Accused Murderer Seeks Trial on Puyallup Reservation
Jacky Smokalem survives a suicide attempt while awaiting trial for the murder of his wife.
Jacky Smokalem, accused of the murder of his wife, Annie Smokalem, on the Puyallup reservation in December, has recovered from a suicide attempt. Using a strip torn from his blanket, he tried to end his own life while in custody but is now healthy and under constant observation. Deputy Sheriff Lane reported that Smokalem continues to assert his innocence, claiming he owns five acres of land and hopes to secure his freedom at his upcoming trial. A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
“Smokalem said that he still owned five acres of land and that he was going to secure his freedom at his trial.”
This case highlights the tensions and jurisdictional complexities regarding the Puyallup reservation during the early 20th century. Such reports were frequently framed through a sensationalist lens, often stripping the humanity from Indigenous subjects while focusing on the administrative details of their confinement.
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