White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1869-07-29
Correspondents.
(For the Chiefly

JOHNSON COUNTY. KANSAS, July 20, 1869.
EDIroR CHrEr:-In an article in your issue
of July 18Th, in referring to Sidney Clarke s
pet-bag transactions, you say that Clarke
and his agents. having bought up the claims
for almost nothing. &C., the carpet-sack was
drawn from its hiding place. the claims collec-
ted dollar for dollar, and the money pocketed
BY Clarke and his chums.
Now, Mr.. Editor, the buying up Of those
claims is not the worst feature of that carpet
bag transaction. There were many who re-
fused to sell their vouchers at discount, fully
believing that the Government was not capa-
BILE of robbing the soldiers, and the widows
and orphans of soldiers who had fallen in de-
fense of their country, and who died Of disease
contracted in the service. They felt that
Lanes campaign in Missouri only lacked a
little red-tape to make it legal, and that the
Government would make it legal, and make
the necessary appropriation to pay The soldier,
their hard earned wages. Very many of these
claims we're not sold to Clarke or his agents
but were put into Clarke's hands for collec
ton. The vouchers left with Clarke for col
lection BY officers and influential persons, were
paid in full, dollar for dollar; but the vouch.
ers left with him BY the p'or and uninHuential
we're treated in different manner, as you will
see by a scrap cut from Douglas County
newspaper, last Fall:
Letter from Mrs. Jane Case to Sidney
Clarke, which explains itself:
LAWRENCE, August, 1866.
Hon SIDNEY CLARKE-Sr:-About three
years ago, in the presence of DR.. Gilpatrick
General BlGnt, and. several other persons,
placed in your hands Government vouchers for
three hundred and Fifty dollars. B unt and
you looked them over, and you said they were
all right. You were to scrd me the money,
which General Blunt said would be in about
elk weeks. My husband called upon you at
your Office; you pronounced them all right;
said they were audited. and would be paid in
few days. Years have elapsed since that
promise. l have never received one dollar
sm widow, with three children dependent
upon me. l am very poor, and need the mon
ey to procure the necessaries Of life. My hus-
band, myself and daughter worked hard for
the Government; first my husband AS soldier,
and afterwards my daughter and myself as
nurses in the hospitals at Mapleton and For.
Scott, till my health was completely broken
down. The money to pay claims Of the sold
iers of the border was appropriated and placed
in your hands as commissioner to audit and
pay. The rich and influential were paid. bu.
people that were poor and without influence
were cheated out Of their money. { | have
waited thus long. because your friends kept
| telling me to wait, you would see that it was
paid if ! would give you time enough. You
we're reported to be poor when the Govern
ment money was placed in your hands, now it
is understood you are one of the richest men
in Kansas. While myself and children are
suffering for the comforts of life, you are lv-
ing on the money you have cheated soldiers
widows and orphans out Of. have consulted
counsel. Sir, do not wish to have any diff
Guilty with you, but duty to my fatherless chill
dren tells me that it is my duty to prosecute
yoa If you do not payit. JANE CASE.
Mrs. Case is now Mrs. Wilder Knight, of
Wakarusa Township. Inquire of her about
the facts. One of our claim agents says that
he has had more than two bushels of such
vouchers, but Mr.. Clarke had SO manipulated
his books that the vouchers co lid not be
traced.
Now, Mr.. Editor, leave It to yon whether
the facts enumerated above are Rot enough to
put the blush on the face of every honest Re-
publican in Kansas, to think that the widows
and orphans of our soldiers should be robbed
in such bare-fac manner, by their own
party leaders. and the parties committing these
frauds be sent to represent them in Congress
Is it wonder that there SHOULD be such hue
and cry against the conceptions in the Repub-
lican party, when such transactions are being
daily brought to light? H.