Pennsylvania v. Becomb
Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Westmoreland County
THESE men lived on the frontier of Westmoreland, near Lycoming county. Becomb and Reading went, as they said, to trade with two Indians, who had a hunting camp on the frontier of Lycoming, near Westmoreland county. They had with them half a peck of salt to buy deerskin for moccasins.
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THESE men lived on the frontier of Westmoreland, near Lycoming county. Becomb and Reading went, as they said, to trade with two Indians, who had a hunting camp on the frontier of Lycoming, near Westmoreland county. They had with them half a peck of salt to buy deerskin for moccasins. On their way, they persuaded one Shallenberger, (a lad who then worked at a house to which the Indians sometimes came, to trade for corn) to go with them, to shew them the camp ; and he took with him half a gallon of whiskey. The Indians were absent, when they went to the camp. There was no fire in the camp ; but…
1Opinion of the Court
President.
The taking seems proved ; and the ordinary evidence of the felonious intention, a denial of the act, appears in this case. There is even ground to believe, that they left their homes with this intention. Half a peck of salt was but a poor stock to trade on.
I know no law tendering it unlawful for an Indian, any more than a white man, to hunt on the lands of others. Whether the Indians were trespassers or not, the authorities cited prove that they were not thieves. Their labour in killing the deer and bears, ferœ naturœ, *389gave the Indians a property in the skins, meat, and tallow of…
2Cited by1 opinion
- In re Probate of Matter Which is Alleged to be the Nuncupative Will of MaleNew Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division · 1892