The New York herald., 1869-10-14

Some time after tpe patents were sent to Mr..
Clarke the Indian Once received complaint from
the leading men Of Black Bobs band, from which ls
appeared that they were entirely Ignorant OF these
proceedings that they had not made the selections
neither did they desire them. Tney denounced the
whole transaction as o fraud, and demandea
tsas the eS g has &
lands had been selected for q few, leaving Ior
large majority OF tns land the inferior and worth
OF Indian Affairs at once telegraphed TO Agent
Taylor TO whom appears, Mr. Clarke had delivered
the patents, to withhold the delivery OF the same,
TO recall such had been delivered ana to return
all OF them 10 the Indian ONCE to which agent TaJ-
Would be- obeyed % Az tns time @ AGENT Tayor is
said, had not delivered any Of these patents, but
had them all IN his possession. subsequently,, how
ever, In disobedience OF orders, 1t Is alleged he
delivered the patents 10 the Indians his Justification
therefor being that 1t would work great injury to
once
Soon after this large number Of deeds, purport-
paIentees 10 one Irwin, were filed by General Blunt
In the Indian ONCE for approval, but, lnasmuch as
the question n regard to e issuance Of ae pasens
fraud had been committed against the Indians,
declined for many months to present the deeds CSC. 70
lands nov began 10 hnd that they were likely TO
lose their extensive improvements II the safes 70
Irwin were confirmed, and thereupon they appealed
TO the Indian Once for protection referring to the
letter irom tnat oicer To Mr.. Sidney Clarke, already
referred TO, as areason why ,aey should nave & snS
we're allowed to be sold Last FeDrnary
Agent Taylor and his friend Abbott were
again In Washington. Agent Taylor had an inter-
view with commissioner laylor, who had all along
been firmly OF opinion that this whole Black BOD
anair was rauu ana was highly Indignant at Agent
Taylor Tor his alleged dsobedence or orders In not
returning the patents TO the Indian 0llice. Comms-
sloner Taylor at first and severe towards
his recusant subordinate, but soon softened. IL Is
alleged here that he gracou5ly invited Agent Taylor
to 70 TO his own home at Laurel and sleep with him
that night. Agent Taylor accepted the invitation,
went To Laurel, slept with Commissioner Taylor ana
coverted him to The belief tnat the whole Black Bob
settlers had no rights on the lands, and that tho
sales TO Irwin onght 10 be approved, notwithstand
ing the settlers would thereby be robbed OF their
valuable improvements, the result OF large expendi
lures OF money and years OF laborlous industry.
This is tile story as II comes 10 Inc, but OF course
don't know il positively and only give II as get II,
parties referred to are maligned misrepresented
am ready to do them justice.
But TO resume. Just al this point 1t Is proper to
remark that Mr. Clarke and Senator Pomeroy had
| all along, as ! am informed, used their influence
against lie recall OF The patents and In favor Of
| nrming the sales to irwin. Tue day after Commis-
sioner Taylor mad Agent taylor for his bedfelOw
| at Laurel the clerks the Indian Onlce, it Ia
alleged. were surprised Dy an order from The Com
missioner TO at once prepare the Black Bob deeds to
| IRWIN for approval This was only about three
| days prior to the 4th of March, when the late
] Secretary Browning would retire from ofnce me
| deeds were accordingly prepared and recom-
| mended lor approval by Commissioner Taylor,
but Secretary Browning refused to confirm them,
| and returned them TO the Indian Office Secretary
Cox had hardly taken his seat before Commissioner
Taylor, who. II Is alleged was constantly prompted
| the deeds to him and urged their approval
Secretary Cox Was not clear In his mind mat the
deeds ought to be approved The settlers were also
on hand claiming protection, and the attorney for
Black Bobs band had denounced the whole trans
~ Bravo q % ae %Ia ana ,S
the Quakers were appointed and secretary Cox
determined to refer tue whole matter to Friend
Enoch Hoag and Friend Roberts for Investigation
and report thereon. Agent Taylor and Abbott
tnereuDon nastened back to Kansas, 1t is said, TO
manipulate the Quakers and the Black Bobs also pre-
paratory to the investigation, and shall now see
what frm stun The Quakers are made OF and wnetner
OF not tneY can De easily imposed upon. Friend
Roberts succeeded Taylor as The Shawnee agent
and, at the urgent solicitation OF Taylor ana Abbott,
mad been the confidential man OF these two ex-
agents for many years and ne taned the old
interpreter while Abbott himself was taken 1t is
said 10 the bosom VI Flead Roberts as hiS connden-
tial friend and adviser In all official matters.
In dye time Friend iioag went to the shawnee
agency ana commenced his investigation. Abbott,
the prime mover, was allowed 10 De present and
assist Mcbride was clerk OF the investigation, ami
recorded the testimony Of the Indians interpreted
by the nterpretera man said To be IN the interest
oi Abbott ana Taylor-and the settlers, notwith-
standing their deep interest iii the lnatter said
to have been entire excluded from the Investigation.
ABBOTT seemed TO have 1t all his own way as much
SO as II he were himself conducting the investiga-
tlon, and the sequel would seen to show that he
somebody else had manipulated the whole affair to
some purpose. Many OF the Indians swore tnat the
consideration named In the deeds uad not been all
paid to them, Notwithstanding Agent Taylor had III
writing certified that II had been PAID In ms presence
and that the transactions were free from fraud or
deception. Some swore that they touched the pen,
received some money and were then presented with
their patents tarcady recorded In Johnsoa county,
hansas). But the aGalr was so skilally managed
and manipulated that Friend Hoag was enabled to
make quite favorable report OF Abbott, Taylor,
Irwin, Blunt, &c. Although it is worthy OF remark
that Friend Hoag In his report admits that he saw
but four or the Indians VINO executed
VINO swore that they mad not been paid the amount
speciaed Ia the deeds, and, Notwithstanding this
TACT, the worthy quaker was Induced to recommend
tue approval OF all OF the deeds without knowing
whether the Iull consideration had or had not been
paid. In short, notwithstanding the revelations OF
fraud whica all the skill Of ABBOTT Taylor &, Co.
could not prevent friend Hoag sent his whltewash-
ing report to the lndan oilice, recommending that
payment OF the difference between the arIIounr
stated In sixteen deeas the consideration ana that
actually paid TO the Indians the deeds TO Irwin
between thirty and rortyl should all be confirmed
led tie fepoft 10 Inc Secretary Of tie interior for
his approval and which he approved accordingly
The Indian Department certainly showed great
energy in promptly disposng OF this business in
view oil the TACT that II could not have been ignorant
taat tue settlers desired to be heard before final
disposition was had OF the case An agent for the
settlers arrived In the city almost simultaneously
with Friend Hoass report, and on presentiag HIM
sell 10 The indian Department ho was informed that
the cqse had been disposed OF. Subsequently he,
with his attorney, Judge Wlll had an interview with
Secretary Cox, ami Informed him OF certain frauds
connected with the transaction which seemed to
have escaped the notice OF the Indian Department.
Nhereup9n secretary Cox ordered suspension or
proceedings until a further examination OF
The case could be had. Whatever fraud
may u..al5 attach aooo,o. 20 this case = lair to
Parker from all blame in the promises. the writer
believes that they meant to dc no wrong. the
Quakers IA their Investigations no doubt meant to
do right but unfortunately for their good name
they fell completely into The hand, OF interested and
designing parties, and were so completely hood
wnked that the lnyesligatlon only mounted to
farce.
In presenting facts OF this kind OF course 1t Is diff
hcHlt 10 state with certainty whether or not they
are 10 be relied upon absolutely. | have no means
at hand enabling me to vouch for the facts positively
but can state they come from gentleman who
ought 10 be thoroughly familiar with the whole
business, and whose statements should be entitled
to grave consideration.