Chief Leschi

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Charge:	Murder
Sentence:	Death and Executed
Years Imprisoned:	1.5
Year Crime:	1856
Year Convicted:	1858
Year Cleared:	2004
U.S. State or Country of Crime:	Washington
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City of Crime:
Result:	Judicially Exonerated
Summary of Case:	"Wrongly convicted of murdering a Washington Territory militia man in 1856 during a skirmish between a band of the Nisqually Tribe that was at war with the whites in the area. Chief Leschi was accused of killing the militia man, but he claimed he wasn't present at the skirmish. The prosecution had a sole "eyewitness" who claimed to have seen Leschi shot the man. After his first trial ended in a hung jury in 1856, Chief Leschi was convicted in 1857 and sentenced to death. He was hanged on Feb. 19, 1858. On December 10, 2004, a Historical Court of Inquiry held after resolutions were passed by both branches of the Washington legislature, exonerated Chief Leschi - 146 years after his wrongful execution. Jailed for almost 1-1/2 years from time of arrest to execution."
Conviction Caused By:	"Perjured testimony by the prosecution's sole "eyewitness""
Innocence Proved By:	"Historical Court of Inquiry convened by a resolution of the Washington State Legislature, exonerated Chief Leschi on December 10, 2004"
Defendant Aided By:
Compensation Awarded:
Was Perpetrator Identified?
Age When Imprisoned:	49
Age When Released:
Sex:	Male
Skin/Ethnicity:	Native American (Indian)
Information Source 1:	"Historical Court Clears Chief Leschi's Name, Gregory Roberts, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, p. B1,4, 12-11-04."
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Information Source 2:	"Justice 146 years Later, Rob Carson, The Tacoma News Tribune, p. A1, 12-11-2004"
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Chief Leschi

Charge:

Murder

Sentence:

Death and Executed

Years Imprisoned:

1.5

Year Crime:

1856

Year Convicted:

1858

Year Cleared:

2004

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Washington

County or Region of Crime:

City of Crime:

Result:

Judicially Exonerated

Summary of Case:

Conviction Caused By:

"Perjured testimony by the prosecution's sole "eyewitness""

Innocence Proved By:

"Historical Court of Inquiry convened by a resolution of the Washington State Legislature, exonerated Chief Leschi on December 10, 2004"

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

49

Age When Released:

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

Native American (Indian)

Information Source 1:

"Historical Court Clears Chief Leschi's Name, Gregory Roberts, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, p. B1,4, 12-11-04."

Information Location 1:

Information Source 2:

"Justice 146 years Later, Rob Carson, The Tacoma News Tribune, p. A1, 12-11-2004"

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Book About Case:

Book Information:

Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case: