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Did you in fact become aware of events {321} in the
community other than those which were of direct interest to you because of
a pending case.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object. That's irrelevant.
THE COURT: I beg your pardon?
MR. SIKMA: That is irrelevant, Your Honor, to the case at hand.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikerf) Did you know that there was an AIM encampment prior to
June 26, 1975 in that area?
A No.
Q Did you know of the existence of tent city?
A No.
Q Did you know of the presence of the people who were living in tent city
prior to June 26, 1975?
A No.
Q Did you ever hear the word "goon" on the reservation?
A Yes.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to that as irrelevant.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I ask that it be taken subject to connection. I
will connect it.
THE COURT: Very well.
A Yes.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) What does that word mean on the {322} reservation?
A It's, my interpretation of that word is that it's a title or a name
given to a supporter of the former tribal chairmen, Dick Wilson.
Q Was the American Indian Movernent an organization that supported Mr.
Wilson?
A I --
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to this as totally irrelevant.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, once again I represent to the Court that I will
connect this.
THE COURT: You may answer.
A I have no knowledge of that.
Q (By Mr Taikeff) Do you have any knowledge whether the organization AIM
was the constant adversary of Mr. Wilson?
A No.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to that on the grounds that no
foundation has been laid.
THE COURT: He has answered that he has no knowledge. The objection is
sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) With reference to your earlier testimony about a
certain limited number of people carrying guns, how about those who were
known as goons, did they generally carry guns?
MR SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object again as this being a matter that's
irrelevant.
{323}
THE COURT: Overruled.
A I, I have no knowledge of that.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Prior to June 26, 1975 did you receive any word, and
I'm only talking about within the week which preceded that date, of an
impending armed confrontation between any two factions on the reservation?
A No. I received no word.
Q How many people were staying, approximately how many people were staying
in tent city?
MA: Your Honor, I would object to this. Counsel should be specific as to
time of this witness's knowledge.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Let's say on or about June 25.
A I didn't even know tent city existed at that time.
Q But you subsequently ascertained that there were people staying there,
did you not, through investigation?
A Yes. I did.
Q All right. I'm talking about what you learned as a result of your
investigation.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to this as calling for hearsay on
the part of this witness.
THE COURT: Overruled.
A I think there were approximtely eleven people residing in that area.
Q (By Mr Taikeff) Now you spoke in your earlier testimony about an escape
route, --
{324}
A Yes.
Q -- do you recall?
A Yes.
Q And that was a route generally speaking which was a north-south line
running from tent city in a southerly direction, correct or incorrect?
A That --
Q I don't mean a straight line. I'm just speaking generalities now.
A That would be a fair statement; yes.
Q From your vantage point were you able to see any part of that escape
route?
A Yes. I was
Q And at any time during the day were you able to perceive any people
proceeding along that escape route?
A Yes. I was.
Q How many people did you observe.
A I just took a glance up there and I estimate it to be six or seven
people that I observed.
Q Would you say that you necessarily saw all of those who may have been
moving along there at that time or are you saying that you saw six, you
don't know exactly how many there were?
A I feel I probably didn't see all of them; yes.
Q And what time of day was that?
A I estimate it to be about 6:00 pm., quarter to 6:00 as a {325} matter of
fact.
Q Did you have occasion to see a young Indian boy about twelve years of
age that afternoon?
A Yes. I did.
Q And what time did you see him for the first time?
A I estimated that time to be about 3:00 p.m.
Q And do you remember his name?
A Yes. I do.
Q What is his name?
A Jimmy Zimmerman.
Q Did you ascertain where he came from prior to the time you saw him?
A On the 26th? Did I ascertain on the 26th where he came from; is that the
question?
Q Yes, sir.
A Not on the 26th; no.
Q Through subsequent investigation?
A Yes.
Q And where did he come from?
A From the area of the tents.
Q And in connection with what event did he leave the tent area according
to your investigation?
A Preparation for escape.
Q And did the so-called escape occur at the time he left the tent city
area?
{326}
A It could have started at that time. I didn't see any individuals leaving
the area until, as I stated, 5:45.
Q Can you say with any certainty that the people you saw on the so-called
escape route were the people from tent city who were leaving the area?
A No. Because the distance --
Q Just answer yes or no.
A No.
Q Where were you looking at 3:00 p.m., what direction when you saw Jimmy
Zimmerman?
A I don't know where I was looking. My attention was directed to that area
from a transmission from the State radio.
Q And where were you at that particular time? I'll use the pointer and you
can tell me or if you want you can use it.
A At that time I was at my vehicle in this general location right here.
Q Almost at Highway 18 in the upper left-hand corner of the Exhibit 71, is
that correct?
A Yes. It is.
Q Now from that position what is the furthest point that is on the chart
that you could see?
A It woul be the area just to the south and east of the tents.
Q Put your pointer there.
{327}
A (Indicating.)
Q Is that high ground relative to tent city?
A No. Oh. Relative to tent city? No.
Q Same level?
A Approximately; yes.
Q So could you see tent city from there or at least the trees surrounding
tent city?
A Yes. The tops of the trees.
Q Now if somebody were in tent city and walked south, viewing the matter
from your vantage point, you would see that person presumably at or
shortly after the time the person came out of the trees, isn't that
correct?
A No. I could not.
Q Now, you say that you could see the area south of the trees.
A I could but I'm referring, sir, to an area a mile and a half over here,
a mile over this way.
Q I see. Okay. Can you explain why you can't see the area immediately
south of the trees from the vantage point that you were at?
A This area here?
Q Yes. For example, almost at the right-hand edge of Exhibit 71.
A Yes. For two reason.
This area has an elevation comparable to this area {328} here and also the
trees here would obscure my vision into this area.
Q I see. Now as to that area on the right-hand side of Exhibit 71 that's
lower than tent city, isn't it?
A No. I would say the elevation is about the same because the, the creek
runs through there and then it comes back up and, again at about the same
elevation.
Q Can you tell us approximately what the comparable elevation is of your
vantage point to tent city, to the floor of tent city, not the top of the
trees?
A I would say the elevation in the trees here would be twenty to thirty
feet lower in elevation than my vantage point.
Q So then you could see at some point beyond the trees that you couldn't
see just at the southern edge of the trees?
A That is correct.
Q How far out would, if the first point where you could see the terrain
beyond the trees going in a southerly direction? I'm not asking where you
first saw a person I'm asking you where you could first see the terrain.
A Right. There is an old road that comes down along this area and back
along the west edge here and that is about where I could see from my
vantage point.
Q Would you say that's about a quarter to a half mile beyond tent city?
A At least a half mile; yes. Maybe even further.
{329}
Q So from tent city to one-half mile beyond tent city in a southerly
direction if one or more persons were walking, you would not be able to
see them from your vantage point, is that correct?
A Yes. It is.
Q Now will you oint out for the Court and the jury, where was Jimmy
Zimmerman the first time you saw him?
A I have estimated him to be in this vicinity right here.
Q Now am I correct that what caused you to look in that direction and see
him was the fact that you received a radio transmission saying the
equivalent of, I'm not trying to quote it, "There's sombody up there in a
certain direction," and you turned and there he was?
A That is correct.
Q Now if people left the tent city area at the same time as Jimmy
Zimmerman, left the tent city area, you wouldn't have seen them, would
you?
A That is correct.
Q You may resume the witness stand, sir.
I believe that you told us yesterday that the shooting stopped at 4:00
p.m.
A Yes. That was my estimate; yes.
Q Is it not a fact that the shooting continued until beyond 7:00 p.m.?
A Well, when the individuals went out the south end --
{330}
Q Just yes or no, sir.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, if the witness cannot answer the question by a yes
or no, I think that it would be fair for him to explain his answer.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I don't disagree with that but I think he should
say that the question can't be answered with a yes or no.
THE COURT: Are you able to answer the question yes or no?
THE WITNESS: I'd have to have the question again, sir.
THE COURT: The reporter will read back the question. (Whereupon, the last
question was read.)
A Yes.
Q (By Mr, Taikeff) Now you said smthin I believe yesterday about the
people you saw walking south along the so-called escape route shooting, is
that correct?
A Yes.
Q And that occurred about 6:15?
A About 5:45.
Q About 5:45. Who was doing the shooting at about 7:00 p.m.?
A I have no idea.
Q Who was doing the shooting at 7:14 p.m?
A Again I do not know.
Q Who was doing the shooting at 7:16 p.m.?
{331}
A I do not know that.
Q And who was doing the shooting at 7:17 p.m.?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object. This witness has stated that he
doesn't know the times or where the shooting was going on. It's very
clear.
THE COURT: Well, it's without foundation too. There's no evidence that
there was any shooting at those particular times.
MR. TAIKEFF: The witness has not denied that there was any shooting.
THE COURT: You may ask the witness if there was any shooting at those
particular times again and then if he answers yes you may ask him if he
knows who.
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, Your Honor.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Do you deny that there were shootings at the time that
I stated?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object.
THE COURT: Now that's not a matter of whether he denies. It's a matter of
whether he knows.
The objection is sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Was there any shooting at the times that I stated?
A I have no knowledge of any shooting at those times.
Q Where were you between 7:00 and 7:30?
A At that time I was probably in the wooded area to the south, southwest
of the houses conducting the search.
{332}
Q In that creek area?
A Yes.
Q Did you hear any shooting then?
A Not that I can recall.
Q Did you hear any radio transmissions at that time?
A I did; yes.
Q What, what was the facility through which you heard radio transmissions?
A It was from Agent Williams' car.
Q Was that car playing transmissions on the FBI frequency?
A Yes. It was.
Q Do you know who a person named Ann M. Johnson is?
A Yes. I do.
Q Who is she?
A She's a secretary in our office in Rapid City.
Q And do you know what, whether she was working on June 26, 1975?
A Yes. She was.
Q And do you know whether she was working from approximately noon beyond
7:00 p.m. that day?
A I assume she was. I don't know what time she quit that evening.
Q Do you know what duties she was performing that afternoon?
A No. I do not.
Q I show you Defendant's Exhibit 75 for identification and {333} ask you
to look at it till you ascertain what it is and what it reflects.
It's not in evidence and its contents cannot be read out loud.
A I can see what it is.
Q Have you ever seen it before?
A Yes. I have.
Q When did you see it for the first time?
A I believe as near as I can recall it was about a year ago.
Q And is it a 302?
A Yes. It is.
Q Prepared in the course of the official function of the FBI?
A Yes.
Q By an agent of the FBI?
A Yes.
Q In connection with this case?
A Yes.
Q Now, sir, would you be kind enough to turn to page 25.
Before you do that, sir, let me ask you a question.
Are you able to tell us now from your memory either verbatim or by
paraphrasing anything that came over the radio, the FBI radio between 7:00
and 7:30 p.m.; yes or no?
A No.
{334}
Q Would you look at page 25 and 26 and see if that in any way refreshes
your recollection.
A No.
Q Have you read both of those pages?
A As I remember, I was not in any position to monitor the radio
transmissions between these times. As I recall, now I think I was in the
wooded area participating in the search.
Q Didn't you tell us a few minutes ago that you were able to hear FBI
communications over the radio in Williams' car? Yes or no.
A Yes.
Q And when I asked you --
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to this line of questioning. It's
totally misleading. The witness has indicated that he heard the sound of
the radio. He hasn't indicated that he monitored the radio and furthermore
he's indicated that he wasn't in a position to listen to this radio
communication. This form of testimony indicates that he in fact turned off
the radio and left the area.
MR. TAIKEFF: Would Mr. Sikma prefer to go up and whisper in the witness'
ear as to what his testimony should be on cross-examination.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF: There was no such testimony in this case thus far.
{335}
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, the witness testified that on direct examination
that that is what occurred and he also indicated just moments ago that he
was not monitoring radio conversation.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, the record will clearly reflect that I asked him
whether or not a few moments ago, a few minutes ago he said that he was in
the wooded area and he was able to hear the radio from Williams' car and
he said yes to that question. Now Mr. Sikma wants to throw him some
signals. Perhaps we could have a recess so they could have a conference.
MR. SIKMA: I object to that clearly.
THE COURT: That is argumentative and it will be stricken from the record.
Specifically what is your objection now?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, the line of questioning, number one, is misleading
and, number two, Counsel has given a misstatement of the record at this
point.
THE COURT: Well, it may be that this is something that you could bring out
on redirect. I'm going to permit the questioning to proceed at this time.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Do you wish to change your answer?
A No.
Q In connection with my question as to whether or not you had earlier in
your testimony within the last seven or eight {336} minutes told us that
you were in the wooded area conducting a search and you were able to hear
FBI transmissions on Williams' car, the question is do you wish to change
your testimony in that regard? Yes or no.
A No. But I could clarify it.
Q That's a chance you'll have on redirect examination.
Now when I ask you to look at Defense Exhibit 75 for identification, pages
25 and 26, did you read those pages before you responded and said, "I
didn't hear any transmissions," or the equivalent? Yes or no. Did you read
the text of the pages?
A No, I have not.
Q Do you know how to sight read an entire page at a glance?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object. This is argumentative. He's arguing
with the witness. He indicated that he didn't read the entire transcript.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) How would you be able to respond so quickly, Mr. Adams,
the minute you turned to page 25? What prompted you to say almost
instantly, "I didn't hear those radio transmissions"?
A Because I didn't hear any specific radio transmissions at this
particular time.
Q Now I asked you when I handed you that document to look at pae 25 and 26
to see if it refreshed your recollection. Would {337} you be kind enough
to read those two pages and tell us whether it refreshed your recollection
in any way.
A Yes, I will.
This does not refresh.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would like to ask a question on voir dire to
determine whether or not this witness can answer that question.
MR. TAIKEFF: I think my question is clear cut, Your Honor.
MR. SIKMA: Very well.
THE COURT: Are you withdrawing your request?
MR. SIKMA: Yes. I'll withdraw it.
A No. This does not refresh my memory.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Getting back to Ann Johnson, what was she doing that
afternoon in the Rapid City office?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, might I ask a question on voir dire for the purpose
of making a possible --
THE COURT: I think all you need to do is make an objection. There is no
foundation he knew what she was doing.
MR. SIKMA: Objection. No foundation, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Objection is sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Mow that official FBI document, does it reflect what
she was doing? Yes or no.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object again. There {338} is no foundation.
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, there is. The document is in front of the witness.
MR. SIKMA: In addition it's hearsay.
THE COURT: It's not in evidence.
MR. TAIKEFF: I understand. I'm laying the foundation to offer it in
evidence.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF: HE has the document in front of him and I'm asking him
without saying what its content is whether that official document prepared
in the official course of the FBI business reflects what she was doing
that afternoon. That's my foundation.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, this witness cannot answer. This document cannot be
offered to this witness because the witness didn't prepare the document.
While it may be a document that was prepared in the course of business, it
is not the type of document that is an exception to the hearsay rule.
MR. TAIKEFF: I'm going to offer it as an official business record, Your
Honor.
MR. SIKMA: We would object, Your Honor.
THE COURT: I'm going to sustain the objection to the question that was
asked of this witness.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I continue to pursue laying the foundation to the
introduction, Your Honor?
{339}
THE COURT: You may.
MR. TAIKEFF: Thank you.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Was the document which is in front of you, Defense
Exhibit 75 for identification, prepared in the ordinary course of the
official business or function of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object as irrelevant. That can't go to
laying the foundation for this particular document because it's not a
document that's admissible as a business record under the Business Records
Act, nor as an exception to the hearsay rule.
THE COURT: Counsel approach the bench, please.
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
THE COURT: Why do you feel that it is an exception to the Business Records
Act, Rule 803?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, if that were the case we could put into evidence
our 302s as evidence because all 302s are conducted in the ordinary course
of business, but because they are made in the course for the purpose of
preparing an investigation for prosecution, they are clearly not a
business record for that purpose. If they were admissible, we could put in
any of these documents as business records and there is a clear exception
that documents prepared for the course of prosecution are not admissible.
{340}
There are two cases here, one is Police Reports, USA versus Schriever, 414
Fd 2d 46th, 5th Circuit, 1969. Secondly, the treasury claim, for example,
was found inadmissible in U.S. versus Thompkins which is an eighth circuit
case which came down on 10/24/74.
I don't have the citation date. It is an eighth circuit court in U.S.
versus Thompkins. It was decided on 10/24/73.
THE COURT: What did the fifth circuit hold in 414 Fd 2d 46?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor held that police reports were not admissible as
business records.
MR TAIKEFF: By prosecution. Am I not correct, Mr. Sikma?
MR. SIKMA: I do not know.
MR. TAIKFFF: I think you'll find that's what the decision dealt with
because they were constituted self-serving statements. But here the
adverse party is seeking to put in the information collected by the
investigative arm of the prosecutor in this case and that is not relevant
here.
THE COURT: I don't think that this 302 would be available as far as this
witness is concerned except if it were his report and were in conflict
with what he testified on the witness stand.
MR. TAIKEFF: He has official knowledge as an FBI agent {341} as to what
the FBI functions were and who did what on that particular day and he
recognizes this document as an official, an officially prepared
recordation of those activities and there is substantial reliability. The
reason there is an exception to the hearsay rule because there is a
reliability. Even though this witness has no direct personal knowledge, he
does know enough about the general circumstances to know that that
document undoubtedly reflects the truth. That's all we need.
The government is in a peculiar position trying to argue this document is
unreliable, it being a document which they prepared and turned over to us
pursuant to law.
MR. SIKMA: We prepared it, but this document can't impeach the testimony
of this witness because this witness has no knowledge of this fact and he
stated that he has no knowledge of gunshots being fired at that time of
the day.
MR. TAIKEFF: That's for the jury to determine.
MR. SIKMA: It's entirely an improper time for him to introduce this
document.
THE COURT: I will not, unless you can show me some authority why this
document should come in, I will not permit this document to be received on
the basis of this witness' testimony.
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, Your Honor.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to any {342} further questioning
with regard to this document on that basis.
MR. TAIKEFF: Well, this was some background to that concerning the
underlying facts that this witness does have personal knowledge that I
intend to question him about. I think Your Honor will find that those
questions are clearly not objectionable. Concerns his own personal
knowledge.
THE COURT: And the document could be used to refresh his recollection.
MR. SIKMA: He has indicated, Your Honor, that it does not refresh his
recollection.
THE COURT: I understand that. Particularly with reference to those two
pages.
MR. SIKMA: That's correct.
MR. TAIKEFF: That's clearly understood, Your Honor. (Whereupon, the
following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the hearing and
presence of the jury:)
THE COURT: The record may show that the objection is sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Do you know where Ann Johnson works in the Rapid City
office?
A I don't understand the question.
Q The Rapid City office consists of one or more rooms in the federal
building?
A Yes, it does.
Q Do you know where in that suite of offices Ann Johnson {343} works?
A Yes, I do.
Q Can you describe or designate for us the room in which she works?
A What's the tense, worked or works?
Q Let's get back to June 25, 1975.
A At this specific time I think she was a stenographer in the steno pool,
as I recall.
Q Was there a room set aside for people assigned to the steno pool?
A Yes.
Q And was there any facility in there such as a loudspeaker that would
broadcast transmissions going out on the FBI frequency?
A No. I don't believe there was.
Q As far as you know, when Ann Johnson was at her place of assignment on
that day, she could not, as a general rule, hear the radio transmissions?
A To the best of my recollection, that's correct.
Q Sir, I'm placing before you Defendant's Exhibits 76 and 77 for
identification.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, might I see what those documents are?
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I'm not offering them in evidence yet. I'm merely
placing them before the witness for {344} the witness' perusal.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would merely like an opportunity to see what the
witness is looking at.
MR. TAIKEFF: I don't believe I'm required to show the government and I
will not do so voluntarily. But I will, of course, if Your Honor asks me
to.
THE COURT: Well, at this point I'll deny the request.
MR. TAIKEFF: Thank you, Your Honor.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Have you ever seen either of those two documents
before?
A No. I have not.
{345}
Q Now, I would like to direct your attention once again to the early
portion of the period of time that you were at the Jumping Bull Hall area
on June 26, and in particular ask you to focus your attention on the half
hollr following your arrival there at approximately 12:00 noon.
Now, I believe that our point of departure yesterday afternoon was a
question to you as to whether or not you broadcast over your radio that
you were receiving heavy fire from the vicinity of Jumping Bull Hall, and
you said, "Yes," am I correct about that?
A Yes, sir.
Q Are you able to say from your own memory what time you made that
transmission?
A As I recall, I made several transmissions to that effect.
Q Can you tell us what times were involved?
A No. It would have been at various times throughout the afternoon.
Q Well, do you recall making a transmission shortly after your arrival in
which you said -- and I am not intending to quote you precisely, just
giving you the general sense of what I am asking you about -- that "We are
under fire, that you guys are going to have to direct us to where to go,
we don't know where those guys are, and they are firing at us like crazy."
Do you recall anything like that?
A I could have made a transmission similar to that, yes.
{346}
Q Do you know whether that was your first transmission on the FBI
frequency?
A No, I do not.
Q Can you tell us whether the next transmission you made after the one
that I have paraphrased for you was to the extent that you were receiving
heavy fire from the vicinity of Jumping Bull Hall?
A I could have made that transmission, yes.
Q Now, at or about the time that you made a transmission that you were
under heavy fire from the vicinity of Jumping Bull Hall, did you also say
there was a red pickup leaving the Jumping Bull Hall area going north and
seeking some assistance in pursuing that vehicle? "Yes" or "no".
A I nced the time stance, sir.
Q I would say at approximately 12:18 p.m.?
A No. I do not recall making that transmission.
MR. TAIKEFF: Could I have a moment, your Honor, to look at this document
which was just handed to me?
THE COURT: You may.
(Counsel examines document.)
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) I gather that you believe you made such a transmission
but you say it wasn't at or about 12:18, it was at some other tine, am I
correct in my surmise?
A Generally speaking, yes.
Q And am I also correct that the time that you made such a {347}
transmission would be 1:30 p.m.?
A That time would probably be more appropriate, yes.
Q But you are sure you didn't make that transmission at 12:18 p.m.?
A Yes.
Q How do you know that you didn't do that, on what do you base that
statement?
A Because I don't recall a red or red and white pickup. However, it was
described being -- leaving that area at that time.
Q Is it possible that you have forgotten?
A No, it is not. It is not.
Q Do you ever forget anything?
A Yes, I do.
Q Why is it not possible that you forgot that fact?
A Well, because to the best of my recollection there was no vehicle
leaving about that time.
Q Mr. Adams, do you recognize that if you forgot something, you wouldn't
have any recollection?
A Yes.
Q I ask you why you are so certain that you didn't do it and have
forgotten it?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to this as argumentative.
THE COURT: Sustained.
{348}
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) I show you Defendant's Exhibit 75 for identification
again, and I direct your attention to the lower portion of the first page
going over to the top of the second page; and I ask that you read that to
yourself.
A (Examining) All right.
Q Does reading that in any way jog your memory?
A No, it does not.
Q Mr. Adams, isn't it a fact that you are not telling us the truth about
that?
MR. SIKMA: I object, your Honor. This is argumentative and --
THE COURT: (Interrupting) Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Mr. Adams, isn't it a fact that you don't want to admit
that you made that transmission?
MR. SIKMA: Objection.
MR. HULTMAN: May we approach the bench?
THE COURT: I think counsel is aware of the proper way of impeaching the
witness.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I am not ready to impeach him yet. I am first
inquiring as to whether or not it is his testimony that he is telling the
truth. I don't feel bound by his answers since I am cross-examining.
THE COURT: You are bound by his answer unless you have some other
impeaching evidence. You cannot argue with the witness. He has answered.
If you have some --
{349}
MR. TAIKEFF: (Interrupting) I take his answer. I am asking him a different
question as to whether he has consciously told us the truth or not in
giving that answer. That's an entirely separate question, and I think --
THE COURT: (Interrupting) I will allow the witness to answer that
question.
MR. TAIKEFF: I don't believe I finished the question. If I may complete
it, your Honor?
THE COURT: You may.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) I ask you whether or not it is your conscious motive at
this time to deny that transmission so as to eliminate from this case the
red pickup truck that left the area at about 12:18 p.m.? "Yes" or "no".
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would make the same objection, and there is no
basis for counsel to ask this question.
MR. TAIKEFF: There is, your Honor, a good faith basis, and I will
establish that in about one minute without any doubt about it. MR. SIKMA:
Your Honor --
THE COURT: (Interrupting) The objection to the question is sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) You testified in another trial in connection with these
events, sir?
A Yes, I did.
{350}
Q I am going to refer to Page 238 of the transcript of those proceedings.
I ask you, sir, when you testified at that other trial arising out of
these events, did you testify under oath?
A Yes, I did.
Q Did you testify pursuant to essentially the same oath you took in this
case?
A Yes, I did.
Q And did you tell the truth as you knew it then?
A Yes, I did.
Q And was that trial last June and July?
A Yes, it was.
Q And as a rule, when you have experienced a certain event, is your memory
better close to that event or is it better further away from that event in
time?
A Usually it would be closer to the event in time.
Q Then, sir, were you asked the following question under oath and did you
give the following answer under oath:
Question: And did you not give instructions at 12:18 that there was a red
pickup leaving Jumping Bull Hall area going north, and you instructed
people to stop this pickup?
Answer: Yes.
The question is, were you asked that question and did you give that answer
under oath? "Yes" or "no".
A Yes.
{351}
Q Since June 26th, 1975, have you intermittently worked on this case?
A Yes, I have.
Q And ln that capacity have you interviewed witnesses or prospective
witnesses or people you believed in your official capacity had knowledge
of the events of that day?
A Yes, I have.
Q Did you have any conversations at any time with a person known as Wish
Draper?
A Yes, I have.
Q Without revealing the content of your conversations, approximately how
many times?
A Are you speaking of dates, because one day there was probably two or
three conversations we had.
Q Any way you want to count it, whichever you think is most accurate and
most revealing of the truth.
A I would say three or four times.
Q How about a person by the name of Norman Charles?
A The question is, did I discuss this case with him?
Q Did you in your official capacity as an FBI Agent, working on this case,
interview, question, talk with, consult with Norman Charles?
A Yes.
Q How many times?
A Once or twice.
{352}
Q Norman Brown?
A Three or four times.
Q Mike Anderson?
A Three times.
Q As of right now, how old is Wish Draper?
A I believe he is 20 or 21.
Q Norman Charles?
A Approximately 20. I have no idea of that.
Q Norman Brown?
A I believe he is 16 or 17.
Q Mike Anderson?
A 18.
Q Am I correct, sir, that the second time you spoke with Norman Charles
was in the State of Washington within the last few weeks when you served
the subpoena upon him to appear in this case?
A That is correct.
Q Did you ever say to any of the four people whose names I have mentioned
in the last few minutes that if they did not cooperate with the FBI, you
would see to it that they would be indicted for the murders which are the
subject matter of this case? "Yes" or "no".
A No.
Q To none of them?
A Not that I can recall, no.
{353}
Q What do you mean, "Not that you can recall", is it something that you
might have had in your mind but don't remember saying?
A No. I will state, I will answer that question "no".
Q When you served the subpoena upon Norman Charles in the State of
Washington, specifically now, did you tell him that if he did not
cooperate, that he would be indicted for the two murders and spend tne
rest of his life in prison?
A No, I did not.
Q Where are you assigned right now, what is your official oifice of
assignment?
A Phoenix Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Q Do you have -- when I say "you", I mean the FBI -- do you have offices
in the State of Washington?
A Yes, we do.
Q And do you know whether the United States Marshal's Service has offices
in the State of Washington?
A To the best of my knowledge they do, yes.
Q Are you aware of whether or not the Marshal's Service would serve a
subpoena for the FBI?
A Yes. As I understand it, they will, yes.
Q And have you ever had occasion to have another agent in another city at
a distance serve a subpoena for you in connection with a case you are
working on?
A Yes.
{354}
Q Why did you go personally to the State of Washington to serve a subpoena
on Norman Charles?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object. This is totally irrelevant.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Before you went to Washington to personally serve the
subpoena on Norman Charles, did you ascertain that there was no one else
available to do that for you?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object. This is totally irrelevant.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Mr. Adams, in connection with your efforts relating to
this case, do you view it as a professional duty that you have as an FBI
Agent?
A Yes.
Q Do you also find that you are motivated for personal reasons because one
or both of the agents were friends?
A No, I do not.
Q Was one of those agents a close personal friend of yours?
A Yes, he was.
Q And you are in no way motivated by that fact in connection with your
work?
A No, I am not.
Q Do you have any feelings that perhaps you might have done {355} more to
assist your fellow agents on that day?
A No, not necessarily.
Q What do you mean by "not necessarily"?
A I feel I did all I could.
Q Did you at any time in the first hour that you were there make any
effort to get down into that area?
A No, I did not.
Q Once your car came to a halt, near Highway 18, during the half hour
following that event, what was the furtherest distance you went from that
car?
A I didn't leave the car.
Q For how long?
A Oh, it was sometime after 1:30 when I crawled out of the area just for a
brief time.
Q Do you feel, sir, some sense that it is very important that you see to
it that there is a conviction in this case because maybe you didn't do
everything that you could have done on that particular afternoon? "Yes" or
"no".
A Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: I have no further questions.
THE COURT: The Court will recess until 10 minutes to 11:00. (Recess
taken.)
{356}
THE COURT: Ready to have the jury brought in?
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, sir. But I want to report some thing to Your Honor. I
believe Your Honor and the government are waiting for an answer from Mr.
Lowe as to the name of a certain person. Does Your Honor recall that?
There was an interview with a prospective witness that has been subpoenaed
by the government. The government asked for the name of those people.
THE COURT: Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: There was one name that Mr. Lowe said he wanted to make sure
he was not bound to any confidentiality. He called and asked me to report
to Your Honor the name of that person. Madona Slow Bear.
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor, I have one matter I would like now to make a part
of the record and we will refer to it at various times, a stipulation of
evidence which has now been signed by all Counsel and by the defendant and
a second one page stipulation which has been signed by Counsel for both
parties and by the defendant. At the appropriate time, whatever part of
the stipulation should be entered into the record --
THE COURT: Are you filing that now?
MR. HULTMAN: I would file those now, Your Honor, so the Court would be
aware of it.
THE COURT: The jury may be brought in.
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had in the {357} courtroom in
the hearing and presence of the jury:)
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor.
THE COURT: That's right, you had completed your --
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes. I had completed, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You may proceed.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. SIKMA:
Q During cross-examination you referred to an answer given in prior
testimony concerning the red and white pickup. You referred to it --
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection, Your Honor. I withdraw the objection.
THE COURT: Very well.
Q (By Mr. Sikma) You were asked for a yes and no answer whether you said
at that time, the question being, "At 12:18 P.M. did you not say you saw a
red pickup?" Answer: "Yes". Was it your intention at that time to lead the
record to indicate that you believed that at that time you in fact saw a
red pickup?
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection to the form of the question.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Sikma) Can you state what your intention was with regard to that
answer that you --
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Sikma) On cross-examination you were asked whether {358} or not
you gave that answer to the question which was, "At 12:18 P.M. did you not
say you saw a red pickup," is that correct?
A Yes.
Q And were you not asked for a yes and no answer simply to that question
at that time?
A Yes, I was.
Q Did you state what you meant by your answer at that time?
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection. The answer speaks for itself, Your Honor.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, the answer does not speak for itself. Counsel read
one statement out --
THE COURT: I will overrule that objection. The witness may explain his
answer.
Q (By Mr. Sikma) Would you explain your answer.
A That question was asked of me in regard to an entry on a statement
prepared by another individual from our office.
Q Now can you state whether or not you believed at that time and whether
or not you stated at that time that was your impression as to the
correctness of that time?
A Not so much the correctness of the time but the vehicle being in there.
I recall the vehicle was in there and in answer to that question, and it
was on this particular document, it was there subsequent, subsequent
testimony reflected and we got it clarified that I was referring to the
pickup that was in there about 1:30 P.M.
{359}
Q And is that your recollection as to the time that you observed the red
and white pickup?
A Yes, it is.
Q And what time was it that you recall that?
A 1:30 P.M.
Q Is that an approximate time?
A Yes, it is.
Q And with regard to this observation, were there any other factors that
you have been able to determine in your mind happened prior to the time
you observed that red pickup?
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection to the form of the question.
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Sikma) Can you state if there were any other things that you
observed after you arrived at the crime scene? Were there any other things
that happened prior to that time?
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection. It goes beyond the scope of the cross. Too
indefinite.
THE COURT: Overruled.
A Yes. There were other things happened that I relate this incident to.
Q (By Mr. Sikma) What are those things that you relate it to?
A The visit of Joanne La Deau to the crime scene.
Q And this happened before or after Joanne visited the crime scene?
A My recollection, it had happened after she was at the crime {360} scene.
Q Now you say "after she was at the crime scene." Is that after she
arrived at the crime scene or after she left the crime scene?
A After she departed about 1:30 in the afternoon.
Q You were asked a question on cross-examination concerning what you could
have done on that particular day. Do you recall that question?
A Yes, I do.
Q Now during the afternoon from the time you arrived until 5:00 P.M.,
where were you?
A I was near my car where it was stalled in the roadbed out here near
Highway 18.
Q Now can you tell me whether or not this was in the line of fire?
A Yes, it was.
Q And can you tell me during the afternoon how long it was that you
received fire?
A It was from the time I arrived until, I estimated the time to be about
4:00 P.M.
Q So from that, was approximately 12:00 o'clock until 4:00 P.M. you stayed
in a position where you were in a line of fire?
A Yes. That is correct.
Q And shots were being fired at you at this time?
A Yes, they were. Intermittently all afternoon.
{361}
Q Did you have any instructions from your superiors with regard to where
you should be during the afternoon?
A Yes, I did.
Q And what were those instructions?
A They instructed me to stay with the radio and keep them advised what was
going on at the scene.
Q Were they aware of the fact that your radio was in an approximate area
which was in a line of fire?
A Yes, they were.
Q Now you also indicated the time as to what you were aware of as to
hearing shots being fired or gunshots, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q What shots or what time were you aware of the shots being fired from
your own personal knowledge?
A When I say the firing stopped at 4:00 o'clock, that was in our general
location there. There was some additional shots fired when the houses were
secured about 4:00 P.M. and then, as I related, I observed the individual,
heard firing as I observed the individuals fleeing from the south end
about 5:45.
Q And if there were gunshots fired at that time or after that time, were
you aware of, did you have personal knowledge of that?
A After the 6:00 o'clock time?
Q Yes.
A There could have been. I had no personal knowledge of it.
{362}
Q And where were you at about that time?
A I was either at the vicinity of the houses or proceeding to the wooded
area. I think I left the area about 7:15 and was taken to the hospital.
Q You indicated that while you were going back to Highway 18, I believe,
you had cut your hand, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q And you heard the sound of an FBI radio?
A I heard the sound of radio transmissions; yes.
Q And did you recognize whose radio that was?
A They were both transmissions on both the FBI and the State radio
frequencies.
Q Did you listen to the content of those transmissions?
A No, I did not.
Q Between 12:00 o'clock and 4:00 P.M. did you know of the whereabouts of
Special Agents Williams and Coler?
A No, I did not.
Q Did you have any idea as to where they were throughout the course of the
afternoon?
A All I knew is they were possibly in the vicinity of the houses but I had
no knowledge as to any exact location.
Q And you couldn't see the bottom of the hill?
A No. I could not.
Q I have a further question about the terrain along the wooded area. Can
you tell me what if any terrain features there are at {363} the edge of
the wooded area, let's say to the northeast of the wooded area? Is there
anything particular that you can say about the terrain there?
A Referring to this area here (indicating).
Q The area all along the wooded area along the creek.
A At times the creek approaches the edge of the wooded area and there's
another drop off of 10 to 15 feet into the bottom of the creek.
Q Can you tell me whether or not there is a drop off at the edge of the
tree line?
A Yes. In some areas it would be. The creek approaches the edge of the
tree line, very near the edge of the tree line, so some of the trees are
right even on the incline from the creek bottom up to the elevation. There
is a plateau area here (indicating).
MR. SIKMA: I have no further questions.
RECROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. TAIKEFF:
Q Mr. Adams, would you resume your position at the map, please, and I ask
you to keep your attention focused on the subject matter which Mr. Sikma
just asked you about.
Now run your finger over the edge of the wooded area so that everyone will
know specifically what point you were referring to when you answered the
question about the drop in the vicinity of the creek.
A Well, I know for a fact, I believe it's right in this area {364} here
(indicating) the creek approaches right at the tree line somewhere in here
(indicating). As far as through here, as I stated, the creek zigzags and,
as I recall, in this fashion throughout the wooded area.
Q For the benefit of the record, I will state that you started out at the
northeastern edge of the woods in the vicinity of the left-hand corral and
traced the boundary line of the wooded area along the boundary line on
Exhibit 71 for at least eight or ten inches, is that a fair description?
A That would be right-hand corral?
Q You started at the left-hand corral I said.
A Oh.
Q Then you traced your finger along the edge of the wooded area for a
linear distance of approximately eight inches before you then designated
or indicated that the creek went inside the wooded area. Have I made an
accurate statement?
A Well, I might elaborate further that perhaps there is a bend in here
(indicating). I can't state for a fact, but I know that somewhere in this
vicinity that creek approaches the wooded area (indicating). Now if it
travels along the wooded area, I can't state that for a fact.
Q But subject to that modification, is my statement an accurate one of the
way you moved your hand on the exhibit?
A Yes. Somewhere in this vicinity the creek does pass in the near vicinity
to the edge of the trees.
{365}
Q All right.
If you'd be kind enough to resume your seat.
I gather then that there is a change of elevation at that point.
A Yes.
Q What is the difference in elevation between the high side and the low
side?
A I would estimate it to be 10 to 15 feet.
Q And is it a vertical drop or is it on an incline?
A Well, there are places in there that -- now I can't speak specifically
-- all I know, there are places that creek bank drops off almost
vertically, then there are places you can walk down gradually.
Q All right.
So there are places where there is an incline?
A Yes.
Q And trees growing on that incline?
A Yes. That's correct.
Q And those trees are growing essentially a vertical position?
A That's correct. Yes.
Q Now which way is higher: towards the corral or away from the corral?
A The higher elevation would be in the vicinity of the corral.
Q So that as a person came through the woods from the lowest edge of
Exhibit 71, he would come upon a rise in the terrain, {366} whereas if a
person came from where Coler's car was into the woods, he would experience
a decline in the terrain, right or wrong?
A Well --
Q You don't understand the question, say so.
A Well, I can't answer right or wrong because I think we're
misinterpreting each other. I am talking about the 10 to 15 foot
difference in elevation being from the ground level around there to the
base of the creek.
Q Okay. So far we're together.
A All right.
Q My question is which way does it go? Is the creek area higher than the
nonwooded area or the nonwooded area higher than the creek area? Do you
understand the question put to you that way?
A Let me say this: there is, some of the wooded area is on the same
elevation as the nonwooded area. Do you follow me?
Q Yes.
A The creek meanders through there. When I say the 10 to 15 foot
difference in elevation, I am talking of the plane of the nonwooded area,
some of the wooded area down to the base of the creek.
Q Let me put it to you this way: is it fair to say that at that point in
the vicinity of the two corrals the creek has an east bank and a west
bank?
{367}
A It has.
Q Which has a higher elevation: the east bank or the west bank?
A I would say they are both in the same plane, same elevation.
Q On both sides of the creek?
A Yes.
Q Where does that change of elevation occur?
A From the sides of the creek to the base of the creek, the bottom, the
floor of the creek.
Q Are you saying that the creek is in a crevice like a canyon?
A It's in a creek bed. The bottom of the creek bed, that's what I was
referring to.
Q Is it possible for a person to cross the creek at that
A I assume it is. I crossed the creek in several locations and, as I said,
sometimes the water was above my waist.
Q Was that crossing done at a great distance from either one of those two
corrals?
A No, it was not.
Q Are we talking about a quarter mile or 100 feet?
{368}
I, I believe I probably crossed within, the first time, within two hundred
feet. That would be an estimate.
Q Okay. Now your car when you first arrived and then backed up was
somewhere up here near the left-hand edge, the center of the left-hand
edge of Exhibit 71 almost at Highway 18, is that correct?
A Yes. It is.
Q What is the nature of the terrain on which that old highway goes: is it
elevated above 18, the one that parallels the present Highway 18?
A I would say generally that elevation would be, well, when you're up on
top of the plateau it would probably be higher than 18.
When you drop off to the left-hand side of the road where I was parked
there, I believe it's lower than the elevation of 18.
Q But along this area generally is there a rise here along this parallel
line west of 18 that's higher than 18.
A Yes. The, the plateau to the southeast of the road where I was stopped
on there which runs diagonally to the upper lefthand corner, that
elevation to the best of my recollection is either at the same elevation
or it might be slightly higher than 18, particularly in this location
there.
Q If you stood on the center line of Highway 18, could you see the tan and
red house?
{369}
A It depends on the location where you stood.
Q Well, let's say in this general vicinity where your car was.
A On an extension of the intersection, the road where my car was on
Highway 18 I would say you could not but if you proceeded on toward Pine
Ridge you could.
Q You mean going up that way --
A Yes.
Q -- towards the top of the chart?
A Yes.
Q Now people who entered this wooded area in the vicinity of the corral,
--
A Yes.
Q -- how did they enter the general area? Where did they come into the
area?
A They drove into Highway 18 and parked to the north of where my car was
parked there. There's a --
Q That would be out here, somewhat off to the left?
A No. Right at the intersection of the road and as the road leaves the --
I'll just point it out to you.
Our cars were all parked in this vicinity right here.
Q Did any of those cars take any bullets?
A They were down off the edge of the bank, sir.
The plateau breaks off right in this area and goes down at a lower
elevation.
{370}
Q So that if you went beyond that rise in the direction of 18 you'd be
shielded from the shooting, wouldn't you?
A That is, that is correct; yes.
Q And then you could proceed on the chart to the left along 18 and
increase the distance between yourself and the houses where the shooting
was coming from, right?
A Yes. You could.
Q Then you could find some path or other means of entering the area and
getting down here in the woods, right, as those people did?
A Yes.
Q Now at 1:30 a pickup truck left the area and you observed that pickup
truck leave the area, isn't that correct?
A Yes. Approximately 1:30.
Q And what color was that?
A A red and white.
Q Now before on redirect examination Mr. Sikma put a question to you
concerning your testimony at the other trial last summer and you made
reference to an entry somewhere, do you recall?
A Yes.
Q What you were talking about?
A Yes. At that time I was shown a document which contained an entry, this
particular entry.
Q And?
A And I was asked questions regarding this entry.
{371}
Q And as you recall it -- withdraw.
As you recall what your understanding was at the time you were asked the
question or questions, what did you understand those questions to ask of
you?
A As to my recollection of the vehicle I saw enter and depart that area on
the afternoon of June 26th.
Q I'm showing you Defendant's Exhibit 75 for identification and I ask you,
is that the document that you looked at in the last trial?
A Yes. I believe it is.
Q And did that document make any reference to a red and white van or
pickup at 12:18 p.m.?
A I believe it's a red pickup.
Q And what is that document?
A It's a FD 302.
Q A 302 prepared by the FBI?
A Yes.
Q And generally speaking what subject matter does it deal with?
A This particuIar document here?
Q Yes. Do you want to look at it again?
A No.
As I recall it's an interview of Ann Johnson.
Q And go on.
A And it reflects, I guess it reflects her observations on the 26th of
June, 1975.
{372}
Q Observations in what sense: touch, smell --
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I object.
This, this question has been asked and answered a number of times.
MR. TAIKEFF: I believe the Government has opened the door on their
redirect examination.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, --
THE COURT: The door had not been opened as to the contents of that, of
that exhibit except --
MR. TAIKEFF: I'm looking for a general description of it. I have not asked
him, I will not ask him about content of it but the witness used the
existence of that document to explain why he gave a certain answer.
I believe it's appropriate for me to probe his state of mind and his
understanding at the time he gave that answer to eliminate, if possible,
the question of any confusion in his mind.
THE COURT: The point that the Court is making is that you cannot through
this witness and without the exhibit being in evidence get the
inforrlation from the exhibit.
Your question relating to the, whether or not the document reflected her
observations which really goes to the content of the document --
MR. TAIKEFF: No, Your Honor, I was asking for a generic description --
{373}
THE COURT: All right.
MR. TAIKEFF: -- as he understood the documnent as he looked at the
courtroom last June or July.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Do you understand that question, Mr. Adams?
A No. I'll need the question.
Q All right. Let me see if I can try it a different way.
You looked at a document. After looking at that document you were asked
this question: "And did you not give instructions at 12:18 that there was
a red pickup leaving Jumping Bull Hall area going north and you instructed
people to stop this pickup?
A Yes."
Now when that event occurred, namely that you were asked that question and
you gave that answer, it was at a time after you had looked at the
Defendant's Exhibit 75 for identification; yes or no?
A I can't answer that yes or no, Mr. Taikeff.
Q Why not?
A Because the way the question is stated.
Q It's a statement seeking chronological fact.
Did you give that answer to that question after you looked at the document
which in this case is marked Defense Exhibit 75 for identification; yes or
no?
A To the best of my recollection; yes.
Q Now speaking in general terms only, you've told us so far {374} that the
document in question was a 302, an official FBI report, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q And it reflected or summarized an interview with Ann M. Johnson, an FBI
employee, is that correct?
MR. SIKMA: Same objection, Your Honor. We've been through this about three
times.
Counsel has asked questions about it. It's been asked on redirect
examination.
MR. TAIKEFF: I haven't gotten any answers yet, Your Honor. Of course, I
keep getting interrupted with objections.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I object to those statements. It's perfectly proper
for the Government to make an objection to the objectionable question.
THE COURT: The jury will remember my preliminary instructions, that it's
proper for both sides to make objections.
I'm not sure I understand now what the state of the record is.
MR. TAIKEFF: The state of the record is, Your Honor, that the witness has
said that he answered the question and, which I read to him and reread to
him after he looked at the document which is Defendant's Exhibit 75 for
identification; that that document was an FBI 302 and I'm up to the point
where I was getting to the last point of departure, namely, whether that
was an interview with an FBI employee or a recordation of {375} an
interview with an FBI employee by the name of Ann M. Johnson.
I am probing his state of mind at the time he answered the question on
page 238 of the transcript of the last trial.
THE COURT: Very well. That will be allowed.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Now did you, when you looked at that document and
before you gave that answer to that question, recognize the document as a
report by Special Agent O'clock of an interview with an FBI employee by
the name of Ann M. Johnson; yes or no?
A Yes.
Q And you told us that as you recall your state of mind in June or July of
last year when you were testifying, you recognized that that report
contained her observations, right?
A Yes. Her observations.
Q What kind of observations? Don't tell us the content. Just generally
what kinds of observations?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to this.
It's obvious that this document rerers to hearsay evidence that is not
only one step removed but two steps removed. It is a recollection of
another individual.
Your Honor, the effect is the same on the jury or, whether or not he's
offering the exhibit or not. It's totally improper.
MR. TAIKEFF: I am not offering the content.
{376}
The Government has made inquiry about the witness's state of mind in an
effort to rehabilitate with reference to the question and answer that I
put to him on cross.
I am now probing his understanding about that document and they keep
interrupting me when I get to this particular question. It's been ruled on
twice already.
THE COURT: The objection, as I understand it, goes to your question
relating to the document reflecting her observations and I will sustain
that objection again.
MR. TAIKEFF: He's already answered the question twice, Your Honor, without
objection. He said it does contain her observations.
All I asked him is what kinds ot observations does it reflect, not what
the content of those observations were.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, that's my objection, the kind of observations and
the observations --
THE COURT: Sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) When you read that document, Mr. Adams, were you then
sufficiently secure in the knowledge that you had made that statement so
that you answered yes to the question which was put to you; yes or no?
A No. I was not.
Q You were not?
A No.
Q You were on the road, is that correct; yes or no?
{377}
A Yes.
Q And you were uncertain about an answer and you'd said yes without
qualification; is that what you're telling us; yes or no?
A Yes.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, --
MR. TAIKEFF: No further questions.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I did not have an opportunity to object to that
question.
I would object to the question as, first of all, being highly improper and
I would ask that it be stricken, the answer be stricken. It was
argumentative and misleading.
THE COURT: Specifically which question are you referring to?
MR. SIKMA: The last question, Your Honor, with regard to the question that
was asked with regard to his intent at the time the question was answered
because I don't believe the witness understood the question.
MR. TAIKEFF: How does Mr. Sikma know what the witness understood, Your
Honor.
THE COURT: Well, the question's been answered. I'm going to leave the
record as it is.
MR. SIKMA: I just have one question, Mr. Adams.
MR. TAIKEFF: I object, Your Honor. There's been direct, cross, redirect,
recross. I believe that's appropriate.
{378}
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, he has left the witnsss with a, without an
opportunity to --
THE COURT: My normal procedure is that until they get completely out of
line, either side, I do not abide by any normal limitations on direct and
cross, redirect and recross.
You will have an opportunity to recross if there's some question asked.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. SIKMA
Q Can you explain what you meant by your last answer?
A Yes. I answered that question yes when I was under oath a year ago
because I was answering the question in regard to that document.
There are several pages in there where we had three different vehicles and
that we were, I was referring to one, counsel was referring to another and
I think it all finally, if you go through the entire thing it's going to
finally come out in the end exactly which vehicle was where and my
observation of each one of them.
Q And what was your observation as to the red pickup that --
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection. The question has been asked and answered ad
nauseam.
THE COURT: Sustained. That's cumulative.
MR. SIKMA: I have no further questions, Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I have the last word, Your Honor?
{379}
THE COURT: You may.
RECROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. TAIKEFF
Q Let me read to you the question from page 238.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to that as being clearly
repetitious.
THE COURT: That is also cumulative.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) All right. Do you recall the question you were asked?
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, again I would make the same objection.
MR. TAIKEFF: I just wanted to know whether the witness recalls the content
of the question.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, he's answered that and it was cumulative.
THE COURT: He may answer that.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Do you recall the content of the question?
A Which question now?
Q That was put to you last summer which is the subject matter of these
inquiries; yes or no?
A There were numerous questions. That's why --
Q Are you saying that you have some failure of memory in that regard; yes
or no?
A Well, I recall several questions but I want a specific question.
MR. TAIKEFF: Then, Your Honor, am I permitted to {380} assist the witness
by reading the question to him?
THE COURT: If you are reading the question regarding the pickup, you will
not be permitted. It's my same ruling that it is cumulative. I ruled that
the United States' question was cumulative and your question was
cumulative.
MR. TAIKEFF: That I want to ask the witness a question about the inquiry
that was made of him and now he tells me he doesn't remember what question
I'm talking about.
Your Honor, I have a suggestion.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Look at page 238, sir, and look at lines 19, et cetera,
as long as you need to.
Now, sir, are you able to look at that page and think at the same time?
A Yes.
Q Does that question inquire of you as to whether something was in a 302
or did it ask you whether you did something?
A It refers to an entry that was in a 302.
Q It does?
A Yes. It does.
Q Read the words to me that reflect that fact in the question, just those
words.
MR. SIKMA: Your Honor, I would object to that as cumulative.
He's given the answer to the question and has cleared up what was on the
witness's mind. Now he wants to go through the entire line of questioning
once again.
{381}
THE COURT: You may answer counsel's question.
A All right. Starting at Line 9 --
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) (Interrupting) Yes.
A (Continuing) Question: Let me ask you this: You have in front of you the
radio log monitored by Miss Johnson, do you not, I think it is "B"; and
that is the same document that I looked at -- I believe it is referring to
your 75?
Answer: Yes.
And I ask you to look at the entry for 12:18 p.m., that is about the
bottom of the first page -- yes -- and over to the top of the second page.
Do you remember you arrived approximately noon?
Answer: Yes, that is right.
Then the question: And did you give instructions at 12:18 that there was a
red pickup leaving Jumping Bull Hall area going north, and you instructed
people to stop this pickup?
Yes.
Q O.k. Now as to that last question, was that question put to you to find
out what was on the paper or what you actually did on June 26th, 1975?
A My interpretation of the question, and I answered it, it was on the
paper.
Q You understood that question to mean, do you see it on the paper?
A Yes.
{382}
Q So a lawyer handed you a piece of paper on which something was written
and asked you those questions to find out from you what was on the piece
of paper, is that your understanding? "Yes" or "no".
A Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: I have no further questions.
MR. SIKMA: That's all, your Honor.
THE COURT: You may step down. (Witness excused.)
MR. HULTMAN: May we approach the bench, your Honor, with reference to the
next witness pursuant to counsels' previous discussion?
THE COURT: You may.
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor, the Government in good faith is attempting to
meet -- even though there may not have been a ruling from the Court yet,
your Honor -- requests of the Defendant with reference to specific
exhibits and specific testimony, so this is one of those indications had.
We had trouble with it yesterday. I just want to make sure we are not
putting something before tne jury that there is some question about.
The Government now intends to call Mrs. Coler and that's one of the items
--
{383}
MR. TAIKEFF: (Interrupting) Thank you very much, I appreciate that.
MR. HULTMAN: (Continuing) -- to which counsel objected. He requested that
I not even mention the name in calling the witness. I don't think under
the Rules I need to, but I have met the request.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I believe that he intends to produce a photograph
of the deceased agent taken at the time when, I think he was either
entering or graduating from the FBI Academy, and the testimony will be
offered through the witness or the mother -- in one instance it is the
wife, and one instance it is the mother.
We feel that this would be irrelevant to begin with, and in any event
highly prejudicial because it will appeal to the emotions rather than the
intellect of the jury. There is no dispute that the people who died on
that day were the two FBI Agents whose names are before the Court, and
there is no question about identity. There is no need to introduce
photographs which were taken at a much earlier time which show them to be
rather attractive young people, which only emphasizes the tragedy of what
occurred that day; but there can be no legitimate probative reason for
offering these photographs and testimony except to inflame the passions of
the jury. That's why we have objected in advance.
{384}
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor, the intent of the Government is to introduce them
for a number of probative reasons; and we think it is very legitimate;
that it is Government's Exhibit No. 27 and Government's Exhibit No. 28;
that those are photographs of the two agents recognizable by a number of
people who will be called as witnesses. It will be the only type of
identification. They certainly would not necessarily recognize them by the
status of their faces to which counsel has already objected in many
instances; and it is for that probative value that I intend to call these
witnesses and for that limited purpose, your Honor, to introduce these
photographs.
MR. TAIKEFF: We will solve that very simply. Any witness who is unable to
state of his or her own knowledge that the person about whom the witness
has been called to testify is either Coler or Williams, we would stipulate
that the person who is questioned about is called either Coler or
Williams.
THE COURT: The ruling of the Court, of course, is that the parties are not
required to stipulate.
Furthermore, the allegation is that the two persons were murdered. That is
what the case is all about, and I think that the evidence simply showing
the picture, of course, of two persons is clearly admissible and will be
allowed.
{385}
MR. HULTMAN: Ellie, would you be willing -- I mean, I understand what the
intent of your motion is; and I have tried to meet what your needs are,
the same as mine.
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, I have no question about that.
MR. HULTMAN: You are not really objecting to the two exhibits, are you;
you are objecting primarily to the testimony of the two witnesses, or
maybe you are?
MR. TAIKEFF: No. My primary objection was the manner of introducing it. My
secondary objection was the introduction of the photographs themselves,
but as between the two, if you were about to ask whether I would stipulate
those are the photographs, in light of the Judge's ruling I most assuredly
would.
MR. HULTMAN: There would be no necessity for me to call either of the two
witnesses.
THE COURT: Is that the only purpose you are going to call them for?
MR. HULTMAN: That is the only purpose for which the Government sought --
THE COURT: (Interrupting) Then I would say that that is the way it should
be presented.
MR. HULTMAN: The other thing though, your Honor, I would want to make sure
now, as counsel said earlier, his willingness to stipulate with reference
to any witness who may be called.
{386}
MR. TAIKEFF: There is no question we will not give you any difficulty in
making proof in that regard.
MR. HULTMAN: All right. The Government will formally offer, when we go
back, your Honor, the two photographs, the two exhibits; and I will not
call the two witnesses.
THE COURT: Very well.
MR. TAIKEFF: Thank you.
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the
presence and hearing of the jury:)
THE COURT: You may proceed.
MR. HULTMAN: May it please the Court, your Honor, as per stipulation at
this time -- and if I in any way misstate, Mr. Taikeff, what the oral
stipulation was we had at the side bar, why, you correct it in any way --
the Government and the Defendant at this time stipulate, your Honor, into
evidence Government's Exhibit 27 and Government's Exhibit No. 28 which are
photographs, an individual photograph in each instance of each of the two
FBI Agents, Mr. Coler and Mr. Williams.
It is further my understanding of that stipulation that there will be no
challenge by counsel for the Defendant as to these photographs in terms of
any witness recognizing them as either of these two individuals, that
there will be no objection.
{387}
MR. TAIKEFF: That's correct, your Honor.
MR. HULTMAN: Exhibit 27, we offer, your Honor, then is a photograph of
Special Agent Williams, and Exhibit 28 is a photograph of Special Agent
Coler.
THE COURT: Would counsel approach the bench once more?
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
THE COURT: I assume in stipulating that you are not waiving the objection
that you made at the bench?
MR. TAIKEFF: That's correct. I had indicated in my willingness that it was
in the light of your Honor's ruling.
THE COURT: Just so the record is clear on that point.
MR. TAIKEFF: I think Mr. Hultman has made a very reasonable offer and a
very reasonable compromise. I technically object to the use of the
photographs.
THE COURT: I understand. I think your objection was based on possible
prejudice, and I just want the record to be clear that that objection has
not been waived.
MR. TAIKEFF: Thank you, your Honor. I appreciate that.
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the
presence and hearing of the jury:)
THE COURT: Mr. Hultman, before I receive those two {388} exhibits, would
you state for the record which exhibit is the picture of Mr. Williams and
which is the picture of Mr. Coler?
MR. HULTMAN: Yes, your Honor. Exhibit 27 is a photograph of Special Agent
Williams.
THE COURT: Very well, thank you.
MR. HULTMAN: And Exhibit No. 28 is a photograph of Agent Coler.
THE COURT: Thank you.
MR. HULTMAN: Could I proceed to take one moment to pass these photos to
the jury at this moment?
THE COURT: You may. The exhibits are received.
(Plaintiff's Exhibits Nos. 27 and 28, having been previously duly marked
for identification, so offered in evidence, were received.)
(Jury examines exhibits.)
MR. HULTMAN: The Government calls Mr. Steven Weston as the next witness,
your Honor.
STEVEN WESTON,
being first duly sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
By MR. HULTMAN:
Q Would you state to the Court and to the jury your name, please?
A Steven Weston.
{389}
Q And where do you live, Mr. Weston?
A I now reside in Phoenix, Arizona.
Q And approximately how long have you lived in Phoenix?
A Until -- for ten months since I have come home from my mission.
Q What is the nature of your occupation?
A I am a lab technician.
Q And where do you work in Phoenix?
A For United Metro-Tanner -- (spelling) T-a-n-n-e-r -- Brothers.
Q Now, immediately prior to this period in Phoenix, where were you located
prior to be in Phoenix?
A Prior to this I was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ for
Latter Day Saints.
Q And for what period were you in that capacity?
A For two years.
Q Would you tell the jury approximately what time, referring to the time
frame?
A April of '74 to April of '76.
Q And where -- is there a mission for your particular church, Mr. Weston?
A Yes, sir.
Q And to which church do you belong?
A The Mormon Church, the L.S. Church -- Church of Jesus Christ for Latter
Day Saints.
{390}
Q Where was it that you did this mission work?
A It was in several areas, Pierre, Hot Springs, Rapid City, Oglala, Pine
Ridge, Standing Rock Reservation.
Q Now, at what time did you arrive at Pine Ridge, approximately?
A In Oglala or in Pine Ridge?
Q I am sorry, in Oglala.
A In Oglala, approximately February of '75.
Q And what did you do from the time you arrived in Oglala as far as your
everyday endeavors?
A Well, our everyday endeavors, we were out among the people. We talked to
people the teachings of the church. We taught seminaries to the young
children. We visited many other people, more or less got to know a lot of
the people.
Q All right, and where was it specifically in Oglala that you worked out
of, or what was your home base?
A We had a trailer sitting up on the hill next to the cemetery and next to
the Catholic Church.
Q All right. Now, as you went from Oglala to Pine Ridge, what highway
would you take?
A I don't even know the name of the highway. It is just a road we went on
-- is 15 miles from Oglala.
Q Well, if I showed you behind you what has been introduced in here as
Exhibit 71 and refer to an area which is just generally also in evidence
as an area known as Jumping Bull {391} property, could you tell me what
highway, would that refresh your recollection in any way?
A Sure, I think so.
Q Would you turn and take a look at Government's Exhibit No. 71?
A Highway 18.
Q Is your memory refreshed as a result of that, do you know as a fact that
it is Highway 18?
A Sure.
Q And that is a U.S. Public Highway?
A Yes, sir.
Q Now, did you have -- approximately how long did you work out of Oglala
in this mission that you had?
A Six to seven months.
Q Six or seven months, so tell the jury approximately what time frame, to
what time frame.
A From February until about August.
Q Of what year?
A Of '75.
Q Did you have occasions then to travel up and down Highway 18?
A Yes, sir.
Q And would this normally be every week during that period of time?
A Several times during the week.
{392}
Q Now, I want to direct your attention to the 24th of June, 1975, and ask
you whether or not you do recall some events that took place on that
particular day?
A That was two days prior to the killings.
Q Is that why you recall this being a specific day?
A Well, two days before the killings we were out at Chauncey Lone Elk's
house.
Q Is it fair for me to conclude that the reason you remember that
particular day is that you remember it being as two days prior to the
event that we are concerned with here in this courtroom, and it is a
matter of general knowledge in that area it happened the 26th of June?
A Yes.
Q All right. Now, relating -- did you have an occasion to go down Highway
18 that day?
A Yes, sir. In order to reach Chauncey's, you have to go down Highway 18,
he lives out near Jumping Bull Hall.
Q All right. The name of the party that you were referring to is again --
what was the name?
A Chauncey Lone Elk.
Q Chauncey Lone Elk. What was your reason for your going to Chauncey Lone
Elk's that day?
A Several of his children were going on placement, and we went out there
to check on them and to teach the kids the seminary and just to more or
less keep them committed to going.
{393}
Q All right. So as a part of your work, as you indicated awhile go, a
general mission of dealing with children was part of your mission; and on
this day you were carrying out a specific part of that mission, is that
right?
A True.
Q Now, what was the nature of the children that you had -- how many
children were there that you were working with?
A Chauncey has, if I remember right, he has six children; and three or
four of them were going to go on placement.
Q Now, with reference to Government's Exhibit 71, would you point out to
the jury, if you can, the relationship of that exhibit, if you can,
approximately where Chauncey Lone Elk's home would be?
A Down there to the left, on the north side of the road, there is a little
exit road that goes off, and that's approximately where Chauncey's
property stands right now.
Q All right, so in a general description then, Chauncey lives across
Highway 18 on the other side of the highway from the Jumping Bull
property, is that right?
A Sure.
Q And somewhere down the road, I believe as you pointed it out, on Highway
18 toward Oglala, is that a fair conclusion for me to draw?
A Yes.
{394}
A Yes.
Q If in a 302 someone making an interview of you at some time they stated
in the interview that the property to which you are referring you were at
was across from Harry Jumping Bull's, would that be in a general sense
maybe correct but in a specific sense maybe incorrect?
A In a general sense, correct. The property, you know, is at an angle.
Q But it's not directly across the road in which you turn in to come to
Jumping Bull's is that correct from what you have told us?
A That's true.
Q And what time of day was this that you went to Chauncey Lone Elk's?
A It was in the afternoon. Probably early afternoon.
Q This was the 24th of June, 1975, is that correct?
A Right.
Q Tell us what if anything happened.
A Well, we'd been out to Chauncey's and we had talked to him and his
children and getting ready to leave. As we left there was a carload of
people at the edge of Chauncey's property and their had been broken down
and they --
Q Now --
A Pardon?
Q Where was that, their car and these people with relation {395} to
Highway 18?
A Just like I showed before where Chauncey's property was, they were just
off of Chauncey's property at the, off of the exit road there.
Q Just off of Highway 18?
A Right.
Q They were not on the highway?
A No, sir, they weren't.
Q Now did you at that particular time recognize any of the individuals as
anybody that you had ever seen or knew in any way?
A I'd seen several of them before; yes.
Q Did you know their names at this particular time?
A Not specifically.
Q Now would you describe the individuals that were there at the car?
A It's been a year and a half and it's hard to kind of describe them.
Q Let me just ask you the general questions. Were they native Americans?
A Yes, sir, they were.
Q Approximately how many were there at that time?
A Approximately six.
Q Did you notice anything unusual about the individuals or anything about
them?
{396}
A They were all carrying firearms.
Q Now what if anything did they ask you or did you indicate to them at
that time?
A They just asked us if we could push them to Jumping Bull Hall.
Q And what if anything did you do?
A We pushed them to Jumping Bull Hall.
Q Would you explain and show to the -- I assume you pushed them out to
Highway 18, is that a fair conclusion?
A Yes, sir.
Q Would you then indicate to the jury the route and the path down Highway
18 and wherever it was you went?
A Would you like me to stand and show you?
Q Would you please. And I believe there is a pointer there at the base of
the Exhibit No. 71, Mr. Weston.
A We pushed them off the road off onto the highway here (indicating). We
traveled up the highway. We came into the main entrance up here of Jumping
Bull Hall and we pushed them down the road (indicating). And about right
here they told us not to go any further and back off and leave
immediately.
Q Now what was your reaction at that moment?
A They were carrying guns and we knew that they meant what they said: we
weren't to go any further.
Q Did they indicate to you specifically that you were to go no further?
{397}
A Yes, sir.
Q And that you were to back off?
A Yes, sir.
Q What if anything did you do at that time?
A We backed off.
Q Would it be fair for me to conclude that this moment that you were
surprised?
A Yes, sir, I was.
Q Were you in fear at this point?
A Not real fear, but I understood that we weren't go any further.
Q Now what if anything did you do next?
A We went back home. We turned around and went back home.
Q Were you later shown a book of photos which contained a number of names
and, or, rather, a number of pictures without names?
A Yes, sir.
Q And did you recall about when that was? I mean, approximately from the
day in which you're talking about.
A It was maybe three, maybe five days later, a week.
Q Did you at that time, were you able to identify any specific people?
A Yes, sir.
Q And do you recall who those were?
A I didn't know any names, sir.
{398}
Q Had you ever seen up to that time or do you know Leonard Peltier?
A I may have seen him on several occasions, but as far as his name, I
didn't know it then.
Q Did the individuals -- approximately how many people were in the car
with arms on that particular day?
A All six of them.
Q All six of them.
In the viewing of the photographs that you viewed on that occasion, you
were able to make three positive identifications, is that correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q Now as to the rest of the pictures that were there, what was the nature
of the identification or lack of identification that you made? Would you
tell us in your words.
A I may have known the people but they may not necessarily be there.
Q Did you recognize any of the people in that photo spread of any kind?
A No, sir.
Q Even though you may have, as you've indicated, seen them before and even
in the area, is that correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q By that identification, you did not say as to all of the rest of those
pictures, those people were not there, is that {399} a correct conclusion
for me to draw?
A Yes, sir.
Q It was that you didn't recognize any of the other individuals?
A Yes, sir.
Q Now two days later, I would direct your attention to the 26th and ask
you what approximately at noon or shortly before noon, between 11:00 and
12:00 o'clock were you doing.
A Between 11:00 and 12:00 we were teaching a day camp that we held
regularly every day during the week three to four days a week and we let
the kids out early and we traveled across to the Star Store to pick up
some groceries or do our laundry, I can't remember which it was.
Q Was there anything unusual that you heard or observed somewhere in that
time frame on that day?
A There were shots that day.
Q Would you describe to the jury the impression that you got at that time
and as you now recall of what it was you heard with reference to the
shots?
A Well, we heard the shots. In Oglala that's nothing unusual. You hear
shots all the time. We were walking across to the store and we just asked
them, asked the people standing in front of the store what was going on,
what the shots were for, and nobody said specifically what it was, what
the shooting --
{400}
Q And how far approximately is Oglala and where your mission was from the
general area that is shown on Exhibit 71, the Jumping Bull property,
approximately how far would it be?
A You mean our apartment from --
Q Just approximate distance, if you know.
A About three miles.
Q Pardon?
A About three miles.
Q Approximately three miles.
On that particular day, other than this to which you have just now
testified, do you have any knowledge of any kind concerning the events
that did take place in and about the Jumping Bull property?
A You mean --
Q Do you have any knowledge yourself of anything that took place there?
A Prior to that day; no.
Q Or even on that day there?
A No.
Q Let me ask you a question or two concerning your activities and your
mission work. In that work I would assume that you did have conversations
with various people in carrying out your responsibilities and your duties,
is that correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q And during that period of time did you have an occasion to {401} hear
the word "goon" or a reference made to a term, the word or term "goon"?
A Yes, sir.
Q Had you heard any conversation of any kind anywhere any time during the
period that you were there with reference to whether or not there might
possible be a confrontation of some kind?
A Yes, sir.
Q Concerning anybody or any party?
A Yes, sir.
Q Would you refer and tell the jury what it is you heard to the best of
your recollection.
A Throughout the village it was common knowledge that the goons and the
American Indian Movement were going to have a shootout.
Q Now approximately how many occasions had you heard that?
A Quite a few times.
Q Do you remember any of the specific occasions or not?
A No, sir.
Q Did such an event ever take place to your knowledge?
A No, sir.
Q I just have another question or two.
What kind of guns, as you recall, did the individuals have that you pushed
their car out of the property of Lone Elk on the 18th and down towards
Jumping Bull Hall and past Jumping {402A} Bull Hall?
A There were a couple of shoulder weapons and side arms.
Q Would you just, one final question, go to the map and Exhibit No. 71 and
place on that map for me an approximate point for the record where it was
that you were told to back off, or whatever the words were that were used,
as you came down the road into the Jumping Bull property and past Jumping
Bull Hall. Would you just give us the best approximation and mark it with
a letter "X."
A (Indicating.)
MR. HULTMAN: Let the record show that an X was drawn on the location
between Jumping Bull Hall and the residence known as Wanda Sears.
THE COURT: What is the color of your X?
MR. HULTMAN: I'm sorry, Your Honor. It's a black X.
I have no further questions. Thank you, Mr. Weston.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, may I have a moment to confer with government
counsel about a document.
THE COURT: You may.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I inquire, Your Honor?
THE COURT: Yes.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. TAIKEFF:
Q Mr. Weston, you were interviewed by one or more FBI agents, were you
not?
A Yes, sir.
{402B}
Q And the interview occurred on or about March 1, 1976, something more
than a year ago?
A Yes, sir.
Q Do you remember the names of the agents who interviewed you?
A I remember one last name was Green.
Q Do you know if his full name is Thomas H. Green?
A I'm not certain.
Q Have you seen Mr. Green since you came to Fargo?
A Yes, sir.
Q Now I understand that you spent two years living on that reservation.
A No, sir.
Q How long did you live on the reservation?
A I lived on Oglala for approximately six or seven months and then later I
was moved to Standing Rock Reservation and then back down to Pine Ridge.
Q How much of the two years did you spend on the Pine Ridge Reservation?
A About ten months.
Q Did you cover in your work the entire reservation or only a particular
district? And I use that word in its formal sense.
A Only a particular area which we were assigned to cover.
Q Do you know of the existence of the district known as Oglala?
A Yes, sir.
{403}
Q And there is also a town or hamlet called Oglala, is that correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q The town or hamlet of Oglala is within the district of Oglala, is that
correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q Now what part, if any, of the district of Oglala were you responsible to
working?
A We were responsible for the area in and about Oglala. Oglala, mainly
number four area, the lowland area and out beyond, out to the Badlands.
Q What was the total number of Indian people within the area for which you
were responsible?
A I'm not quite certain.
Q That means you're almost certain but not completely certain?
A It means I don't know, sir.
Q At all?
A Yes, sir.
Q Was it more than a thousand people?
A I'm not quite certain.
Q Did you have any discussions with any FBI agent or assistant United
States attorney on the subject of the population of that area?
A No, sir, we didn't.
Q How many different people would you say you come in contact {404} with
in the Oglala district in the ten months that you worked in that district?
A Are you meaning numbers or what do you mean by that question?
Q Well, part of your work was speaking with the people, was it not?
A Yes, sir.
Q And helping them in one capacity or another, isn't that right?
A Yes, sir.
Q And is it fair to say that in the main, if not exclusively, you were
there to assist people who lived on Pine Ridge Reservation in that area
and that they were native Americans?
A Yes, sir.
Q How many such people did you have contact with in the ten months that
you were in that area?
A It's hard to count, sir, because we were seeing different people every
day.
Q How many people did you see a day?
A Today?
Q I beg your pardon, sir?
A What was the question again?
Q How many people did you see per day in your work?
A Hard to say. Our days would change.
Q Well, let's take an easy day.
{405}
A An average day.
Q Average day.
A Probably 10 to 15 families.
Q And how many days a week did you do this?
A Seven days a week, sir.
Q For ten months?
A For ten months.
Q And generally speaking, without getting into the specific details, what
was the nature of what you communicated to them?
A We taught them the teachings of our church. We taught the children
seminaries.
Q Your church is a church which is generally speaking a Christian church,
is it not?
A Yes, sir.
Q Now when in the ten month period that you worked on the reservation did
you become aware of the existence of an organization known as AIM?
A As soon as I moved onto the reservation, sir.
Q As soon as you moved to the reservation?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you in connection with your work ever have any contact with AIM
members, AIM activists or AIM supporters?
A We'd talk to them on several occasions.
Q Were you endeavoring on any of those occasions to persuade them of your
religious views?
{406}
A We were always trying to talk to the people about our religious views,
sir.
Q So I gather the answer to my question is yes?
A Yes.
Q Now did you find any pattern or consistencies to the response you got
from AIM people?
{407}
A It depends. It depended a lot on the people.
You have to, different people in the village. They would claim to be AIM
and we could talk to them about our religion where other people would
claim to be AIM and we couldn't talk to them.
Q Did they explain why you couldn't talk to them?
A No, sir.
Q Did you ever make inquiries why AIM people wouldn't talk to you?
A You don't press the fact, sir.
Q You mean if someone doesn't want to hear what you have to say, you go on
to the next person?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you ever discover in the ten months you were there whether any
aspect of the AIM function was religious in nature?
A No, sir.
Q Did you ever encounter any people on the reservation who were involved
in religious beliefs and religious practices who were not of the Judea
Christian realm?
A Yes, sir.
Q How would you describe that religion or those religions?
A Native Americans, sir.
Q Do you know if AIM had then an official policy with respect to the
native American religion as opposed to the Christian or other more modern
religions?
{408}
A No, sir.
Q You do not?
A No, sir.
Q Did you ever become aware of the fact that native American people in
your district attended upon a thing known a a sweat
A Yes, sir.
Q Do you know whether that was connected with religious activity?
A Yes, sir.
Q Native American religious activity?
A Yes, sir.
Q Do you know whether events called pipe ceremonies were conducted?
A No, sir.
Q Now I think you said on your direct examination that when you heard
shots on June 26, 1975 you didn't pay a great deal of attention to that?
A Yes, sir.
Q Why is that, sir?
A It was something, you're always hearing the shots.
Q That area I gather then must be a game preserve where a lot of hunting
goes on?
A Some hunting.
Q Any other reason why there might be shooting going on?
{409}
A There's a lot of shooting there. People shoot --
Q Shooting of animals or shooting of people?
A Of people, sir.
Q Did you see a lot of guns when you were there during those ten months?
A Pardon?
Q Did you see a lot of guns during the ten months?
A I saw some guns.
Q How long have you been in Fargo?
A The past few days.
Q See more guns on the reservation than you do in Fargo?
A Yes, sir.
Q Have you been over to Moorhead?
A No, sir.
Q You live in Phoenix now?
A Yes, sir.
Q See more guns on the reservation than you do in Phoenix?
A Sir, I was into the people's homes. In Phoenix I'm not into the people's
home. In Fargo I'm not into the people's homes.
Therefore I would see more guns being into their homes in Oglala.
Q Where did they keep those guns?
A When I saw the guns they were being transferred into, into the cars.
{410}
Q I see. See any cars in Fargo?
A Yes.
Q See any guns in the cars?
A No, sir.
Q See any cars in Phoenix?
A Yes, sir.
Q See any guns in those cars?
A No, sir.
Q Now you told us something about goons and I think you said, I'm not
attempting to quote you, that they were people who were supporters of the
then tribal chairman, Mr. Wilson.
A I said nothing of the like, sir.
Q Who were they?
A Just, just people as far as I know.
Q Well, how did one, how does one attain the status of goon as opposed to
all the other categories of humanity?
A I had no interest whatsoever so it didn't bother me to find out.
Q Did you ever meet a goon?
A If I have I never recognized him.
Q People talk a lot about goons, on the reservation?
A Yes, sir.
Q Who was the tribal chairman when you were there?
A Dick Wilson.
Q Ever hear people talking about the fact that goons carry {411} guns?
A Yes, sir.
Q People ever explain to you that the reason why they keep guns handy at
home and in their cars is because the goons carry guns?
MR. HULTMAN: If it please the Court, Your Honor, I object at this time.
It's clearly beyond, this witness has indicated that he has no knowledge
beyond what he's indicated and it's an attempt by counsel now to put his
own words before this jury in the record and I object that there's no
proper foundation.
THE COURT: The objection to the last question is sustained.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Now in Pine Ridge most of the people live in individual
dwellings, a family to a dwelling approximately, what we call a one-family
home?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you say yes or no?
A Yes, sir.
Q And the reservation is a rather affluent suburban area, is it not? You
seem to be smiling. Did I amuse you?
MR. HULTMAN: Well, I object, Your Honor. Again I raise the same objection,
additional objection that now counsel has become argumentative. He's going
beyond the record.
THE COURT: It wasn't argumentative but the objection --
{412}
MR. HULTMAN: It's an observation by counsel.
THE COURT: The objection to the question is sustained.
The witness may answer the first question that was asked.
THE WITNESS: Will you repeat the first question, please.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I repeat it, Your Honor?
THE COURT: You may.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) I asked you whether the Pine Ridge Reservation, using
middle-class terminology, was an affluent suburban area. Was that true?
A It's basically suburban; yes, sir.
Q Was it affluent?
A I don't know the meaning of the word, sir.
Q Was it a place where well-to-do people, financially well-to-do people
live?
A It depends on how you, how you determine well-to-do.
Q Financially well-to-do.
A They -- compared to what area?
Q Compared to the way you live, sir, now in Phoenix.
A Compared to the way I live its a good area; yes, sir.
Q All right. Would you say that the people on Pine Ridge generally are
poverty-stricken people?
A No, sir.
Q Are there herds of cattle on the reservation?
{413}
A Yes, sir.
Q Are those herds owned by Indian people or white people?
A I'm not certain, sir.
Q Did you ever have any contact with FBI agents on the reservation?
A Other than when I was interviewed by them.
Q Other than that the answer is no I gather?
A No.
Q I think you said that the knowledge about the situation as far as the
conflicts on the reservation were widespread or well known, is that
correct?
A Yes, sir. They are.
Q And would you say that that information was available only to a select
few or was it generally known amongst the populous as far as you know?
A It was generally known.
Q In your opinion, sir, knowing what you do about the reservation and its
conditions based upon your ten months of living there and working there,
is it possible that an agent of the FBI spending ninety per cent of his
working time on the reservation would not know about these things that
you've just described to us?
MR. HULTMAN: I object, Your Honor. This question is, foreign in nature is
purely speculative, it's indeterminate, for which there has been no proper
foundation laid and clearly {414} this witness is not in a status, he said
he's only had one contact by previous question and answer with an FBI
agent and thus is in no position to answer such a speculative question.
I object for all those reasons.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I have one moment, Your Honor, please.
THE COURT: In about one moment I'm going to declare a noon recess.
MR TAIKEFF: If Your Honor does I'm going to go to lunch.
THE COURT: Very well. The Court will recess until 1:30.
{415}
AFTERNOON SESSION
March 18, 1977
Whereupon, the following proceedings were had and entered of record on
Friday afternoon, March 18, 1977, at 1:30 o'clock, p.m. the defendant
being present in person:
THE COURT: Are counsel ready for the jury to be brought in?
MR. TAIKEFF: There are a few matters that, these matters do not have to be
taken up at this time but I'd like to alert the Court to them but when
it's convenient for the Court, counsel would like to address the Court in
the absence of the jury.
THE COURT: Do you wish to state the matter at this time or do you --
MR. TAIKEFF: I'm perfectly happy to do it now.
THE COURT: Why don't you state the matter.
MR. TAIKEFF: I received a telephone call from Mr. Lowe who is apparently
trying to keep busy in something constructive so he received a television
listing for this week and there is one particular fact he wanted me to
call to Your Honor's attention.
Sunday night at 10:30 on Channel 11 according to his list there is a film,
a movie called "Red Tomahawk" which is described as an effort by a small
community to stave off a Sioux attack.
He respectfully renews his application at least with {416} respect to that
movie and asks the Court to instruct the Marshals accordingly.
THE COURT: I will suggest to the Marshals that there be some other channel
on that. There is only TV set available of course.
MR. TAIKEFF: I understand.
At this time we would like to give notice to the Government and at the
same time place upon the record our request that we have an interview with
certain witnesses and if the witnesses are in the Government's custody or
control, that the Government make them available at least so that we may
ask them whether they will yield to a consent interview and those people
are James Harjo, H-a-r-j-o, Mike Smith, Wilford, W-i-l-f-o-r-d, Draper and
Michael Anderson.
We also would like to formally request if the Government has a copy of a
transcript of the Canadian Extradition Proceedings, that either they
provide us with a duplicate or give us access to their copy which we will
duplicate on our own machine.
Further, Your Honor, we wish to place upon the record that in a letter, I
believe a copy was sent to Your Honor through the Clerk, we asked the
Government to make available to us in connection with certain witnesses a
certain rifle and telescopic sight which is the subject matter of certain
testimony and we trust that the Government will comply {417} with that
request or give us adequate advice in advance that they cannot.
We also and finally would like to put the Government on notice that there
are three employees of the FBI that we intend to call as witnesses.
We assume that since they're Government employees and the defendant is
proceeding in forma pauperis that we won't have to go through the
formality of getting Your Honor to authorize a Subpoena and then deliver
that Subpoena to the Marshal's office. And those three people are Linda
Price, Ann Johnson and Special Agent Thomas Green.
Thank you, Your Honor.
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor, until this moment I am not familiar with any of
the requests right now.
THE COURT: This is why I suggested that they be made known at this time
and then I will ask you to make a response unless there's some matter here
that needs to be handled this afternoon.
MR. TAIKEFF: No. There's no rush. I was just trying to give adequate
notice of our position or request.
THE COURT: Very well. The jury may be brought in.
(Whereupon, the jury returned to the courtroom and the following further
proceedings were had:)
(Whereupon, the witness having been previously sworn, {418} resumed the
stand and testified as follows:
THE COURT: You may proceed.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, there was a question and an objection pending at
the time. Should I re-ask the question and then if the Government objects
we can proceed to --
THE COURT: Very well.
RECROSS-EXAMINATION (Continued)
BY MR. TAIKEFF
Q Mr. Weston, --
A Yes, sir.
Q -- based upon your personal experiences in the Oglala district during a
ten-month period would you express an opinion for us as to whether or not
a person who had devoted ninety per cent of his working time to the
reservation could be totally unaware of the facts that you have related to
us concerning the conditions in that area as they pertain to conflicts
between different groups?
MR. HULTMAN: Well, I object, Your Honor, on the same grounds that I
mentioned before and I don't know whether I mentioned these before but
there's no foundation. It's a clearly speculative response and also it's
an attempt to impeach another witness.
MR. TAIKEFF: Well, I can see that it's an attempt to impeach a witness
which is authorized by Rule 701.
THE COURT: I sustained the objection before on the {419} grounds that it
related at that time specifically to an FBI man. You have revived your
question now to put a person.
MR HULTMAN: It's highly speculative, Your Honor. It serves no probative
purpose, no foundation.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I'm not asking the witness to speculate. I'm
asking ror him to render his opinion as a layman. The foundation is his
ten months of experience.
THE COURT: The objection is overruled. The witness may answer.
A I don't see how.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) When for the first time in your life did you see
Leonard Peltier?
A It's hard to say. It would have to be during my stay in Oglala.
Q Do you remember where in Oglala?
A No, sir.
Q Now when you were interviewed by Agent Green and possibly one or more
other agents, how many agents were there by the way?
A There were two.
Q Were you shown any photographs?
A Yes, sir.
Q I'm going to place before you Defendant's Exhibits 77A, 78A and as soon
as the Clerk marks it, 78A.
MR. HULTMAN: Counsel, could I just make an inquiry? {420} Are these the
same documents that have already been shown to me earlier?
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes. They've been shown to counsel during the recess, Your
Honor.
THE COURT: Very well.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) I call your attention to the fact they're not in
evidence and can be seen only by you and not by the jury. Now, sir, the
first two of those exhibits are before you. Will you pick them up in a way
that permits you to see them. Look through them and then tell me whether
you have ever seen those exhibits before.
{421}
A (Examining).
MR. TAIKEFF: If I may, your Honor, the Clerk has called my attention to
the fact that I referred to the exhibit which I wanted marked as 78-A.
There already is one. I should have said 79-A, and I understand he is
marking it accordingly.
MR. HULTMAN: What are the numbers?
THE COURT: The record will be corrected accordingly.
(Counsel confer.)
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Now I am placing before you Defendant's Exhibit 79-A
for identification, and ask you to do the same thing.
A (Examining).
MR TAIKEFF: Excuse me, sir.
(Counsel confer.)
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Now, I believe that there is a question pending, and
that is, have you seen any one of those documents before? You understand
the question to mean specifically those documents.
A Those, specifically those?
Q Yes. I am not asking you whether you have seen something of a similar
nature, just to clarify that question for you.
A It is hard to say. I don't know if I seen specifically these or not. I
have seen a similarity of them.
Q O.k. Now, if it were suggested to you that you had in {422} fact seen
78-A for identification about a year ago, could you say, "No, I have not"?
A No, sir.
Q Would you turn it over, please? In any of those three exhibits did you
see a photograph of Leonard Peltier?
A Of who I felt was Leonard Peltier, yes, sir.
Q Would you find that?
A (Examining) I have.
Q Is it on Page 6?
A (Examining) Yes, sir.
Q la have that document, please?
A (Handing).
MR. TAIKEFF: May I confer with Government counsel for a moment, your
Honor?
THE COURT: You may.
(Counsel confer.)
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, the Government is going to stipulate that on Page
6 of Photograph No. 7 is a photograph of Leonard Peltier.
THE COURT: Very well.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Now, sir, when you testified before the luncheon
recess, did you have occasion to look over at the defense table and see
Mr. Peltier?
A Yes, sir.
Q And is your identification of that photograph that you {423} identified
a few moments ago based upon what you saw this morning or based upon
something you may have seen on the Pine Ridge Reservation or a combination
of the two?
A Possibly a combination of the two.
Q Do you recall whether you ever identified that photograph for Agent
Green or his colleague?
A It has been a year and a half, sir.
Q It has been a year and 17 days and that doesn't answer my question.
Do you recall whether or not you identified that photograph?
A No, sir.
Q You do not you recall how many people you identified on that day in
March, 1976, when you were interviewed by Agent Green?
A Three, sir.
Q Did they tell you the names of any of those people?
A No, sir.
Q Was the photograph which is concedingly Mr. Peltier's one of those you
identified on that day?
A You asked me that question already.
Q That's correct.
A And I said "No, sir."
Q But you remember that there were three?
A Yes, sir.
{424}
Q Was your memory recently refreshed in that regard or do you remember it
from one year and 17 days ago?
MR. HULTMAN: Could I voir dire just one question, your Honor?
THE COURT: You may.
MR. HULTMAN: When is the first time that you have seen the photos in front
of you that counsel presented to you, when is the time prior to being in
front of you here in the courtroom today, the last time that you saw these
particular photos?
THE WITNESS: You mean when I was on the Reservation?
MR. HULTMAN: Yes.
THE WITNESS: A year ago.
MR. HULTMAN: Has counsel or anyone shown you for the Government these
particular photos since you have been here?
THE WITNESS: No, sir.
MR. HULTMAN: No further questions
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Between March 1, 1976, and the time you entered this
courtroom this morning, had you seen Leonard Peltier?
A No, sir.
Q As a general rule, do you find that your memory is better, your memory
of a particular event or your memory of someone's face, is it better
closer to the time of that event or further {425} in time from that event?
A Obviously closer to the time.
Q On March 1, 1976, isn't it a fact that you were closer in time to having
seen Leonard Peltier than you are today?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did Agent Green or any of his colleagues show you any documents other
than things similar to 77-A, 78-A and 79-A?
A No, sir.
Q Is it fair to say that the work you were doing on the Reservation was
missionary and religious in nature?
A Yes, sir.
Q And is it also fair and accurate to say that at least as far as
non-Christian people were concerned, you were trying to proselytize or
convert them to your religious point of view?
A Yes, sir.
Q Now, you say that you assisted some people on that road at or near
Highway 18. Approximately how many such people were there?
A Approximately six, sir.
Q What was their age range, from the youngest to the oldest?
A I would say anywhere from 18 to at the oldest probably 30.
Q And how many of those people did you recognize?
A I recognized maybe about four or five of them.
Q And from what kind of event, prior event did you recognize them?
{426}
A Seen them about the village.
Q Did you ever speak with any of them?
A Perhaps.
Q About social matters or religious matters?
A Social matters.
Q Didn't you ever discuss with them your religious views?
A No, sir.
Q Why not?
A Didn't come up at the time.
Q Well, who brings up these things when you go around trying to spread the
word?
A We do.
Q Well how come you didn't bring it up with these people?
A The opportunity wasn't afforded then.
Q What sort of an opportunity do you need?
A The correct situation, sir.
Q What is that?
A There is nothing that you can explain with mere words, sir.
Q Can you explain it in some other way?
A It comes with the feeling.
Q Are you talking about a feeling that the person who may be confronted is
just not the person that you might want to try to proselytize?
A No, sir.
Q Beg pardon?
{427}
A No, sir.
Q What kind of feeling are you talking about?
A We are talking about things that are -- feelings that are spiritual
things that are coming from within; and at times that you know are right
for that situation, for the proper teaching situation, and the situation
has to be in tune. It has to be at the proper moment to be able to teach,
and that moment was not proper.
Q Do you think it possible, reasonably likely, rather, you think it
reasonably likely that when you were refused access to the Jumping Bull
Hall area on June 24, 1975, that it was because the people you were with,
then in the presence of, didn't want to hear your religious sermon?
A No, sir.
Q Not possible. Why is that not possible?
A Because --
Q (Interrupting) Or not likely. I ask you "likely".
A We weren't there to preach, sir.
Q Do you have any reason to believe that the people who denied you access
knew that fact?
A No, sir.
Q Then why do you say it is not likely that they were trying to avoid your
sermon?
A Pure speculation, sir.
Q In your work do you ever find that you try to open the {428}
conversation on your religious beliefs and people react somewhat
strenuously and essentially say, "Go away, leave me alone, I don't want to
hear anything"?
A Yes, sir.
Q What reason, if any, do you have to believe that that was not the reason
why you were refused access, do you have any?
A No, sir.
MR. TAIKEFF: I have no further questions.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
By MR. HULTMAN:
Q You had just responded, had you not, to these gentlemen to do them a
favor?
A Yes, sir.
Q Could that possibly be a reason for your speculation that after having
done them a favor, that you reacted the way you did?
A Possibly.
Q Had you ever been to the Jumping Bull area before?
A Yes, sir.
Q Approximately how many times?
A Quite a few times.
Q Where in the Jumping Bull area had you been before on this quite a few
times?
A We had been to the Jumping Bull Hall itself and down to the corral.
{429}
Q So that you had been in this area on previous occasions then to this
particular one?
A Beyond that.
Q Had you had any trouble getting in or doing the things that you were
doing there on those occasions?
A No, sir.
Q What were you doing there on those occasions?
A We would go down and watch the kids at the Rodeo Club.
Q And where would the Rodeo Club be? Would you take the pointer and point
it out on Government's Exhibit 71?
A Sure. The Rodeo Clubs usually have their practices down here
(indicating) in the corral, down below that residence there (indicating).
Q So that you had been down the same path or the same road past Jumping
Hall, past Wanda Sears' house, down to the corral on numerous occasions
before?
A Yes, sir.
Q Had you ever been stopped at any time or told not to go any farther?
A No, sir.
Q Well maybe that might have been a possibility as to why you concluded
what you did, is that a fair conclusion for me to draw?
A Yes, sir.
Q I just have one last question, Mr. Weston.
{430}
Counsel asked you questions about goons and about the FBI. Did you ever
hear any discussion of any kind from anybody while you were working this
area that was disrespectful to -- in any way to the FBI?
A As far as linking them in with the goons?
Q Yes.
A No, sir.
Q Beyond that did you ever -- tell me what the general climate and feeling
was about the FBI with the people that you went to see and visited and had
contacts with?
A Mainly in the village it was kind of, you know some for, some against.
On the outlying areas, mainly for the FBI.
MR. HULTMAN: I have no further questions.
RECROSS EXAMINATION
By MR. TAIKEFF:
Q You spoke about some activities in the corral area, a Rodeo Club?
A Yes, sir.
Q Was that something which you did because of your interest in horses?
A No, sir.
Q What motivated that activity?
A Our interest in people, sir.
Q What kind of interest in people?
A Our friendly interest in people.
{431}
Q For what purpose?
A To become a part of them.
Q For you to become a part of them?
A Yes, sir.
Q In what way?
A To feel like a part of the community, sir.
Q To what?
A To feel like a part of the community.
Q So that you could do what?
A So that we could become closer to the people.
Q And then do what?
A Teach the gospel, sir.
Q O.k. So you participated in this Rodeo Club to ultimately influence
young Indian people and teach the gospel, right or wrong?
A We participated --
Q (Interrupting) "Yes" or "no".
A Sir, we participated in the Rodeo Club because they were our friends,
and they asked us to come.
Q But you were ultimately and at the same time interested in finding a few
more converts, weren't you?
A Yes, sir, that's our primary goal.
Q Now, on the other occasions when you had access to the Jumping Bull Hall
area were any of those armed Indians there? "Yes" or "no".
{432}
A Yes, sir.
Q The same ones?
A One.
Q What is his name?
A Maybe two. I don't know his name, sir.
Q You have seen his picture in there?
A Yes, sir.
Q Let me see his picture.
A (Examining) I have it right now.
Q All right. Name the page, the document and the picture number.
A 1, 11, 78-A.
Q Page 1, No. 11, Defendant's Exhibit 78-A for identification.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I have a moment, your Honor.
THE COURT: You may.
(Counsel confer.)
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Do you know whether that person's first name is Dusty?
A No, sir, I don't.
Q Do you have any reason to believe that he was aware of your function on
the Reservation?
A Yes, sir.
MR TAIKEFF: I have no further questions.
MR HULTMAN: No further questions.
THE COURT: You may step down.
{433}
THE WITNESS: Thank you.
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor I would make a request that this witness, as well
as others, be excused at the time so that they may not be detained unduly.
THE COURT: Well, I will not act on the general request as to others.
MR. HULTMAN: I will make that request of this witness now.
THE COURT: As to Mr. Weston?
MR. HULTMAN: Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: There is no need to ask him to remain within the
jurisdiction, your Honor.
THE COURT: Very well. You are excused from further participation in this
trial.
(Witness excused.)
MR. CROOKS: Your Honor, if it please the Court, the United States would
call Mr. Lawrence Doley White Eyes.
{434}
LAWRENCE DOLEY WHITE EYES, being first duly
sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. CROOKS:
Q Mr. White Eyes, would you repeat your name again for the record.
A Lawrence White Eyes.
Q And you are here pursuant to government Subpoena, are you not?
A Yes.
Q Where do you live, Lawrence?
A I live in Pine Ridge.
Q And have you lived in Pine Ridge area all your life?
A Yeah.
Q And you're an enrolled member of the tribe there, is that correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q Mr. White Eyes, I'd like to call your attention back to June 26th, 1975,
and you recall that this was the day of the shooting involving the two FBI
agents?
A Yes, sir.
Q On the morning of that day where were you?
A In the Oglala housing area.
Q That is in the village of Oglala itself?
A Uh-huh.
Q Whose home were you at?
{435}
A Young. LaVonne Young.
Q And during the morning hours of that day were there some visitors that
came to the door?
A Yes.
Q Was there anybody in the house other than yourself?
A No. Just me.
Q Who did the visitors identify themselves as being?
A Williams and Coler.
Q And who did they work for?
A They worked for the FBI.
Q And about what time of the day was it when they came to the door?
A Somewhere around 9:00 o'clock, 9:30 or 10:00, something like that.
Q When they came to the door, did they say what they wanted?
A They wanted to know if Jimmy Eagle was there.
Q Now is Jimmy Eagle a guy you knew?
A Yeah. I knew him.
Q You'd known him for some time?
A Oh, maybe a year or so.
Q So at least you knew who they were talking about?
A Uh-huh.
Q Did they say what they wanted with Jimmy Eagle?
A No, they didn't. They just said they wanted to know if he was there.
{436}
Q Were looking for him?
A Yes.
Q They didn't say whether they had a warrant or what charges or anything
of that nature, is that correct?
A No.
Q They just were looking for him?
A Yes.
Q Was Jimmy Eagle there?
A No.
Q Did you tell him, what if anything did you tell him about Jimmy Eagle?
A I just told him he wasn't there.
Q And did you tell him how long had it been since you'd seen him?
A No. They didn't ask me.
Q In any event, did they search the house or do anything else other than
ask if he was there?
A No, they didn't. They just asked whether he was there or not.
Q And in fact Jimmy Eagle wasn't there, is that correct?
A No, he wasn't.
Q You were the only one in the house?
A I was the only one there; yeah.
Q Mr. White Eyes, I'd like to show you two pictures, Government's Exhibit
No. 28 and Government's Exhibit No. 27 which has been {437} identified as
pictures of Special Agents Williams and Coler and I'd ask you to look at
those two pictures and tell me whether or not those were the two young
agents that came to see you on that morning.
A Yeah. Them are the two. They're the ones.
Q Do you recall which of the two guys, two agents came up to the door, or
did both of them come up?
A No. Mr. Williams the one that came up to the door.
Q So he would be the darker haired individual?
A Yes.
Q It would be this picture?
A Yes.
Q 27?
A Uh-huh.
Q And the other man, where did he go or what did he do?
A He stayed down on the pavement, on the sidewalk.
Q Now insofar as Special Agent Coler, at the time that you saw him was
there any difference in his appearance such as a beard or moustache?
A He had a moustache.
Q He had a moustache?
A Yes.
Q Which is different from this picture in Exhibit 28?
A Yes.
Q Now insofar as the two agents are concerned, did they come {438} in one
car or two cars?
A They came in two cars.
Q Could you describe those cars for us?
A One was a green one, one was a tan one.
Q A green one and a tan one?
A Yeah.
Q The green one, do you know what make that it was?
A No, I don't.
Q Was it a dark green or a light pea green or what color green?
A Kind of a light green like.
Q And when they left, did they leave in both cars or did they leave one
car there for some reason?
A No. They both went in both cars.
Q Now do you know from your own observations which car belonged to which
agent?
A No, I don't. I didn't see them get back in the car.
Q You didn't see them drive up?
A No. I didn't see them drive up.
Q The first you saw them would have been when they came to the door?
A Yeah. When they knocked at the door.
Q What did you do after that, Mr. White Eyes?
A After they talked to me?
Q Yes.
{439}
A I went, oh, I stuck around there for maybe an hour, something like that,
then I went to the post office.
Q How much after they were there did you learn of the shooting?
A When I went to the post office.
Q Well, would that have been an hour?
A Oh, maybe an hour, hour and a half or something like that.
Q Hour, hour and a half or so?
A Something like that.
Q Then you had heard there'd been a shooting and two agents had been shot?
A I didn't know whether anybody was shot. They said there was a shooting.
Q I'm sorry. I stand corrected. You heard about a shooting?
A Uh-huh.
MR. CROOKS: That's all the questions we have, Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF: We have none, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You my step down.
MR. CROOKS: We would ask Mr. White Eyes be permanently excused.
MR. TAIKEFF: No objection, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And you are excused.
MR. CROOKS: The United States will call next Mr. {440} Leonard W.
Schumacher.
LEONARD W. SCHUMACHER, being first duly sworn,
testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. CROOKS:
Q Mr. Schumacher, would you again repeat your name for the record, please.
A Leonard Schumacher.
Q And what is your occupation, Mr. Schumacher?
A I'm a car salesman.
Q Where do you work?
A I work at Rice Motors, Rapid City.
Q And what kind of cars do you sell there?
A We sell Toyota and Honda.
Q Pardon?
A Toyota and Honda.
Q Do you have a used car line that goes along with that?
A Yes, we do.
Q Calling your attention back to May of 1975, were you employed by Rice
Motors at that time?
A Yes, sir.
Q And calling your attention to specifically May 19th of that day, did you
sell a 1967 Ford?
A Yes, sir.
Q I'd like to show you Exhibit No. 45D and ask if you can identify that.
{441}
A Yeah. That's an order I wrote up.
Q What is it for?
A For a '67 Ford Galaxie two-door.
Q And does it show who, now without going into the details, does it show
who it was sold to?
A Sold to John --
Q Don't read it. Just say does it show that?
A Yes, it does.
Q Does it show who it was sold to?
A Yes, it does.
Q It gives a serial number and so forth for the vehicle?
A Yes, it does.
Q I'll also hand you Exhibit No. 45E and ask if that's something you can
identify.
A Yes, it is.
Q And is that again a record of Rice Motors pertaining to the same sale of
a 1967 Ford?
A Right. That is.
Q And I would ask you generally with regard to these two exhibits, they
are records of Rice Motors, are they not?
A Right.
Q And they were given to the FBI pursuant to government Subpoena?
A Yes, they were.
Q And is there any difference with regard to these items {442} other than
the obvious discoloration by being laboratory treated as opposed to the
condition they were in at the time you last saw them?
A No, they're not.
MR. TAIKEFF: The authenticity of the documents is not in dispute, nor will
there be any objection to their offer.
THE COURT: Very well.
MR. CROOKS: I will offer at this time, in that case, Exhibits 45D and E.
THE COURT: 45D and 45E are received in evidence.
Q (By Mr. Crooks) Now you can relate, if you would, what is the name of
the individual to whom this vehicle was sold?
A John Yellow Robe.
Q Is that the name he gave you at the time of the transaction?
A Yes, it is.
Q I would show you a picture which has been introduced into evidence as
Exhibit 13B and 13A and ask whether or not that in fact appears to be the
same vehicle described in the papers you just discussed?
A Yes. It looks to me like the same car. I can't tell the color, I mean,
on these pictures here.
Q It would appear to correspond, would it not, with the general
description which is contained on your form?
A Yes, it does.
Q All right. I would now like to show you for identification {443} Exhibit
No. 45B and ask if that is a document you can identify. Now again don't go
into the details, just say what it is, if you can identify it.
A Yes, I can.
Q What does it purport to be?
A Well, it's a form that's, the buyer takes to the County Treasurer
wherever he applies for his license.
MR. TAIKEFF: No objection to this offer, Your Honor.
MR. CROOKS: Well, if Counsel has no objection, I will offer 45B at this
time.
THE COURT: 45B is received.
Q (By Mr. Crooks) That would be the customer's copy, would it not?
A Yes.
Q And that would be retained with him?
A Right.
Q Or whatever he wished to do with it?
A Right.
Q It wouldn't be retained by your company?
A No. No.
Q I then show you 45C and ask if you can identify the type of document
that is.
A Yes. It's an application for title.
Q And what function does this serve in the state of South Dakota?
{444}
A Well, it's to obtain their license.
Q So this would be a document which is filled out and turned in to some
state official?
A Right.
Q Would this be correct?
A Right.
MR. TAIKEFF: No objection.
MR. CROOKS: We'll offer 45C.
THE COURT: 45C is received.
Q (By Mr. Crooks) Would you have a part in filling out this yourself?
A No, I wouldn't.
Q So this would be something he would obtain from a proper state official
and fill it out and send it in for a license plate or a title?
A Well, that I can't say whether it's made out in the office with this or
whether that is --
Q Might be either way?
A Yes.
Q You might help the guy fill it out or he might get it done through the
state official?
A Right.
{445}
Q In any event this would tie up with a vehicle he was attempting to get
registered?
A Yes.
Q And does this give the same description which is generally contained on
the documents you've identified?
A Yes. The serial number's the same.
Q All right. Insofar as this document, this would again pertain to a green
or a 1957 Ford automobile?
A Right.
Q Now insofar as this sale was concerned, the individual gave his name as
John Yellow Robe, is this correct?
A That's right.
Q And do you see that individual in the courtroom today?
A Yeah, I believe I do.
Q And where would he be seated?
A Right over there.
MR., CROOKS: Let the record show that the witness has identified the
defendant in this cause, Mr. Leonard Peltier.
No further questions.
MR. TAIKEFF: No questions.
THE COURT: You may step down.
Mr. Crooks, do you want this witness excused?
MR. CROOKS: Oh, yes. I was about to ask if this witness could be
permanently excused?
THE COURT: You are excused.
{446}
MR. CROOKS: The United States will next call Mr. Michael Rooks.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I confer with Mr. Crooks for a moment, please.
MR. CROOKS: Your Honor, Mr. Taikeff informs me that they're having some
difficulty locating the thirty-five hundred material on this witness and
the United States would be agreeable to taking a break now so that this
could be located prior to the witness testifying.
MR. TAIKEFF: Or afterwards. Whichever is more convenient to the Court.
THE COURT: Well, I would prefer not to take a break at this time unless
it's necessary for the orderly presentation of the evidence.
MR. TAIKEFF: It is not necessary.
MR. CROOKS: Not as far as the Governent, we're ready to go.
MR. TAIKEFF: Even without the material it's not necessary to do it now,
Your Honor.
THE COURT: Thank you.
MICHAEL ROOKS, being first duly sworn, testified as
follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. CROOKS
MR. CROOKS: Would you again give your full name for the record, please.
{447}
A Michael D. Rooks.
Q Mr. Rooks, where do you live?
A Oglala, south of Oglala. Three miles south of Oglala.
A A few miles south of Oglala?
A South of Oglala.
Q And that is on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, is it not?
A Yes. It is.
Q You again are appearing here pursuant to a Government Subpoena, are you
not?
A Yes, sir.
Q Mr. Rooks, are you familiar with the area which has been referred to by
the various witnesses as the Jumping Bull Compound or the Harry Jumping
Bull residence?
A Yeah.
Q And would you turn around in your witness chair and look at the large
map, Exhibit 71, and see if you can identify that area?
A Yeah.
Q And what is that area?
A This one right here?
Q Yes. Where the green stickers are pointing to, what does that area
depict to you?
A That's the Jumping Bull's house around there.
Q And that would be the principal residence of the Jumping Bulls?
{448}
A Yes, sir.
Q How long -- well, let me ask if you would, from this area that's
depicted on this map, principally the Jumping Bull houses, where is your
home located from that, those residence?
A About -- it isn't on the map.
Q Well, let me get you a pointer. If you could just come down, Mike, and
indicate generally to the jury where your houses would be with reference
to the Jumping Bull houses.
A Right here.
Q So it would be in an area off of the map, more or less south of the area
that's marked tents?
A Yeah.
Q Okay. You can get back on the --
Insofar as your farm is concerned, would you just generally describe a
little bit about what kind of a farm it is, what the setup is in your
farm.
A Kind of just starting out now, you know, building the place up.
Q Pardon? I'm not picking you up either, Mike.
A Just kind of building the place up.
Q You're just building it up?
A Yeah.
Q How long have you and your family lived there?
A Since I was about fifth grade. I graduated about '68, '69.
{449}
Q Okay. And I don't know that I asked you, what is your age now?
A Eighteen.
Q Eighteen. And so you've lived there since you were roughly around in the
fifth grade?
A Yes.
Q And I might also ask you, are you a member, an enrolled member of the
tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation?
A Yes.
Q And all members of your family are enrolled members?
A Yes.
Q Now the Jumping Bulls, have they lived in this area more or less as long
as you remember?
A Yeah. They've been there alot longer than I have. I mean, they were born
and raised there, around that area.
Q So they would have lived there prior to your family moving across the
creek?
A Yeah.
Q All right. And from the time that you moved in there have you more or
less had intermittent contact with them, neighborly contact?
A Yeah.
Q And insofar as the Jumping Bulls are concerned, was there anyone that
lived in their area during the years you've lived there other than Mr. and
Mrs. Jumping Bull themselves?
{450}
A Them and some members of the family like their grandchildren and
daughters. Not right there, you know, but in the general vicinity.
Q All right. So what you're saying is other members of their family from
time to time would occupy other houses in that area?
A Yeah.
Q All right. Calling your attention back to May of 1976, during that
period of time did you notice other people moving into this area?
A Yes.
Q Excuse me. I'm sorry. '75.
During 1975 there were other people that moved into the area?
A Yes, sir.
Q And do you know exactly where these people lived?
A Not right around there but off in other buildings around there.
Q And during the period of time that, that you, we'll say of May of '76,
or '75, excuse me, during that period of time were there a good number of
people that you observed in this area that were strangers to you?
A I really couldn't tell you numbers but there, because I really didn't
have no reason to be going up there all the time.
But from the times I was there I seen people, you know, {451} that I'd
think, "What are they doing there," you know.
Q People that you wouldn't know as being local community members?
A Yeah. Kind of; yeah.
Q All right. All right. Then going back into the time that these people
were, other strangers were living in the area, did you make any
observations with regard to them such as any unusual noises, anything of
that nature?
A Lots of shooting in the creek bottom down there.
Q And where would this be from the Jumping Bull house?
A Well, I really couldn't pinpoint it but I didn't think it was right at
the house, you know. The shooting was, I thought it was taking place like
around where it says plowed field and up around there.
Q Okay. Let me get the pointer for you.
A I can't really be sure about that. I just figured that's where it was
coming from.
Q Well, I realize that. I'd like you to give me some general indication,
if you can, as to the general area where you heard a lot of shooting
coming from.
A Right in there.
Q It would be up against this bluff around the plowed field, in that area?
A That is my guess; yeah.
Q And would this be from your hearing shots and so forth as {452} opposed
to actually seeing any shooting done?
A Yeah.
Q All right. When you were living in this area and the strangers were
there, did you see any signs of, of a camp at any time?
A Around what time? You mean like in the spring or right before it
happened?
Q Well, I'm talking about before the shooting; right.
A Not what they refer to as tent city. I kind of stayed away from there,
you know.
Q You stayed away from the tent city area?
A I mean I didn't even know it was there. I just kind of stayed away from
the whole --
Q Did you go into that area after the shootings?
A Not into the tent city.
I went to where there was a sweat bath, right around in there.
Q Okay. So you went down in that area after the shooting?
A Yeah. Just once.
Q All right. During the evenings at any time could you see activity over
in the area where the tents turned out to be?
A Not the tents but that one sweat bath, that one little camp there, we
could see like --
Q Okay. What kind of activity could you see around there?
A I don't recall that. You just kind of see movements in the {453} trees
or, I mean just, you know, they had a fire down there and you could tell
that there were people camping down there.
Q So the record is clear, Mike, you are talking about an area which would
be just about straight south of the tent area; would that be about right?
A That would be southwest, southwest, wouldn't it?
Q Okay. A little southwest of the tent area. All right.
Mike, I'd like to show you what has been marked for identification
purposes as Exhibit 69A. I ask you to take that and keep it pointed up if
you would and I'd ask you if you can identify that.
A Yes. This is, this was my dad's gun.
Q And your father owned this gun?
A Yes, sir.
Q And where was this gun kept?
A At the time it was stolen it was sitting in the corner by the stove in
our house.
Q In your house. All right.
You indicated that this gun was stolen.
A Yes, sir.
Q Approximately when was it stolen?
A May 1st.
Q On May 1st. And was anything else stolen other than this gun?
A There was seven guns altogether and a TV, there was a {454} stereo and
cameras and just anything that was worth anything.
Q All right. Again I'm having a little trouble staying with 75 and 76.
You're talking about May of 1975?
A '75; yeah.
Q All right. You indicated some other household items were stolen, --
A Yes.
Q -- is this correct? And what would you estimate the total value of those
items that were stolen?
A The FBI said, I think --
Q Well, no. Don't say what they said. What your estimate is.
A My estimate?
Q Yes.
A I'm not -- I know it was over $1500 worth but I, it was either 1500 or
3,000, something like that.
Q So there was a substantial number of items stolen from your family home?
A Yes.
Q And this was one item?
A Yeah.
Q And how can you identify that?
A Because I sanded the front and I put some stain on it but it didn't look
too good so I didn't do it to the back.
{455}
Q And this stock that's on there, has that had some work done on it by
you?
A Yeah. See, the back is rough and it still has the same finish and the
front is different.
Q Is there any doubt in your mind that that's your gun?
A No doubt.
Q All right. This gun was stolen in May of 1975?
A '75.
Q And when did you next see the gun?
A Day before yesterday.
Q When the FBI at my suggestion showed it to you, --
A Yes.
Q -- is that correct? What, by the way, what caliber rifle is this, Mike?
A 303 British.
Q And that is a British gun, is that correct?
A Probably; yeah.
Q Well, at least that's the name of it, a 303 British?
A Yes. The caliber name of it.
Q Do you know where your father got this gun?
A Sharp's Corner.
Q And how long had he owned it?
A About seven, eight years.
Q Seven, eight years before it was stolen?
A Yeah.
{456}
Q When this theft took place were any tracks left by the people that stole
your family's property?
A Yes, sir.
There was some tracks from the house to the corral and that's where they
ended.
Q Well, which corral?
A Right below the house. It would be east of the house about fifty yards I
suppose.
Q Now is this your corral or is this --
A This is our corral.
Q Your corral. That is not the same corral that's shown on this map?
A No. It isn't. That's the wrong place.
Q All right. And then what did you find at the corral?
A Just, you know, well, there was horse tracks in there but we have horses
and stuff too so I didn't think nothing of it, you know.
Q Okay.
A And I got to thinking later and that's my --
Q So they found no tracks other than horse tracks leading away from the
corral?
A You know, the gates were still closed, you know, the entrances, the one
leading to our house, they were all still closed and no tracks were up
there.
Q Okay. Now calling your attention back to May of 1975 did {457} you see
any people down in the Jumping Bull area that you knew or identified?
A Yeah. I seen a few that I'd known.
Q And who were these individuals that you saw down there that you knew?
A Well, just the ones that I knew were like Jimmy Dean Moosecamp and Jimmy
Eagle and Leon Eagle.
Q Now Jimmy Eagle and Leon Eagle, are they brothers?
A They're brothers; yeah.
Q And have you known those guys for some period of time?
A Yeah.
Q Did you go to school with either of them?
A I went to school with Jimmy Dean Moosecamp and then Jimmy Eagle and Leon
Eagle, they went to another school.
Q Okay.
A But I lived on the same street as they did before we moved out in the
country. We lived right by them.
Q And where abouts was it that you saw the Eagle brothers?
A At --
Q Just point out generally on the map if you could.
A Around in there.
Q So it would be generally in a northwesterly direction from the Jumping
Bull residence?
A Yes, sir.
Q And it would be down by the creek area?
{458}
A Yeah. Up from the dam on the creek.
Q There is a dam down there, isn't there, Mike?
A Yes, sir.
Q And where is that? Is that shown on the picture or is it quite a bit
farther down?
A That would be quite a bit farther down and just around there is this
general marsh area.
Q So the dam would be more or less where the exhibit sticker is or maybe a
little bit farther out than that?
A Yeah. Around in there; yeah.
Q Toward the Oglala area?
A Yeah.
Q Now on the day that this shooting took place, June 26th of 1975, what
were you doing that day?
A Just sitting in the house, you know, just, maybe walking around the
house every once in a while.
Q All right. Did you hear anything unusual that day?
A Lots of, not really unusual but I heard some more gunshots.
Q It wasn't unusual for that area apparently?
A Not really unusual; no.
Q You described gunfire coming from the area. Approximately when did you
hear the gunfire start?
A About midday, around there, you know, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00. I wasn't
really paying attention to the time.
Q So it would be roughly in the noon, --
{459}
A Yeah.
Q -- somewhere around noon that the shooting started?
A Yeah.
Q And how long did the shooting last that day as you recall, Mike?
A I'm not really sure just, oh, maybe an hour or quarter or half hour,
something like that.
{460}
Q (By Mr. Crooks) Was there a lot of shooting that you recall?
A At that time there was a lot of shooting, died out maybe.
Q So it would die off, and then there would be shooting again; and then it
would die off, intermittent shooting?
A Yes.
Q Did you see any of the individuals that have been involved in the
shooting, I mean see any activity over there?
A No, sir.
Q Could you see that area from your farm?
A Oh, from my house you can see something -- Jumping Bull, their house,
and you can see Jumping Bull Hall, not real good in the summertime because
there is leaves on the trees and everything.
Q You don't really have a good view of any of that area then?
A Not really.
Q You didn't really see anything that was occurring over there?
A No.
Q Did you see any individuals leaving the area might have come by your
property?
A No.
MR. TAIKEFF: Objection to the form of the question because it includes the
speculation "might have come from {461} some place".
THE COURT: The objection is sustained.
MR. CROOKS: Well, the answer I think is "no", anyway.
Q (By Mr Crooks) All right. On the day of the shooting did you stay home
all day that day, or did you leave at some point?
A I had a pickup at the house, but then I didn't have no keys to it so my
brother had to come out to the house in another car and give me the keys
for the pickup and come into town that day.
Q What time did you leave?
A 1:30, 2:00, something like that.
Q 1:30, 2:00 o'clock you left and didn't come back until later?
A I didn't come back until the next day. I stayed in town. Left me in town
that night.
Q Do you know the Defendant in this case, Mr. Peltier?
A No, sir.
Q Ever seen the individual sitting over there before?
A No, sir.
Q During the -- excuse me. Did I cut off your answer?
A Unh-unh.
Q All right. Have you seen Mr. Peltier before, either in the Jumping Bull
area or anywhere else?
{462}
A I don't think I have. I can't recall.
Q As far as you know you have never seen him?
A No.
MR. CROOKS: We have nothing further.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, could we approach the bench?
THE COURT: You may.
(Whereupon the following proceedings were had at the bench:)
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I am quite sensitive to his desire to adhere to
the work schedule that was set out. If the Government would not object I
would be amenable to this witness stepping down and the next witness
getting on preferably -- or hopefully it will be a short witness; and then
during the half hour recess from 3:00 to 3:30 I can prepare the cross
examination and there won't be any change in schedule. It will be, just a
change in the order of activity. I don't think it will be a very long
cross examination, but I do feel obligated to go through the materials
which I just got.
MR. CROOKS: I don't know that I agree with that. I would rather have the
break now and let them look it over and continue. I don't want the
witness' direct to get separated from the cross. I would rather take a
break now and look at it than split it up. I think it becomes very
confusing to the jury.
{463}
MR. TAIKEFF: We hope the jury has a better recollection than that.
THE COURT: What witness -- what is your next witness, is he going --
MR. HULTMAN: (Interrupting) That's another problem. I think we are going
to be faced with the same situation. We would get about 10 minutes on the
next witness and have to cut that one off and go back to this one, have
another break.
MR TAIKEFF: We could solve both of them with a half hour recess.
THE COURT: I will declare a half hour recess 15 minutes earlier than I
usually do, trying to get this thing done.
MR. CROOKS: That is all right.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, could I raise another point at this particular
time? I don't consider what happened in connection with this witness
particularly serious as far as the specific contents is concerned; but I
suspect that there is a certain insensitivity on the part of the
prosecution to introducing into this case proof or possible proof of other
crimes that are totally unnecessary to prove their case and totally
irrelevant. For instance, the fact that that rifle was stolen in May and
this person lived on the premises which was adjacent to the tent city
{464} area raises the suggestion at the very least that someone in that
encampment in tent city was either responsible for the theft or had
purchased stolen property.
Now, I understand from Mr. Ellison who has been keeping track of
evidentiary matters for us, that this rifle was recovered in New Mexico.
Apparently there will be some effort to place it in the encampment, and I
think if that was the Government's purpose, then thy would become
sensitive to the fact that we are very concerned this case might be
decided on some prejudicial basis rather than some relevant fact.
It would be very simple if the Government could indicate to us that it has
some problem with its proof and that without offering such evidence cannot
show the geographic nexus which is theirs, at least give us an opportunity
to avoid the kind of problem we have here. This is a rather simple thing.
This is perhaps an even more -- an unimportant theft, but if the
Government is not conscious of this problem, then we may end up at a later
date with an application for a mistrial, and I don't want to try this case
again any more than the Government wants to try it again; and I would ask
them most respectfully, and I am being serious and respectful about this,
to give some thought to these matters.
MR. CROOKS: Your Honor, Mr. Taikeff completely {465} miscomprehend the
purpose of this showing, that we have no doubt that this rifle was traced
back to this camp; and we are going to tie it up with both physical and
oral testimony.
MR. TAIKEFF: Most assuredly, the fact it was stolen from a nearby location
--
MR. CROOKS: (Interrupting) Can I finish? One at a time, I believe.
MR. TAIKEFF: I am sorry.
MR. CROOKS: We certainly contend that the weapon is tied to the crime
scene, tied to shell casings and so forth; and certainly, the very fact
that Mr. Peltier and his group are out stealing the next-door neighbor's
guns, I think has a very direct bearing on his state of mind; and we
certainly don't back off of that issue at all. I think we have covered
that in our brief, and we certainly are willing to meet that head on.
MR. TAIKEFF: Well, your Honor, that supports at least my contention to a
mathematical certainty.
THE COURT: Well, I assume that you are going to tie this up?
MR. CROOKS: We definitely are, your Honor, no question about it.
MR. TAIKEFF: The fact of the theft has no relevancy. If this gun was in
that area, it was in an area. If it was {466} used that day it was used
that day. The fact that it may have been stolen was not an issue. The
Government repeatedly fails to recognize what it is they are supposed to
prove here and what it is they are not permitted to prove.
MR. CROOK: Your Honor, the circumstances under which Mr. Rooks' gun got
into this crime scene has a direct bearing on Mr. Peltier's state of mind,
and I don't equivocate on that at all.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I assume, and I think I am assuming correctly,
there is going to be further nexus between that theft and the presence of
that gun there one month or 26 days later.
Now, if this were a possession of stolen property case, and that were the
Government's proof, I dare say the Court would grant a Rule 29 motion.
This is not that kind of a case. This is a murder case, at least step
removed from that: and it would be irrelevant to introduce to the jury the
fact that this gun which was used -- which raises its own set of issues --
was a stolen gun. It is a proof of another crime that is wholly unrelated
to the issues in this case.
THE COURT: Well, there is nothing for me to rule on at this moment.
MR. TAIKEFF: I understand. I am just trying to {467} apprise the Court and
the Government at this stage so there cannot be a misunderstanding about
the position of the defense in regard to evidence of this character.
I will, in fact, move to strike that portion of the testimony that refers
to the theft -- not as an instruction to the jury -- just so the
Government will be deprived of arguing that fact to the jury.
THE COURT: I will reserve a ruling on that motion.
MR. TAIKEFF: Thank you, your Honor.
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the
presence and hearing of the jury:)
THE COURT: Normally we go until 3:00 o'clock to recess. Because of a
problem in the presentation of the evidence, we will recess at this time;
and we will take a little longer recess than we did this morning. The
Court will recess until 3:20.
(Recess taken.)
{468}
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had out of the hearing of the
jury:)
THE COURT: Are you now ready to proceed?
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, Your Honor. I just want to report one thing to the Court
but that doesn't change the answer I gave to the Court. The Grand Jury
material was missing a page and Mr. Sikma has gone to look for that page.
Although I can begin, I don't know whether I can finish until that page is
delivered. I suspect everything will work out all right.
THE COURT: The jury may come in.
(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had in the courtroom in the
hearing and presence of the jury:)
THE COURT: You may proceed.
MR. TAIKEFF: Thank you, Your Honor.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR.TAIKEFF:
Q Mr. Rooks, do you know of your own personal knowledge who stole those
guns from your father's house? Yes or no.
A Personally?
Q Yes.
A No.
Q And do you know of your own personal knowledge what happened to those
guns; namely, who had them after the theft took place?
Q No.
Q Do I understand that at or about the time of the theft {469} you
discovered horse tracks in the area?
A No. Horse tracks were, because we have horses, I told you. Could have
been ours. I didn't think nothing of the horse tracks.
Q Those horse tracks as far as you're concerned had nothing to do with
that theft?
A I'm, I didn't think nothing of that. That could have rode up on horse,
you know, and, or whatever, you know, but there was tracks from the house
to the corral and that's where he stopped.
Q I see.
But you had no specific reason to believe that those horse tracks had
anything to do with the theft, do you?
A They had to be. How would they got away? Why would the tracks go from
our house to the corral? No tracks in any member of the family and stop to
the corral and that's as far as it goes. Can't fly away.
Q There were no tracks after the corral?
A You mean foot tracks?
Q Horse tracks.
A Horse tracks. Yeah. Horse tracks all over but no foot tracks after the
corral.
Q I see.
How many people live in the home in which you live? Let me rephrase that.
In May and June of 1975 how many people {470} lived in your residence?
A In May when the break in took place, me and my sister and my mom and my
dad.
Q Four people?
A Four people.
Q How many guns did you say were taken?
A Seven.
Q Can you tell me what kind of guns they were?
A Three 22's, a 20 gauge, a 410 and a 12 gauge.
Q Those last three guns are shotguns?
A Shotguns. Three shotguns, and a 303, and 32 pistol and a 357 pistol.
Q That's nine guns altogether?
A Yeah.
Q And how many belonged to you?
A To me?
Q Just how many? Not which ones.
A One.
Q How many to your mother?
A None. The rest were probably just family's, you know.
Q Family guns?
A Well, let's say dad owned them.
Q I understand.
But in terms of who used them or who carried them.
A I was the only one who really did any hunting.
{471}
Q Did anybody else use any of those guns?
A In the family?
Q Yes. I'm talking about your family.
A They wanted to, yeah, I suppose.
Q But did anybody actually, your father use any of those guns?
A Yeah. We all used them, except for like mom and my sisters, they...
Q They never used the guns, just you and your father?
A And like my brothers, wanted to go hunting or something.
Q Do you know what the expression intermittent shooting means?
A No.
Q Do you recall that Mr. Crooks asked you whether there was intermittent
shooting and you shook your head yes?
A I mean like shooting now and then shooting like every once in awhile.
Q At intervals?
A Yeah.
Q Okay.
You said the shooting lasted a half hour.
A Well, somewheres in that nature. Maybe longer. Maybe, yeah. It's
approximately longer than half an hour.
Q Do you mean the first installment of the shooting lasted a {472} half an
hour or do you mean that's all the shooting there was that afternoon while
you were there?
A No. Like I heard the shots and I didn't think nothing of it, you know,
so I went about my work. Went in the house and, you know, didn't pay too
much attention to it because --
Q But I want to find out from you whether you only heard one period of
shooting perhaps lasting a half hour and no more between the time you
first heard the shooting and the time you left.
A Well, let's just say they were shooting all during that time. Maybe they
might have stopped, maybe they might have shot a little more. They were
shooting, all during the time I heard shooting.
Q What time was it you left approximately?
A 1:30, 2:00 o'clock, somewheres around there.
Q Have you ever heard of the American Indian Movement?
A Yeah.
Q And is it known by a shorter name on the reservation?
A Yeah.
Q What's it named by?
A AIM.
Q And have you ever heard the expression "goon"?
A Yeah.
Q What does that word indicate?
A Supposed to be Wilson supporters or opposition or whatever.
{473}
Q Opposition to what?
A To the AIM movement or whatever.
Q Now did you know that the area which we've called tent city was an AIM
encampment?
A Yes.
Q And were there any religious activities going on in connection with that
encampment?
A Religious?
Q Yes.
A I don't know. I never asked them. Never saw them.
Q You said you saw a sweat lodge?
A That was after the shooting and everything took place. You know, we
remembered that camp so I and my brother and my cousin went down to see
what was down there.
Q Did you find the sweat lodge there?
A Yeah.
Q Was there any connection between a sweat lodge and religious activities?
A Yes.
Q Could you describe by name the religion that uses a sweat lodge as part
of its religious activity?
A No. I never, I've heard a lot about it but I couldn't tell you the name.
Q You are an Indian, are you not?
A Yeah. Part.
{474}
Q One grandparent or two grandparents or how many grandparents were
Indian?
A All of them on my father's side.
Q So you're half Indian?
A Not quite half. I mean, all the relations on my father's side were
mostly Indian except for my great grandfather.
Q Does your family follow any religious beliefs?
A What do you mean? Like Christian, Catholic, whatever?
Q Yes.
A They're Christian.
Q Your family is Christian?
A Yeah.
Q Is it a fact or is it not a fact that the AIM people were trying to
persuade people to return to the old Indian religious ways?
A I'm not sure; no. I don't lcnow.
Q You're not sure. Did you ever make reference to the activity of the
people in the tent city by calling it a revival?
A Did I ever what?
Q Did you ever describe the activity going on in tent city as a revival?
A I never knew of tent city until after it all happened.
Q I understand that. But once you found out about it and talked about the
activities of the people in AIM city, did you {475} ever refer to that
activity as a revival?
A There was a revival going on at the time but that wasn't around there.
That was way up further from them, some sort of a revival. I don't know if
any religious, Christian or Moslem or whatever. There was a revival going
on on up that way.
Q Did you ever tell Special Agent Frederick Coward of the FBI that you
thought there was a connection between the people in that camp and the
revival that was going on in Oglala?
A I might have told him that. Well, might have told him that maybe. Maybe
that was, might have used that to get a lot of people in. That's just
speculation. I didn't know.
Q First I'm asking about what you said to somebody, then perhaps we can go
into the meaning of what you said.
A Oh.
Q My question is --
A Yeah.
Q Did you ever tell an FBI agent or did you ever mention a connection in
your opinion between the revival that was going on in the Oglala area and
the people in the tent city area?
A Yeah. But I never knew it was going to come to this. I just was talking
to him. I didn't know he was going to put it on record or anything. I was
just talking to him about it. I said maybe. I didn't say I thought it was.
I said maybe.
Q Were you somewhat surprised that I knew what you said to the {476} FBI?
A Yes.
Q You don't like the American Indian Movement, isn't that correct?
A Well, I don't like the things that they have done.
Q You don't like them, the people associated with them, isn't that
correct?
A No. I'm friends with lots of AIM people.
Q Some of your best friends are AIM people?
A Not best friends but some of the people.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I have a moment to confer with Mr. Sikma, Your Honor?
THE COURT: Very well.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, that page was delivered. Could I have a moment to
look at it?
THE COURT: You may.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Now let's go back to June of 1975, almost two years
ago. Is it fair to say that at that time you did not like AIM or any of
the positions which it took on the reservation?
A Yeah. It would be fair.
Q You understand, of course, you're entitled to your personal opinion.
A Yeah. And so are they.
Q In fact, in talking about Harry Jumping Bull, you once {477} said that
"He is with AIM but he's always been nice to us," isn't that correct?
A No. That isn't correct.
Q That's not correct that you once said that to somebody?
A I said that there has been, he's been associated with AIM. I didn't say
anything like that.
Q At page 54, grand jury material, you testified before a grand jury in
connection with this case?
A Yes.
Q And you were under oath at that time?
A Yes.
Q Tell me whether you recall being asked the following question and giving
the answer that I will read to you, question: "Do you know whether or not
Harry Jumping Bull or his wife are associated with AIM?" Answer: "Well,
Harry always has been nice to us and then I always liked him but I knew he
was, I figured he was or else he wouldn't have nothing to do with them.
They wouldn't have been staying around there if they wouldn't, but he was
always nice to us."
A That's the same --
Q Just tell me whether or not you recall that question and answer.
Now you were testifying there under oath, right?
A Yes.
Q And you told the truth before the grand jury, right?
{478}
A Well, maybe I got, I had it wrong or something but I'm not saying he was
AIM.
Q Calm down a little bit and listen to my question. All I asked you was
when you gave that answer before the grand jury were you saying the truth?
Yes or no.
A You mean I was saying he was AIM?
Q Do you read English?
A Yeah.
Q Let me show you page 54 and ask you to read this question and that
answer and this question and that answer to yourself just to see if it
refreshes your recollection.
A Yeah.
Q Do you remember being asked those questions?
A Yeah.
Q Now one of those questions was the one I just read out loud, isn't that
correct?
A Yeah.
Q And you answered that question, didn't you?
A You mean here or there?
Q There in the grand jury.
A Yeah.
Q And I read the answer exactly the way it is on that piece of paper,
right?
A (Witness nods affirmatively.)
Q Isn't that the answer you gave to the grand jury?
{479}
A Yes. It's on paper.
Q I beg your pardon?
A Yeah.
Q And when you said that answer, as far as you were concerned you were
telling the truth, right?
A Yeah. At that time; yeah.
Q You're telling the truth right now?
A About him being AIM?
Q No. About all your answers. Are you telling us the truth?
A Yeah.
Q Now right after that were you asked the following question and did you
give the following answer, question, same page: "How about Ivis Long
Visitor and his wife Angie, do you know if they were ever members of AIM
or associated?" Answer: "I knew they were probably associated but they
were still nice to us."
A Uh-huh.
Q You gave that answer?
A Uh-huh.
Q Was that a truthful answer?
A Yeah.
{480}
Q Now what was the connection between various people being members or
supporters of AIM and the question of whether or not they were very nice
to you?
A You mean -- well, just because they're AIM don't mean you can't talk
with them or, you still got to live with them.
You can't throw them out altogether because they're AIM. If you are going
to live there, you have to be friendly with everyone around there. If
they're neighbors, you know, you got to be friendly with them.
Q Well, do you expect people who are AIM member or AIM supporters not to
be nice to you?
A It depends upon the situation.
Q Well, then when you were asked whether certain people were members or
supporters of AIM, in each instance you specifically said, "Yes I think
they were but they were nice to me."
But motivated you to make that special statement at the end?
MR. CROOKS: Your Honor, I'll object to this as an improper use of this
grand jury transcript.
In fact he's asking questions from the transcript. He isn't even
contending that they're supposed to be inconsistent with anything the
witness is saying.
I object to the grand jury transcript being read in lieu of asking the
witness questions.
I think he can question the witness as to his present {481} recollection
and if his answer is inconsistent, then go to the transcript but he's
doing it just the other way around and I'd object.
MR. TAIKEFF: Your Honor, I'd like to make a brief response.
I asked the witness whether he ever made a statement that, "Harry Jumping
Bull is with AIM but he was always nice to us," and he answered, "No. I
never made any such statement," and that is the use of that transcript, to
illuminate that point.
MR. CROOKS: Your Honor, that's been asked and answered about three times
and I object going back to this transcript. I object to examination in
this fashion.
If he wishes to carry his examination on and come back to the transcript
for an inconsistent answer, that's an entirely different thing but that
isn't what he's doing now. He's reading the grand jury transcript and I
object to it.
MR. TAIKEFF: All right. I'll assure Mr. Crooks that I'm turning it face
down and putting it under my other papers.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Now, Mr. Rooks, what is it about people who are members
or supports of AIM that makes you say when you're asked if someone is a
member of AIM, "Yes, but they've been nice to me"? What does being nice
have to do with their being members of AIM?
A Nothing I suppose.
{482}
Q Well, does it mean that if someone's a member of AIM there's some reason
why you should expect they wouldn't be nice to you?
A Yeah. Because I don't look that much Indian.
Q Does your family take a public position with respect to Mr. Wilson or
did they when Mr. Wilson was a tribal chairman?
A No. They never have.
I mean we, they never supported him. In fact my dad never did, never voted
for him when he was up for election.
Q So do you have any personal reason to think that AIM would not like you?
A No. I suppose not.
Q Did any people from AIM ever attempt to persuade you to follow the old
Indian religious ways?
A Well. I've talked to people, a lot of them about it, not a lot of them
but I've talked to people and they've talked about the religion.
Q And have they tried to persuade you to go back to the old ways?
A Not, not persuade me.
They just tell me what they believe in and that's it.
Q Do you know what a missionary is?
A Yeah.
Q Are there any missionaries on the reservation that you knew of?
{483}
A You mean Mormon, Christian?
Q Christian, Mormon, any kind of religious missionary?
A Well there's the Jesuits if you want to call them that, missionaries and
there is the Mormon elders.
Q How about Mr. Weston, do you know Mr. Weston?
A I don't think so. I don't know. Which Weston?
Q A young fellow who preaches Christianity.
A No. I don't know him.
Q When you refer to AIM people, do you refer to them or have you ever
referred to them as a bunch of long-haired people?
A Yeah. Well, maybe there's a lot of them that, they might be AIM and, you
know, it's just the way, they just stay the way they are, you know. They
don't grow their hair or --
Q Don't you think the people with long hair are the way they are?
A What do you mean?
Q Well, you said some of them just stay the way they are and don't grow
their hair long.
A Okay. I'm sorry.
Q Do you associate long hair with any people?
A No. I know a lot of long-haired people that don't believe or follow or
whatever.
Q Is it fair to say that there came a time when you discovered or believed
that the people in tent city were AIM people; yes or no?
{484}
A Yeah.
Q When did that thought occur to you or fact occur to you?
A You mean tent city?
Q Yes.
A I didn't know about tent city until after it happened but I, I knew that
there was one, well, there was some AIM people around the area, I mean,
that were living around there.
Q Isn't it a fact that you told the grand jury that you had assumed that
the people in tent city were AIM?
A Yeah.
Q Well, as of when did you first make that assumption?
A You mean like if I -- I went down there a few times, you know I seen
some people around there, you know, and --
Q Have you finished your answer?
A Yeah.
Q On June 26, 1975 there was a shootout at the Jumping Bull area, correct?
A (Witness nods affirmatively.)
Q How many people died?
A Three.
Q Before that happened did you know that there was an AIM encampment on
the Jumping Bull property?
A I'm having trouble with thinking, I mean, I don't know what you mean by
the camp.
Q By encampment. Did you know that there was an AIM group -- {485} living
on that property?
When did you first find that out?
A You mean AIM camp living on the property? I knew that there was AIM
people in the area but I never knew that there was an AIM camp in -- yeah.
Q When you were before the grand jury did they question you about who was
living on the Jumping Bull property or who had been living on the Jumping
Bull property?
A I think they did; yeah.
Q And did you tell them that there were AIM people living on the property?
A Yeah. I suppose.
Q You suppose?
A Well, yeah. I told them that. Okay.
MR. CROOKS: Your Honor, could I have the reference to which counsel is
making?
MR. TAIKEFF: Yes, Your Honor. It's page 46 beginning around line 16.
Q (By Mr. Taikeff) Do you know whether the defendant in this case has
anything to do with AIM?
A Yeah.
Q I didn't hear your answer.
A I never seen him before so I don't know.
Q Do you have any belief as you sit there whether he has anything to do
with AIM?
{486}
A What's he on trial for?
Q Does that make a difference?
A Yeah. If he's on trial for, for what he, for killing the officers and
the AIM people were there, well, I suppose he must be involved with them
somehow.
Q So your assumption is that if something happened on the Jumping Bull
property it had to be done by people associated with AIM, is that correct?
A Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: I have no further questions.
MR. CROOKS: We have nothing further and we'd ask that Mr. Rooks be
excused, Your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF: No objection, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You may step down and you are excused.
MR. CROOKS: If it please the Court, the United States would call as its
next witness Mr. Robert A. Bunch.
ROBERT A. BUNCH, being first duly sworn, testified as
follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. CROOKS
Q Special Agent Bunch, would you again give your full name for the record.
A Robert A. Bunch.
Q What is your occupation, Mr. Bunch?
A I'm a special agent with the FBI.
Q What is your present assignment?
{487}
A Monterey, California.
Q And how long have you been assigned as a special agent in that area?
A About six months.
Q Where were you assigned prior to that?
A Santa Cruz, California.
Q Calling your attention back to the summer of 1975, what was your
assignment during the month of June, 1975 or prior thereto?
A I was assigned to the Colorado Springs Resident Agency out of the Denver
office.
Q How long had you been in the Colorado Springs office, Mr. Bunch?
A Just about six years.
Q During your time at the Colorado Springs office were you assigned with
another special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the name
of Jack R. Coler?
A Yes, sir, I was.
Q Had you known or -- well, first let me ask, how long had Mr. Coler been
assigned to the Colorado Springs office?
A Approximately three years.
Q And how many man office was the Colorado Springs office?
A While he was there I think it was from six to eight.
Q All right. So he was one of approximately eight agents including
yourself?
{488}
A Yes, sir.
Q Had you known Special Agent Coler prior to his coming to the Colorado
Springs Resident Agency?
A No, sir.
Q During the period of time that you worked with him, I believe you stated
approximately three years, did you have occasion to work with Mr. Coler?
A Yes. I did.
The last year we were assigned as a team, two partners.
Q And how would you describe your personal relationship with Special Agent
Coler?
A We were close friends.
Q Now did there come a time when Special Agent Coler was placed on a
temporary assignment in another resident agency?
A Yes, sir.
Q And approximately when was that?
A April, I believe it was, 1975.
Q And where did he get the assignment to?
A To Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
Q And are you personally familiar with how long the assignment was to have
been?
A Yes. I believe it was either a sixty or a ninety day assignment. I
believe sixty.
Q And he was assigned in April?
A April or May or 1975; yes, sir.
{489}
Q So in June of 19, June 26, 1975 he would have been approaching the end
of his tour, would that be correct?
A Either that or almost; yes, sir. Maybe even halfway through. I'm not
sure.
Q Now insofar as Special Agent Coler was concerned, you indicated that you
were, in addition to being a fellow worker, a close personal friend.
Did you take care of any of Mr. Coler's personal things such a car, mail
and so forth in his absence to the Pine Ridge area?
A Yes, sir. I did.
Q And will you describe, not in detail but in general, what kind of
personal things you could take care of for him.
A Well, mail, for instance that would come to his residence and to the
office and the upkeep and maintenance of his residence as well as his
vehicle.
Q All right. And during the time that he was in Pine Ridge did you have
occasion to talk to him by the telephone on occasion concerning personal
matters as well as business matters?
A Yes, sir. Quite often.
Q And could you give any kind of an estimate as to how often this would
be, say, on a weekly basis or some estimate of that nature?
A At the minimum, two times a week. Probably averaging around {490} three
or four. Close to every other day.
Q All right. Special Agent Bunch, I would hand you Exhibit No. 28 and ask
you if this is the individual identified or your friend, Special Agent
Coler?
A Yes, sir. It is.
Q All right. Now during the time that he was at Pine Ridge were there
occasions when you would have to visit with him about cases that you'd
worked on together at Colorado Springs?
A Yes, sir. Quite often.
Q Calling your attention specifically to June 26 of 1975, the day of
Special Agent Coler's death, did you have occasion to talk with him on the
telephone?
A Yes, sir. I did.
Q And when did that telephone conversation take place?
A Approximately 9:00 a.m on the 26th.
Q All right. Would you, first of all, describe generally what the -- well,
first of all, how long did the conversation, telephone conversation last?
A I'd say from, anywhere from twenty minutes to half an hour, thirty-five
minutes.
Q Would you mention just briefly some of the subject matters that were
part of the conversation without going into the complete details?
A Yes, sir.
I was in Denver at the time when I received the call {491} and it dealt
with the things that I mentioned before about personal items about mail,
had I forwarded mail. Also some cases that we had worked together in
Colorado Springs that were pending trial and whether or not he would be
subpoenaed to testify for those cases.
The work here, excuse me, in Pine Ridge, he discussed the cases that he
was working, the people that he had contacted, a number of persons he had
contacted.
{492}
Q During that telephone conversation did Special Agent Coler indicate how
things were going for him insofar as the Pine Ridge assignment was
concerned?
A Yes, sir, he did.
Q And would you relate just generally what he told you in that regard?
A He said he enjoyed the work. He mentioned this before, and he contacted
a lot of people that he enjoyed working with and that he had contacted
during investigations, and he enjoyed his assignment.
Q Did he say anything about -- during that conversation, concerning the
people that he had met, law enforcement and lay type people?
A Yes, he did. He liked -- as far as I could tell, he liked just about
everyone he came in contact with.
Q And during the course of the conversation did he relate to you anything
concerning possible transfer to the Pine Ridge area or to the Rapid City
area?
A Yes. He thought that he would consider changing his office of preference
in order to work there and move from Colorado Springs.
Q All right. During the conversation did he indicate any particular
problems with regard to any of the cases he was working on?
A No, sir.
{493}
Q Did he discuss specifically the case he was working on at that time?
A Yes, he did. He told me that -- I believe it was just about as soon as
he was finished with this -- the conversation that he and I were having on
the phone -- that he intended to assist another agent in the location of a
subject they had a warrant for. I believe it was a kidnapping charge.
Q All right. I don't want you to give the details, but do you recall him
going into any of the details of the crime?
A Yes, sir, I do.
Q And I don't want you to go into that.
Did he mention the name of the individual who he was seeking?
A Yes, sir, he did.
Q And who did he say the individual was?
A Jimmy Eagle.
Q Now insofar as the name, Jimmy Eagle, was there any particular reason
that you would recall that name having been given to you that morning?
A Yes, sir, there was because subsequently, as I learned more and more
about the details of what later occurred that day, that name was repeated
a number of times, that this was a particular case that Jack and the other
agents were working.
Q And approximately how long after your conversation with your friend and
fellow agent did you learn of his death?
{494}
A I would say it was five to six hours.
MR. CROOKS: We tender the witness for cross examination, your Honor.
MR. TAIKEFF: May I have just one moment, please, your Honor?
THE COURT: You may.
(Counsel confer.)
MR. TAIKEFF: No questions.
THE COURT: You may step down.
(Witness excused.)
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor, the next exhibit will be the showing of a 170
feet of Super millimeter movie film concerning the area. It would take us
-- and I think it ought to be done at this time, your Honor, because I
think it is illustrative and counsel is in agreement.
It will take us a short time in order to get the screen set up and the
projector and so forth, so I would request of the Court that maybe we
would stand at ease for five minutes, or whatever time it takes, in order
to do that; and what will then follow, your Honor, will be the showing of
the film; and I will read a brief script with it which again counsel has
stipulated to and will be made a part of the record along with the film
itself; and I am trying to find the film's number here as an exhibit
number -- Exhibit No. 10, and the script with it will be {495} Exhibit
10-A.
THE COURT: Are you offering those exhibits in evidence?
MR HULTMAN: Yes, and I am offering them both at this time too.
MR. TAIKEFF: No objection.
THE COURT: Exhibits 10 and 10-A are received.
(Plaintiff's Exhibits Nos. 10 and 10-A, having been previously duly marked
for identification, so offered in evidence, were received.)
THE COURT: You may set it up.
The question has been raised by the court reporter as to whether counsel
would desire that the dialogue apparently that you are going to read --
MR. HULTMAN: (Interrupting) Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: (Continuing) -- in the showing of the film should be reported.
MR. HULTMAN: I will give a copy of it as an exhibit, and it will not in
any way be different, your Honor, from what the exhibit is. I see no
reason for the reporter to, if counsel agrees.
MR. TAIKEFF: I am agreeable to that, your Honor.
THE COURT: Very well, it will not be necessary to report it.
MR. HULTMAN: She can make it a part of the record, {496} of course, and
she can use the script, the Exhibit 10-A.
Now, your Honor, there is agreement of counsel that the operator -- and
this is a very neophyte operation, beginning with the film and everything
concerning it, it is the best there is -- that the operator will run it
forward a short distance in order to get the focus and so forth, and run
it back; and then I will do the narration if counsel is in agreement.
I think we are going to have to have some lights or we aren't going to see
anything.
(Plaintiff's Exhibit No. 10-A during the showing of the movie was read by
Mr. Hultman as follows:)
"The following is a verbal description of approximately 170 feet of Super
8mm movie film depicting the area around the Jumping Bull Hall vicinity
and an area commonly referred to as `Tent City.' "Directions and
information furnished herewith will be described from the point of view of
being behind the movie camera.
"This is a view looking in an easterly direction from the Jumping Bull
residence sweeping to the north direction showing the Wanda Siers
residence with a dirt road in front. The sweep continues from north to
northwest down the dirt road into a valley which is due west of the
Jumping Bull and Wanda Siers residences. The view shows a {497} corral
which is at the edge of a wooded area at the far western section of the
valley. This shows the area where the dead FBI Agents, Ronald A. Williams
and Jack R. Coler were found on 6/26/75. Sweep continues from west to
west-southwest to include as a close-up on the bottom part of the screen a
root cellar, continuing in a southwesterly direction to include six
wrecked vehicles in the valley and thereafter in the foreground what
appears to be a white propane tank and a pile of wood. Continuing now in a
southerly direction showing a wrecked car and green roofed and green sided
house which is at this point in a due southerly direction from the camera.
The sweep continues from south to south-southeast to show another
out-building, a shade and then the main residence of Harry and Cecelia
Jumping Bull. Sweep continues to show another out-building with a whitish
colored roof, the sides being of hewn logs which is now in a due easterly
direction. The sweep continues from east to east-northeast to show a white
and black Chevrolet pickup truck and a turquoise colored vehicle. Camera
sweep continues to again include the Wanda Siers residence which is due
north. Another film strip of the green roofed, green sided house which is
south-southwest from the Jumping Bull residence and in the due southerly
direction from the camera. From the green house the camera sweeps from
south to south-southeast {498} and again to east-southeast and due east to
include the residence and general surroundings of the Jumping Bull
residence. The camera then reverses and goes back to an east-southeast
direction to again include the area around the Jumping Bull residence. At
this time close-ups are shown of the Jumping Bull residence and several
nearby buildings thereto. The camera then sweeps from east-southeast to an
east-northeast direction showing close-ups of previously filmed areas. The
film now switches to show the area several yards due east of the Jumping
Bull residence shooting in a southerly direction and sweepIng in a
southerly direction to include vehicles and the Jumping Bull residence.
The film now depicts an area to the south of the Wanda Siers residence
panning an area overlooking the valley to the west of that residence and
sweeping in a southerly direction to include the Wanda Siers residence and
a distant shot of the Jumping Bull residence. Continuing sweep from south
to east to include the road entering by the Jumping Bull Hall into the
Wanda Siers and Jumping Bull residences from Highway 18. This view shows a
vehicle traveling in a northerly direction on Highway Route #18. The film
now depicts a front view of the Wanda Siers residence a northerly
direction and sweeping to the west and back again to the Wanda Siers
residence, and again panning an area in the westerly {499} direction from
the Wanda Siers residence. Film now showing the west side of the Wanda
Siers residence with the camera facing in a northeasterly direction and
sweeping to the north and north-northwesterly direction on to the west
depicting the valley due west of the Siers residence. Continuing with a
sweep of this valley in a direction of west to south. Again the film shows
the corral in the valley, and previously mentioned wrecked vehicles in the
distance which is in a due southerly direction and again panning to the
direction south to the Jumping Bull residence and from south to east, back
again to a due southerly view from the general area of the Wanda Siers
residence into the valley below. With another pan back from south to west
direction showing the rising terrain west of the Jumping Bull general
area. The film now depicts the dirt road leading approximately 50-60 yards
in a south-southwest direction from the Jumping Bull residence which road
generally follows the tree line in a south and southeasterly direction
from this residence. This view is taken with the camera pointing in a
northerly direction at first and then swinging, following the dirt road
along a fence line into a heavily wooded area which at this point would be
filming in a southeasterly direction. Following down this dirt road into a
heavily wooded area and then viewing a red and white van type {500}
vehicle parked in the middle of the dirt road in the heavily wooded area,
which is the area commonly known as Tent City. The camera then pans the
general area of this red and white vehicle showing some of its interior
and general surroundings. This vehicle was facIng in a generally
northwesterly direction. The camera now pans an area commonly known as
`Tent City' showing some tents and another vehicle also parked facing in a
north or northwesterly direction and pans the general area surrounding
these tents, this vehicle and items found to be in the vicinity. The
camera now views an individual uncovering a weapon which is covered with
heavy pieces of bark. The camera shows a close-up of this weapon on the
ground and continues to pan the underbrush and foliage in this general
area to show other weapons found therein and being held in the air for the
camera by individuals. The camera then shows a green olive-drab duffle
type bag which was found near the green vehicle which was located parked
in this area. The camera continues to pan the general area of the foliage
and underbrush and other items in the area known as `Tent City.' The
camera now moves to an area due north of the area known as Tent City
approximately 20 yards into a small rise where we see movies of the FBI
vehicle known to have been assigned to SA Ronald A. Williams. The camera
pans the general area where this {501} car was located and of the interior
and exterior of the vehicle. Immediately upon leaving the scene of Agent
Williams' vehicle, the camera shows another view of the Jumping Bull
residence facing a northeast-north direction panning to the north and then
from north to north-northwest again showing the valley to the due west of
the Jumping Bull residence, with a zoom-in on the corral located in the
far western section of this valley and then showing a general overlay of
the valley facing in a generally western direction which was the death
scene of SA's Williams and Coler. Panning from the west to the south the
camera shows the dirt road and the wrecked vehicles to the west-southwest
of the Jumping Bull residence and the road entering into the heavily
wooded area to the south, going toward Tent City, again facing in a
southerly direction showing the green house known to have been inhabited
by Ivis and Angie Longvisitor and continuing the sweep from south to east
showing other out-buildings and the main residence of Harry and Cecelia
Jumping Bull with the camera pointing in a generally easterly direction
with a continued sweep from the east to the north. The sweep goes back
again showing the residence of the Longvisitors with the camera facing
south and views of the general area surrounding the Jumping Bull residence
from both north and west sides. The camera then shows the plowed field
{502} east-southeast and due east of the Jumping Bull residence and
continues to pan from east to north showing Jumping Bull Hall, a large
shade and then the black and white pickup truck and turquoise colored
sedan from several angles. The camera, again facing a westerly direction,
makes a quick sweep of the valley from the Wanda Siers and Jumping Bull
residences to include the Siers residence and a distant shot of the
Jumping Bull residence area. Again sweeping after the Jumping Bull
residence from south to east, the camera shows the main entrance road from
Highway 18 coming in from an east to west direction toward the Jumping
Bull residence with a large butte in the background, showing a vehicle
traveling in a northerly direction on Highway 18. There are again other
views of the Wanda Siers residence facing in a northerly direction and
sweeping to the west showing the general area around this residence. The
camera, again facing in a westerly direction sweeps part of the valley
which is west of the Wanda Siers residence, continuing a sweep from west
to south to show the corral on the far western edge of the valley, the
dirt road entering the valley from the north to the south to again include
the wrecked vehicles at the far southern edge of this valley west of the
Jumping Bull residence. With a continued sweep to the south the camera
shows part of the Jumping Bull residence area, and back {503} again from
south to south-southwest to again show the valley located directly west of
the Jumping Bull and Wanda Siers residences and one of the roads entering
this valley from north to south."
{504}
MR. HULTMAN: The government, Your Honor, calls Horace Heafner next.
HORACE HEAFNER, being first duly sworn, testified as
follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. HULTMAN:
Q Would you state to the jury and the Court your name, please.
A Horace James Heafner.
Q And where is your home, Mr. Heafner?
A In Fairfax, Virginia.
Q What is the nature of your occupation?
A I'm employed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C.
Q And approximately how long have you been an employee of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation?
A 29 years.
Q And what has been the nature of your experience with the Federal Bureau
of Investigation?
A I prepared visual aids for investigation, training and other uses.
Q And as a result, are you called upon in your capacity to make various
charts, exhibits with reference to possible upcoming exhibits in trials?
A Yes, I am.
Q In this particular case that we are hearing here, were you {505} called
for such assistance?
A I was called to prepare charts and a mockup of a scene on the Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Q Would you go back for the jury and indicate what were the things that
you did in this instance in order to prepare to make the various exhibits
that you and I are going to discuss for a few moments. For example, the
making of aerial photographs and so forth.
A Yes.
I arranged with a company in Rapid City, South Dakota, to make aerial
photographs of the area that you see in back of me. And then I went on the
scene and made measurements of this area.
Q So that the base for which you start to make the various charts and so
forth that are here was first an aerial photograph of the area itself?
A Yes. That's right.
Q And is that a fairly accurate representation, an aerial photograph of
whatever that piece of ground might well be?
A Yes, it is.
Q Would you tell us then what you did next?
A Then I took this material back to Washington and prepared the charts and
the mockup of the area.
Q Now in addition to the taking of the aerial photographs, I believe you
indicated that you went to the area itself in {506} person, did you not?
A Yes, I did.
Q And referring to Government Exhibit 71 which is an exhibit you did
prepare yourself, is it not?
A Yes, it is.
Q Would you indicate to the jury what area and what you did in terms of
being physically on the ground.
A In this matter I went to the area and took measurements of the buildings
and certain places at the site and took them back to the office for use in
preparing this chart.
Q And basically you had aerial photographs of the area, personally walking
and measurements that you personally took from the area on the ground
itself?
A That's correct. In addition to photographs.
Q Would you then just in general terms tell the jury what it is that
Government's Exhibit 71 represents. Not in terms of any evidentiary factor
but only the objects that are portrayed there or attempted to be portrayed
there.
A In this exhibit it's a diagram of an area called the Jumping Bull Hall
area on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and it portrays
the layout of the area with the structures at the scene showing connecting
roads. And then an area to the right that shows the location of the tents.
In addition there are cards and tags with items on it.
Q Do you have a pointer that is prepared for use with this {507} exhibit?
A Yes, I do.
Q Would you go to that pointer and relate the pointer to the exhibit.
A This is the exhibit?
Q Yes. Exhibit 71.
How is the pointer itself connected to this exhibit for anyone who might
use the exhibit?
A This pointer is scaled so that you can take and measure off any distance
on here to give you an approximate distance on the ground.
Q Now what is the scale of Government's Exhibit No. 71?
A In this case, since this is an enlargement of the area, the scale is set
forth at the top here. It would be about two and a half inches equals 100
feet if you measured it out.
Q And if someone used the scale at the top or used the pointer scale that
you have, you can measure with a relative degree of accuracy the distance
between various points and objects on this exhibit, is that correct?
A That's correct.
Q For example, would you measure an approximation for me from the point on
Government's Exhibit 71 wherein we have referred to, and on the exhibit is
a green house which is located at this point on the map (indicating).
Would you measure the distance approximately from that point for me down
{508} to the point on the road which would indicate, or the location of
what the object is known as Coler's car.
A All right.
Q Just by way of illustration to the jury.
A That measures about 600 feet.
Q And it's 600 feet, that would be approximately how many yards?
A 200 yards.
Q And would you do the same thing for me, because Counsel had asked a
question the other day of measuring from the same green house to a point
where, which is illustrated as Special Agent Williams' car up in the upper
right-hand corner and tell us approximately what that distance is.
A That would be about 1400 feet.
Q And approximately how many yards would that be?
A Be about 700 yards.
Q 1400 feet and approximately how many yards?
A Excuse me.
MR. TAIKEFF: We'll stipulate, Your Honor, it's 467 yards.
Q (By Mr. Hultman) All of us on the moment do make an error now and then,
don't we, sir.
Are the various objects that you have portrayed there, the houses, the
roads, are they in the relative position and in the relative distance that
are portrayed on the aerial photo {509} from which you began your work?
A Yes, they are.
Q Now I would now direct --
MR. HULTMAN: And I might ask Your Honor if the witness might go to
Government's Exhibit 20.
THE COURT: The witness can approach Government Exhibit 20.
MR. HULTMAN: Your Honor, I might ask if it would be possible at this time,
maybe the jury could leave the box to be at a point where they could see,
to be somewhere for a brief explanation of this exhibit. If Counsel has no
objection.
MR. TAIKEFF: I have no objection, Your Honor.
THE COURT: The jury may step down from their jury box and view the exhibit
as the witness testifies.
MR. HULTMAN: Might I remain here with the witness, Your Honor, to ask
these few questions?
Q (By Mr. Hultman) Now referring to Government's Exhibit 20, Mr. Heafner,
and would you explain in general what this exhibit is and how you prepared
it.
A This is the three dimensional model of the area at the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation called the Jumping Bull Hall area. It was prepared from aerial
photographs and the topographic studies and on site measurements of that
area.
Q Is this prepared to a scale also?
A Yes, it is. It's one inch on here equals ten feet on the {510} ground.
Q So ten feet on the ground in distance is represented on this exhibit by
one inch?
A That's right.
Q Now do you have also a scale on this same pointer, the other side of
this pointer which measures distances as far as this model is concerned?
A I do.
Q Now in addition to being a representation of a part of the area, the
center part area primarily of Government's Exhibit 71, this also gives
some dimensions in terms of showing generally what the elevations are
which cannot be shown or seen on Government's Exhibit 71, is that correct?
A That's correct.
Q To show what is relatively higher or relatively lower in comparing one
spot or one area with another?
A Yes.
Q Now so that the jury might be oriented, they have been observing
Government's Exhibit No. 71 and if we would look and I would direct the
jurors' attention and the witness to that exhibit. If we would look at the
left-hand upper corner we would see Highway 18 and where it begins on the
left side of that exhibit. Where in relationship now is that point where
you start in to Jumping Bull Hall as you leave Highway 18 and start in to
Jumping Bull Hall, where approximately on or off of {511} this exhibit
would that be?
A It would be east of this area here (indicating). Highway 18 would come
in at this angle (indicating).
Q And is this the road that comes in from Jumping Bull Hall?
A From Highway 18.
Q Highway 18. All right.
What is the first building as represented both on ,Government's Exhibit
No. 71 and the first object on this end of Government's Exhibit 20 which
is the extension, so the record will show, of this exhibit, which is this
building portrayed here?
A It's referred to as Jumping Bull Hall.
Q So that that lone building there, that is referred to on Government's
Exhibit No. 71 which says, as you leave Highway l8 and go, the first
building is Jumping Bull Hall so referred there. Is this object on the
extension?
A Yes, it is.
Q Now would you then, starting at Jumping Bull Hall and going down the
road point out various objects that are shown on this mockup.
A Well, I can refer to this as the Sears' house.
Q All right. That is the Sears' house.
MR. HULTMAN: And let the record show that he is pointing to a house which
is colored in what way?
A Well, this is the front part is stucco and the back part, {512} it's a
red asbestos type brick.
Q Have you used colored combinations for the buildings to try to portray
that thought?
A Yes, I have.
Q Now if we were to continue on down through the cut here, would you be
going from a fairly level elevation or a flat area to a lower elevation?
A Yes, you would.
Q And you would be going down that road then toward some objects that are
represented there at the present time which appear to be automobiles, is
that correct?
A That's correct.
Q Now the first object there is an object with sort of a grey automobile
in color, is that right?
A That's right.
Q Would you tell the jury what that object is so that we leave no
confusion in anybody's mind?
A This would be an abandoned automobile.
Q A single abandoned automobile.
Does that also appear on Government's Exhibit No. 71?
A Yes, it does.
Q And is so pointed out there in wording, is that correct?
A That's correct.
Q Now if you move on farther down, you come to another vehicle, a yellow
or gold looking vehicle, and would you tell {513} the jury what that
represents.
A That, I'm told that that vehicle represents one of the agents' cars.
Q And this was the location through analysis that was the area at which
the automobile was found, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q Now would you point out then where corrals are in that general vicinity.
A All right. We go down in this lower portion here to Whiteclay River.
Q There are in effect what appears on both Government's Exhibits 71 and 20
here sort of two corrals, separate corrals, one larger and one smaller?
A Yes, sir.
Q Are those again so represented on Government Exhibit 71?
A They are.
Q Now if you continue on around the road that sort of circles it and you
got to the far edge of this Exhibit 20, there appears to be a row of
about, well, six specifically, again, cars, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q That's what that represents?
A Yes.
Q Now is that the same object that is also represented on Government's
Exhibit No. 71 where there is a cluster of cars?
{514}
A Yes, it is.
Q Now if you were to continue on that road toward a number of jurors and
toward the wall, would you continue on in a direction to go to the area
which is the tent area as is shown on Government's Exhibit 71?
A Yes, you would.
Q And then what, if you came on back up the hill, are the various
buildings that are represented in a cluster here? Would you start with the
far building. It's green in color and tell us what it is.
A I understand that is a green house which is covered in green tar paper.
Next to that would be a shed and then this house here is a stucco type
frame house.
This is a log type house and then you have another green tar paper house.
MR. HULTMAN: Might I for the record, and I would think without any
objection by Counsel, that the green house is the house that we referred
to and has been referred to and will continue to be referred to as the
green house.
Q (By Mr. Hultman) The center white house with trees in the area is the
Jumping Bull residence and the log house then is the next residence this
way. Would you point out the log house.
A Right here (indicating).
Q This is the log house. So that the objects here, generally {515}
buildings are, this is Jumping Bull Hall, this is the Wanda Sears'
residence, the bottom of the road where the vehicle as represented there
of the FBI agents, the two corrals, the abandoned automobiles, the green
house, the Jumping Bull residence and the log house (indicating). Those
are the major items as far as buildings in the area, isn't that correct?
A That's correct.
Q And then there is one other additional small building between the log
house and the Wanda Sears' house?
A Yes.
Q Now generally speaking is the terrain between Highway l8 and where you
can see here it drops off pretty much a flat, very flat table top area?
A Yes, it is.
Q And you have got it portrayed here?
A Yes. It's quite flat in here (indicating).
Q Then it drops away as is generally shown in this exhibit down to the
creek area, is that true?
A That's true.
Q Show us where the creek area would run beginning, for example, beyond
the Wanda Sears' house and show the general direction that the creek would
run.
A This creek actually connects Oglala Lake and starts back over this way
and runs in a winding direction over in that area, back up off the model
towards the tent area (indicating).
{516}
Q Now you have here on this exhibit 20 some things that portray trees or
bushes and then areas that have none. Is it a fair assumption on my part
that in the areas where there is none there are no trees of any kind and
that's why they are portrayed there as being an open area?
A That's right.
Q And where you have shown foilage, that is an area where there is,
consisting of trees and foilage, is that correct?
A Yes. That's correct.
Q Now Counsel has asked me to ask you for the defendant further questions.
Would you relate with reference to north and south here and relate it on
with relationship to Exhibit 20 what is portrayed and which you have been
on the ground and seen, as you have indicated, the area known as the tent
area. Would you point and show approximately where the direction would be
from where you're standing at the Wanda Sears' residence and moving on to
the Jumping Bull property with relationship to this exhibit where the tent
area would be.
A It would be in a south, I'd say more of a southeasterly direction.
Q And that is the direction you are now pointing, is that correct?
A Yes. That's correct.
MR HULTMAN: I do not recall what the correction was when we measured it,
and you corrected it, corrected the witness, {517} Counsel, the
approximate distance from the green house to the automobile and the tent
area, do you recall?
MR. TAIKEFF: Approximately 12 feet.
MR. HULTMAN: But in yards.
MR. TAIKEFF: It was 1400 yards.
MR. HULTMAN: 1400 feet.
MR. TAIKEFF: 1400 feet.
Q (By Mr. Hultman) Could you indicate approximately with your present
measurement at Counsel's request, approximately generally how far away
from the green house, make the same measurement to show on the table
beyond or in that general direction about where the tents and the tent
area would be located 1400 feet.
A It would be about here at this glass (indicating).
Q About where the glass is located on the second table?
A Yes.
MR. HULTMAN: I have no further questions.
Does Counsel have any questions?
MR. TAIKEFF: No.
MR. HULTMAN: I believe we could return, Your Honor.
Your Honor, I would offer into evidence Government's Exhibit 20.
MR. HULTMAN: Is that subject to a special understanding that Counsel have
concerning its usage or should we approach the bench and explain to the
judge possible predicaments.
{518}
MR. HULTMAN: I would suggest, Elliot, if we do come to that point we meet
it at that time.
MR. TAIKEFF: At this time, Your Honor, anticipating no difficulties,
should a problem arise, we won't object.
THE COURT: Exhibit 20 is received.
MR. HULTMAN: I have no further questions.
THE COURT: You may cross-examine.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. TAIKEFF:
Q Have you ever seen the film which is Government's Exhibit No. 10, I
believe, the color film of the area?
A Yes, I have.
Q And in that film did you notice any people whom you recognized as FBI
agents?
A I don't recall. Offhand I don't recall. I was looking more at the
terrain. I wasn't conscious of individuals.
Q Do you recall whether there were any people in the film who appeared in
khaki clothing, military type garb?
A I believe I saw some; yes.
Q Do you know whether they were FBI agents?
A I don't know who they were.
Q Is it customary for FBI agents to wear khaki or military type garb on
the reservation?
A I'm not familiar with that ruling.
Q Now you went personally to this area to make certain measurements on or
about July 7, 1975, did you not?
{519}
A On July 8, 1975.
Q While you and your colleagues were there preparing sketches and taking
measurements, were you accompanied by members of the Denver, Milwaukee and
Chicago S.W.A.T teams?
A Yes, I was.
Q What is a S.W.A.T. team?
A Well, it's my understanding it's agents that are specially trained in
situations that require manpower to come in and secure an area or provide
protection or take over an area.
Q Do you know what S.W.A.T. stands for?
A Special Weapons Attack Team.
Q Were three of those teams there with you at that location?
A There were men with me; I don't know what teams they represented.
Q Putting aside the names of the cities involved or possibly involved, how
many such people were there in the area when you went to make
measurements?
A I didn't ask. I don't know.
Q And what kind of clothing did they wear?
A Various types of clothing. Some had fatigues.
Q You say fatigues, you're talking about khaki colored or military type
clothing?
A Green. Yes.
MR. TAIKEFF: I have no further questions.
MR. HULTMAN: No further questions, Your Honor, and I {520} have run out of
witnesses as well as film.
THE COURT: The timing was quite good.
You may step down.
Is the United States ready at this time to, I'm going to recess the court
as far as the jury is concerned. It's 5:00 o'clock. I was wondering if the
United States was ready to respond to some of the matters mentioned by
defense counsel.
MR. HULTMAN: No. The government is not, Your Honor. All of us have been
here in the courtroom and I would like an opportunity at least until
Monday morning to look at those various items and I think they would
agree.
MR. TAIKEFF: No objection.
THE COURT: Very well.
The court will recess then until 9:00 o'clock Monday morning. And I again
remind the jurors that you are not to discuss the case or form any opinion
in your minds until it has been submitted to you for your deliberations.
The court is in recess.
(Whereupon, at 5:00 o'clock, P.M. court was adjourned until Monday, March
21, 1977, at 9:00 o'clock, A.M.)
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