Soapy Smith in court: The US Commissioner journal for Dyea, Alaska, 1898; Part 7.

Harry Bronson arrested
"Concealing stolen property"
Courtesy Alaska State Archives

(Click image to enlarge)

Previous version
"Being an accessory after the fact"
Courtesy Alaska State Archives

(Click image to enlarge)

IVIL AND CRIMINAL ACTIONS
The legal journal of the U.S. Commissioner Court
Dyea, Alaska; part seven of eight parts.

     The following is part six of a series of articles regarding the journal of legal proceedings regarding Soapy Smith and the Soap Gang in Skagway, Alaska, started by U.S. Commissioner John U. Smith. On this case Commissioner Smith has been replaced by Charles Augustus Sehlbrede.

    On Friday, July 8, 1898, Soapy Smith was shot and killed in the shootout on Juneau Wharf. Soap Gang member Harry Bronson was charged with "concealing" J. D. Stewards gold poke and was arrested. Following are the two transcriptions of the events listed on page 433 and 437 compiled by Commissioner Sehlbrede. First page 433.

The United States Commissioners Court for the District of Alaska at Dyea

United States vs Harry Bronson - Violation Sec 534 (1742) Oregon Code

July 9th 1898
     Complaint charging defendant with being accessory after the fact to the crime of larceny from the person of another sworn to by J. M. Tanner filed, and warrant for arrest of defendant issued.

July 9th 1898
     J. M. Tanner appointed by the court to serve warrant.

July 9 15, 1898
     Defendant brought before the court, and upon being asked his true name stated it to be Harry Bronson, and being by the court advised of the nature of the charge against him, and of his right to the aid of counsel, waived examination.
     Whereupon it is adjudged that the defendant George Harry Bronson be held to answer for the crime of being an accessory after the fact to the crime of larceny from the person of another. It therefore appearing to me that the crime of larceny from the person of another has been committed and that there is sufficient cause to believe the said defendant guilty of being an accessory after the fact thereof I order him to be held to answer the same, and I have admitted him to bail in the sum of ten thousand ($10,000.) dollars.
     Commitment issued, and with the defendant placed in the hands of the United States Marshal James M. Shoup.

C. A. Sehlbrede
United States Commissioner for Alaska.

Page 437 changed the charge of "being accessory after the fact to the crime of larceny," to "concealing stolen property."

The United States Commissioners Court for the District of Alaska at Dyea

Violation Sec 561 (1774)
United States
vs
Harry Bronson

July 9th 1898
     Complaint charging defendant with the crime of concealing stolen property sworn to by J. M. Tanner, filed, and warrant for arrest of defendant issued.

July 15, 1898
     Defendant arrested and brought before the court, and upon being asked his true name gave it as Harry Bronson.
     The defendant being advised as to the charge filed against him, and his right to aid of counsel, waived examination.
     Whereupon it is adjudged that the defendant be held to answer for the crime of concealing stolen property.
     It therefore appearing to me that the crime of concealing stolen property has been committed, and that there is sufficient cause to believe the defendant Harry Bronson guilty thereof. I order him to be held to answer the same, and have admitted him to bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars.
     Commitment issued and with the defendant delivered to United States Marshal James M. Shoup.

C. A. Sehlbrede
United States Commissioner.

* A very special thank you to Art Petersen who located and copied the pages of the journal.










Commissioner's Journal: part 1.
Commissioner's Journal: part 2.
Commissioner's Journal: part 3.
Commissioner's Journal: part 4.
Commissioner's Journal: part 5.
Commissioner's Journal: part 6.
Commissioner's Journal: part 8.

U.S. Commissioner Charles Augustus Sehlbrede: pp. 506-07, 514, 520-21, 527, 529, 533, 537, 542, 544, 547-48, 550, 553, 557, 562-63, 566-67, 570-71, 575, 577.
Harry L. "Red" Bronson: pp. 566, 575.
Josias. M. Tanner: pp. 82, 459, 500, 530, 533, 535, 541, 544, 547-49, 551, 562, 564, 566-71, 575-79, 582.

"The citizens have called a mass meeting to consider what steps are to be taken, and it means a fight, and they look to us to lead them."

—Samuel H. Graves
President of the White Pass and Yukon Railway