Lynching - Annick Press

Copyright Annick Press 2012
valley so fast, it’s almost like the telegraph line.
“The sheriff and Bob Breckenridge went to see
the Canadian justice of the peace in Sumas, a Mr.
Campbell,” said Mr. Pratt, who’s a natural storyteller
and plays the fiddle when there’s a dance in town.
Like Father, he’s a Scot by birth. “The justice listened
to all the evidence Sheriff Leckie presented and
agreed that Louie Sam was the likely culprit. It
turns out that Justice Campbell’s the one who put
Louie Sam’s old man in jail for murder, so it came as
no surprise to him that the son had followed in his
father’s footsteps.”
“What’s he planning to do about it?” asked Father
as he poured a sack of Mr. Pratt’s wheat into the
hopper, getting ready to grind it.
“He issued a warrant for Louie Sam’s arrest. But,
the way Bob tells it, the sheriff didn’t altogether trust
this Campbell fellow. The Canadians have different
ways, different laws. So the sheriff talked Campbell
into letting him ride with him to take Louie Sam into
custody, to make sure justice is served. Bob and the
sheriff parted ways at that point, and Bob came back
here to spread the word.”
“And this Justice Campbell expects the Sumas to
hand Louie Sam over just like that? Because he has
a warrant?” Father’s eyebrow was cocked, meaning he
thought this was a daft notion.
“Aye, that’s the question, Peter,” replied Mr. Pratt,
with his own knowing look. “That’s the question.”
Before leaving, Mr. Pratt also told us that plans
had been made for Mr. Bell’s funeral. Those who were
interested in paying their respects were to meet at the
Hausers’ cabin on Wednesday. Judging by the mood in
the valley, Mr. Pratt expected to see every man in the
district there, ready to show the local Indians by force
of numbers that they would not let the murder of a
white man go unnoticed, or unpunished.
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