The national Republican., 1867-09-24
The Charge Against .n Indi.n Agent-I,s
Refutal.

The Charge Against sn Indisn Agent-Its
Refutal. a
wA.nlSaros, sep,. 2i, 1897.
To tho Agent Of the Associated Press: Tho
following communication appears in your dis.
patches publishsd this morning. Tho charges I
pronouncs malieIously false, and send you the
proof, which you will obligs me BY publishing.
Truly yours, J.F. kinney!
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AN INDIAN AGENT.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 20.-An Omaha special says
that John W. Smith has Just returned from Fort
Phil Kearney. and that he charges Judge KIN.
pey, special Indian agent At Fort Ksarney,
with gross injustice and fraud In his deaiings
with the Iowa Indians, compelling them 10 re-
main In the Sioux country against their will,
for the purpose Of securing trade; that the an
nuities Of $4,000 promised three years ago
were never paid, and claims that the goods sold
at Kinney's store to the Indians were furnished
| BY the Government for free distribution.
Hon: Caas. q. MIA. Acting oOmmfssfoner ef Indian
Sin: 1 incloss you alp taken from the papers
Of this morning headed Serious charge against
an Indian agent" telegram from IAN Omaha
Special" |" which appears In all the city papers.
Asthis Communication contains serious charges
against me In my dealings with the Iowa (mean.
ing Crow Indians that arc basely false, to tho
effect that cas-, 900 promised the Indians three
years ago was In my hands, and not paid TO
them, and TO the effect that the goods sold at
Kinney's store 10 the Indians were furnished by
the Government for free distribution, tako tho
liberty Of addressing you this letter TO elicit an.
swers to the following questions:
First. Am or have ever been special Indian
agent7
Second. In what capacity did visit the In.
dianB at Fort PHI Ksarney7
Third: Did the special commission appointed
BY the President have authority to purchase
presents for the Indians
Fourth. Were tho goods purchased by me for
the indians At Fort Phil Kearney the goods that
had been furnished the Indians BY the Govern.
ment for free distribution7
| Fifth. Were any goods furnished the indians
at Fort Phil Kesrney BY the Government except
those purchased for them BY mo-
Sixth. Was there ever single dollar Of money
In my hapds for the purchase Of goods for the In.
dians, and were not such purchases undor our
instructions to DO ssitlsd for BY the Department.
Your answer 20 the foregoing win greatly
oblige yours, truly, J. =. KINNEY.
| DEPARTMENT OF TIE IsTERIoR, D
0FPIcR or INDIlE AFFAIRS, }
wAsHIsaroS, D. O., Sep, 81, 1857
stR: am In receipt Of your letter Of this date,
enclosing q alp taken from the newspapers,
headed "ssrious charges against an Indian
agent"
In reply to your Inquiries I have to say that
you are not at present, nor have you ever been,
Q special Indian agent. In February last, the
President appointed six gentlemen as Especial
commissioners" to visit the Indians In the neigh.
borhood Of Fort Phil Kearney, and to counsel
with them under instructions from tho honora.
bic Secretary Of tho Interior, Of which number
you were one. In the instructions issued by the
Hon. o. H. Browning, Secretary Of the Interior,
to said commissioners, tho following language Is
used: at may be necessary for you to mako
presents to the indians with whom you hold
friendly talks, and also to give them rations.
In this case you will buy such presents and OBJ.
tain such rations from parties having them for
sale In the Indian country, giving proper vouch-
srs for the same, which will be paid here"
This answers the FIRST, sesond and third Of
your interrogatories.
In reply to the fourth, nth and sixth inter
rogatoriss, would state that the goods fur
nished BY you for the Indians were not goods
that had been purchased by the Government;
also, that no goods have been purchased for the
Crow Indians, the tribe referred to by the Gov
eminent, the present season, nor have any
goods been sent TO Fort Phil Kearney by this
department; and, finally, that this department
has no knowledge Of any funds having been
placed In your hands, or In the hands Of either
Of said commissioners, for the purchase Of goods
or presents for the Indians.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CnARLus q. NIX,
Acting Commissioner.
Hon. J. y. KINNEY. U. 3. Special Indian Com
, missioner, washinstoa, D, o.