Domestic Dispute Leads to Assault Warrant
A leader of the Puyallup tribe is sought by police after a violent altercation with his nephew.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Joe Dean, leader of the Puyallup tribe, struck his nephew, George Dean, over the head with an empty revolver with such force that the weapon broke in half. The incident occurred after the younger Dean dismissed the significance of his father's current incarceration in the city jail. Joe Dean, described as a wealthy and well-known member of the tribe, is already facing a prior charge for wife-beating. A warrant has been issued for his arrest on charges of assault and battery.
“Joe yesterday struck the lad on the head with an empty revolver so hard that the weapon broke in twain.”
This reporting reflects the era's tendency to document internal tribal conflicts while pathologizing individuals. It captures a moment of legal intervention on the Puyallup reservation, which remains a sovereign jurisdiction today.
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