Joseph Pah-ye-wah-sit
Advocate
13 Jun 1907
Murdered Last Friday Evening
Indian Stabbed to Death Near Whitehouse Corner on Keshena Road
An Indian named Mitchell Shawanessy, about 53 years of age, was murdered last Friday evening at Whitehouse Corner on the road to Keshena, and about three miles from town.
It is a decided mix-up affair and very little is known concerning it. Friday evening Jos. Pyavasit Sr. and wife and Mitchell Shawanessy and wife left Shawano at about four. They were in a two seated platform wagon and all were somewhat intoxicated. They got as far as the Whitehouse corner, which seems to be quite a stopping place for some of them when they have been drinking, They were seen by a number of people, and some Indians endeavored to get them to go home. It is supposed that they got into a row and one of the three stabbed Shawanessy near the heart, killing him instantly. He has had considerable trouble with his wife and the other squaw who was their adopted daughter. As all were more or less drunk they do not seem to know how the deed happened. His wife walked home, which is about three miles from where the fight occurred. She got there at about midnight and left again early in the morning with the team, which had wondered home. On her way back to the scene of the trouble she met the other two and they all went back and put the body in the wagon and took it to his home. When they arrived there a doctor was called and in making his examination the squaw objected to his opening the shirt of the dead man, knowing that the cause of the death would be known.
As soon as it was learned that an Indian had been murdered Mr. Freeman, the superintendent, phoned Dist. Attorney Werner as to the county's jurisdiction. He was informed that it would come under the state place to prosecute the case and Mr., Werner asked Mr. Freeman to arrest the Indian. This was done on Saturday and he was brought to Shawano Monday afternoon and the examination was held before Justice O Andrews, The testimony showed that very little could be learned concerning the case. As the accused is a one armed old veteran he carried a knife in his stocking, and it was found there covered blood. Neither of the Indians can talk English very good. Justice Andrews decided that while the evidence was all circumstantial, it was enough to hold the defendant, so he was committed to the county jail to await the next term of court, which is next December. It is said that bail may be arranged for him. Wallrich, Dillett & Larson appeared for the defendant and Dist. Atty. Werner for the state.
Shawano County Journal
13 Jun 1907
Held for Murder
Joseph Pyavasit Arrested Under Serious Charge
Knifed Through Heart
Mitchell Shawanessy, Another Keshena Indian, the Victim
Friday night, Mitchell Shawanessy, a resident of the reservation and a member of the Menominee tribe, was killed by being stabbed through the heart with a knife.
At a preliminary examination before Justice Orlin Andrews Monday afternoon Joseph Pyavasit, another member of the tribe, was held for trial. strong circumstantial evidence being produced against him.
At the examination James Tourtillott, the official Keshena interpreter, was sworn for that duty and the first witness examined was the wife of the murdered man. Her story was that the two men, herself and Agnes Pyavasit, the wife of the accused man, who is her sister, but being raised by Shawanessy and wife was called daughter and so regarded by those who knew her, had all been to Shawano, On the return trip to Keshena they were drinking and at Whitehouse corners, got out of the rig and drank more whiskey. When she recovered from the effect of the liquor she walked on home but did not know until she reached home and enquired of her father that the others were not home. She retraced her steps, first meeting Agnes and Pyavasit. Their little dog coming out of the brush led them to the body of Shawanessy. He was found in a sitting posture, bent forward. She felt of his pulse and Pyavasit approached, asked what was the trouble and uttered an exclamation of surprise.
They dragged the body out to the wagon, rolled it in a blanket and the three lifted it into the wagon. On the way home Joe said "I can't see why when I am with any one such things happen."
At the home the body was placed on the bed, she removed the shoes and the reservation physician sent for. A. S. Larson, who appeared for the defense, secured the following testimony on the cross examination. The time of the crime was about sun set. That none of the goods in the wagon had been touched, her husband had no knife, and the men had never quarreled, but had on the contrary, always been good friends.
She stated that her husband was born the next day after the Menominee tribe was brought to the reservation, which was in 1853. Her husband was a much smaller man then Pyavasit.
Williams, the Keshena jailor, was sworn and testified to searching his prisoner and finding the knife and bloody hankerchief, which are the largest part of evidence against the accused man. The knife was found concealed inside his stocking, just above the shoe top.
Dr L W White, the reservation physician, testified that he was called by Mrs. Shawanessy and found the body on the bed as stated in her testimony. When he wished to examine the body both of the women objected, and expressed surprise at the knife wound he found. He at once went after the superintendent of the reservation, Shepard Freeman. The knife had entered between the fourth and fifth rib and had cut out off the blood supply to the lungs by passing through the top of the heart.
The doctor also testified that the nature of the wound was such as to preclude the possibility of its having been self0inflicted or the results of an accident, and that the depth of the wound corresponded to the length of the knife blade that was found in the possession of the defendant when he was searched. The blade of the knife had entered parallel to the ribs, cutting edge out and at angle of 45 degrees.
Superintendent Freeman testified that Pyavasit had never been in trouble before and had always borne a good reputation. He is 72 years of age and his wife Agnes is 19. He is a veteran of the 80th Wisconsin (37th), and lost an arm in the civil war. Both the two men and the two women had just returned from the state G. A. R. reunion at Oshkosh.
The charge against Pyavasit will be man slaughter in a mild degree.
Shawano County Journal
20 Jun 1907
Joseph Pyavist, who is in the county jail on the charge of manslaughter, is taking life as easy as possible under the circumstances. He would not regain his liberty if offered the opportunity. He draws a pension of $40 per month owing to his loss of an arm in the Civil War.
Joseph Pah-ye-wah-sit aka Pyawasit (Snowflake)
Enlisted as Pvt 37 Wis. Inf. Co K on 16 May 1864 at Milwaukee
Mustered out as Pvt. 37 Wis. Inf. Co K on 27 Jul 1865 (absent, sick at MO of Regt.)
Time Served 1y 2m 11d
Wounded 21 Aug 1864 at Weldon RR, VA. Lost his arm
Died 31 Dec 1913, Shawano
Pension
