The case argued on February 28, 1916 and decided on June 12, 1916 concerned adultery committed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota between two enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

This decision was made because the offense occurred on a Sioux Indian reservation which is not said to be under jurisdiction of the district court.

[1] Justice Willis Van Devanter delivered the opinion of the court: This is a prosecution for adultery committed on one of the Sioux Indian Reservations in the state of South Dakota.

The statute upon which the prosecution is founded was originally adopted as part of the act of March 3, 1887 (chap.

...And are they not intended to be in accord with the policy reflected by the legislation of Congress and its administration for many years, that the relations of the Indians among themselves-the conduct of one toward another-is to be controlled by the customs and laws of [241 U.S. 602, 606] the tribe, save when Congress expressly or clearly directs otherwise?