"Chief Leschi has been exonerated.

That ruling from a specially convened Historical Court of Inquiry and Justice holds no sway in law. But it does comfort members of the Nisqually Indian tribe who have lived under a cloud of suspicion for 150 years.

The seven-member tribunal, convened by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, recently heard from 11 witnesses ranging from tribal elders to legal experts and historians. They relied on court documents, state archives and written accounts to make the case that the Nisqually chief was wrongly convicted and hanged Feb. 19, 1858."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Chief Leschi exonerated (The Olympian 12/17)

Relevant Links:
Chief Leschi information - http://www.leschi.bia.edu/leschiinfo.htm

Related Stories:
Nisqually Chief Leschi cleared 150 years later (12/13)
Nisqually Chief Leschi gets rehearing on murder (12/06)
Editorial: Court must exonerate Nisqually Chief Leschi (03/16)
Editorial: Lawmakers right to clear Chief Leschi (3/8)
Nisqually chief's execution called 'black mark' (2/19)
Bill to clear Nisqually chief gets hearing in Wash. (2/18)
Leschi descendants work to clear chief's name (09/15)