You don’t ask and you don’t tell.
– Judge Ben Boswell
Well, yes, I hid the trial records of the massacre.
I did it to protect the interests of the county.
Some of the killers have family here,
people I’ve known all my life.
They’re good folks, just like the pioneers
who settled this valley. They built communities
and worked the land.
Before them it was just Indians.
I mean, they never improved anything.
Sooner or later they were going to have to go.
And as for those Chinese miners down on
Deep Creek, it’s terrible they were slaughtered
like that, but I’ve always wanted to showcase
the positives about the county. It’s not fair
to have one incident define who we are.
I know you’re shocked that we include
the gang leader with those people
who first civilized this area,
but he helped build the county, too.
Anyway, that was such a long time ago.
People have forgotten about it
or never much cared in the first place.
It’s kind of lost to history now. Why dig it up
and ruffle feathers? I’m proud I served forty-five
years in this office. If you really want to see what
we’re all about, come to Chief Joseph Days.
We celebrate our heritage.
