Owyhee bullion. [volume] (Silver City, I.T. [Idaho]) 1866-1867, 1867-02-07

NafNNf s~"A - 80 hNtNtJ aNeSNf"eiO W hppVeO
that there is any person in Idaho as well
acquainted with the business of the Office, as
Mr. Hewlett. Aftera short trip made to
Walla Walla by Smith, as he said, to bring
up funds, he returned to Lewiston and open
ed his Office.
A short time before Smith arrived, Coo
ran showed the writer OF this, letter from
VIM. ii. Seward to Governor Lyon, stating
that Congress had appropriated the sum Of
$4,000, to pay the Indebtedness of the ter
ritory; and that that amount had been placed
TO the credit of Secretary OF the territory.
Smith, upon his first arrival at Lewiston.
alleged that he had deposited $35,OO0 with
the Receiver of the Land Office, at o. egon
City. Hewlett must have known whether
Smith told the truth or not.
The statement Of Sni h in regard to the
$4,000, was believed by few at the time,
but it now appears that he was correct, aud
that by means of Gilsons vilany, that sum
became the spoil Of another Official thief or
thieves. Smith upon his return from Wal
la Walla, brought with him sweet scented
band box kind of an apology Tor man, by
name, Gibson, holding the position of private
Secretary to said Smith. Smith alter
opening his Office at Lewiston proceeded for
few days in the transactian OF the business
of the Office, paying out in the mean time,
some where between seven and nine thou
sand dollars to divers Territorial creditors.
Then, without notice or excuse, closed his
Office, and positively refused to transact any
further business ut Lewiston. This course
was anything but agreeable to the people Of
Lewiston and northern Idaho for at that
time almost the whole appropriation was due
in that section of the territory and it was
the universal belief, that unless Smith could
be induced to proceed with payment of the
bills held against the territory then aad
there, that not another dollar would ever
reach the creditors OF the territory, US Con
gress intended. The sequel has shown how
truly the people Of Lewiston and surrOun ling,
had gauged Smith aud his little band. After
closing his Office Smith, in defiance of the
first district court. and with an exalted con
tempt Of his word stole the territorial seal,
and as Gov. Lyon had done before him, ran
away leaving the fixtures Of his office in the
custody Of Hewlett. Smith arrived sale
in Boise City, and opened the Office Of Secre-
tary and acting Governor in that village,
but, though the creditors VI the territory all
wanted pay, 1t appears now that he made no
attempt to draw the money from Oregon
City aud pay them, but no did the next
best thing he could Tor the peupl--he died. !
ellison then became Secretary. Lyon, instead
being removed, was sent back from Washing
ton to his post, us governor. and after II lev
months Of most dssraciuI conddct. he again
ran away.
Alter the adjournment Of the third session
Of the legislature in January, 1856 Glspn
started for san Francisco o.ten.lbly, to
have the territorial printing dJae, but really
to steal the territory money then AT Oregon
City,le aving Hewlett. the still trusted Gus
todan, in Charge Of the OiliGe al Boise Guy. |
Under date OF, Portland, March 2. 1866, /
GilsOn writes To Hewlett NO news here I
from the east in regard to greenbacks.
Knowing as he did. that both smith and 1
Ellison had said that there was S36,uUU At |
Oregon City, he must have known that Gil |
son intended to deceive. Gibson again /
writes 10 Hewlett under date san FRANCISCO
March 20 1866.
Have received dispatch from Washing
ton that S3J,O00 had been seat me on my
bond, therefore shall expect IL here about the
18th of April. | will deposit S2uU0O with (.
Lsdd & 'rllton at Portland. subject to yuur
draft, upon its arrival here, and viii telegraph (.
you either by Salt Lake or Portland npo0,
its arrival TO expedite the matter,yOu may
say from 25th to Both April. all w ichers
and accounts will he redeemed
Is it not strange that the Inoceni old man
amt trusted custodian was deceived G? by
l. l. /. e T. s44