Where was Mr. X earlier?
Peter Matthiessen, while preparing his thorough treatment of Pine Ridge, AIM, and the FBI, conducted in-depth interviews of all the participants in this drama. His research, of course, preceded the first publication of In the Spirit of Crazy Horse in 1983. “Spirit” p. 158 In the next few minutes, one or more people approached the cars and killed both white men at close range with one or more high-powered rifles. Perhaps someone panicked, though this seems unlikely; perhaps someone was settling an old score or simply had a murderous impulse, although this seems unlikely too. In view of the virulent hostility to AIM, especially the lawless atmosphere of Pine Ridge, the Indians present may have feared that whether or not these white men survived, anyone involved here would be shot on sight, even if they surrendered; there was no way they would ever get to trial. Even flight would probably be hopeless if anyone could be identified by the victims; their last desperate chance was to finish o
