We do not know his name: Klatsassin and the Chilcotin War
   
 

Testimony of Ahan

[ Crease Wig, On loan from the Royal British Columbia Museum., John Lutz, Maritime Museum of British Columbia  ]

British Columbia to Wit

The statement of Ahan charged with being concerned in the wilful murder of Alick McDonald Clifford Higgins and Peter McDougald who being duly cautioned that he was not bound to criminate himself that he need not answer any questions put to him and that anything he said would be taken down in writing and may be used against him at his trial.

Says I knew Alick I knew Higgins and I knew McDougald. I remember the time they were killed. I saw McDougald killed I fired at him and three other Indians fired at him also. I cannot say whether or not I hit him but I think not as my gun was loaded with shot and McDougald had a hole in his stomach made by a ball. The first wound did not kill McDougald but afterward an Indian of the Taikla tribe shot him in the breast and killed him. Lutas was present at the attack he fired but did not hit anyone. Ach-pic-er-mous was not present at the attack he remained far away. Klattassin lent me the musket with which I fired. Chicatinin threatened to shoot me if I did not fire. Alick was shot by Yahooslas who also killed Higgins. There was one Indian killed.

Ahan X
his mark

Made to me this 31st day of May 1865

C. Brew

Witness and Interpreter
Morris Moss

Source: BCA, H.P.P. Crease: Legal Papers 1853-1895, Add. Mss — 54 box 3, file 12, Supreme Court of New Westminster, Testimony of Ahan, May 30, 1865, 1610-1611.

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