Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-23
The Montana war Claims scandal.
HISTORY OF THAT DRAFT FOR S3l 900.

4
ment that rumors were aaoat with reference to
the alleged COLLISION Of a clerk in the Trea-
sury Department and certain attorneys, by
which draft for sS1 900 had been turned over
to parties not entitled to receive it. 1t is al
legged that sometime since NJ. Hdnsley, desir-
Gus of securing an Indian contract, sought the
influence Of Mrs. Anna Sackett, the mother
in-Iaw of the late Commissioner Of Indian At.
fairs, Parker. The contract was secured and
in addition an appointment obtained for ms
ley to proceed with the goods and take charge
of their distribution. For the service thus per-
formed by Mrs. Sackett, Insley paid her in
MONTANA WAR CLAIMS
to an amount near the sum, Sll 900 Some
desirious Of purchasing a house, and finally
Of Fairfax Court House, Va, from John T.
Webb. mortgage was given to secure de-
. .s pay s which was s suss entsns Claims
in the possession of Mrs. Sackett or some por
claims, Webb filed them with the banking
firm Of Messrs. Middleton & Co. for collection.
This much to show how Webb became possessed
Of his interest.
Whether Mr. Insley willingly intended to
wrong Webb Is not known, but certain it is that
at later day he denied that Mrs. Sackett ever
had any interest in the claims. He states upon
an affidavit fled with the Second Controller
posted the vouchers with her to purchase a
house; that If the purchase was not completed
the vouchers were to be returned to him by her;
that she neither purchased the house nor re-
turned the vouchers, according to his request,
but refused to do so, alleging that they be-
longed to l. N. Black; that be instructed his
attorney, Z. W. Rice, to commence legal pro-
cefSiDgs against Mrs. Sackett, in order to re-
cover and repOssess the said vouch
ers, but that his attorney informed him
that the Treasury Department would
TO offset the affidavit, Mrs. sackett made 'i
verbal statement to the Controller, statlug that
she performed valuable services in obtaining
the passage of the law by Congress recognizing
the validity of the Montana Indian war claims;
her counsel makes the same statement. In her
behalf and interest it is also alleged that she
procured an appointment for one of the parties
in the Indian department through her son-in-
law Col. Parker, at that time the commissioner
To further prove her claim Moses Bissell makes
affidavit that he was present when Insley gave
Mrs. Sackett the claims, and that they were
given absolutely and without reserve.
After repeated attempts to amicaby settle
the difficulties, the case was prosecuted in the
Treasury department., and on the 18th day OF
June, 1873, the Controller decided as follows -
"ValUable services of the character alleged, ii
is very clear, do not create an obligation which
a count would enforce. The law is plain on this
point. As to the matter of the gift, the evidence
is hearsay, and is neither affirmed nor denied by
Mrs. Sackett, while contrary state of facts in
the premises is sworn by the other claimant to
have existed. Upon the proofs, am of the
opinion that no property in'the claim above de-
Anna Sackett; that there was simply delivery
in trust of the vouchers to the baiee for a speci-
fed purpose which was not fulfilled by her, and
that under these facts and circumstances she
was legally bound to return the vouchers to the
bailor, in this case, the claimant, Insley
Under the law, act of March 3, 1873, it is enacted
" That it shall be the duty of the proper ac
counting officers of the Treasury to examine
and determine the amounts justly due upon the
claims for expenses incurred in suppressing In
dian hostilities in the territory of Montana, \
md I'M md a all N,n
paid to the persons severally entitled thereto"
In accordance with the requirements of this
statute, am Of the opinion that the person en-
title TO payment OF the above vouchers is the
OF course some party had to be disappointed
and Insley. & Black having thus secured a
steps to secure the full amount of their claim,
s31 900, which was paid to them on Friday last,
and they Immediately left the city.
THE CLERK IMPLICATED
Is Mr.. Butterfeld, in charge OF division in the
Second Controllers Office. Messrs. Middleton
s. Co. allege that they have received informa-
ton leading them to believe that he received a
valuable consideration for using his influence
to further the interests of Insley in securing
the money. 1t is reported that before DIR.
Broadhead, the Second Controller, left for
Europe, he had stated his inability to decide
between the claimants, and promised to let the
matter rest until the courts should decide own
ersbip. The attorneys Of Webb, acting on the
information that Butterfeld had been APP
tr0ller Curtis, who stated that he intended to de-
eide against their client, but agreed, in presence
OF Butterfield, the clerk, that the matter should
rest until the 10th, TO allow an injunction to
be asked for in the United States courts
here. june 16 a preliminary injunction was
served, and copies Of the papers asked for
for use in the suit, the promise being renewed
that matters should rest without action.
Tuesday, 18th. Mr.. Curtis sent for the attorneys
and stated that he had been placed in q morti-
flying and humilating position; that when he
had given the promise referred to. the certif-
Gates had already been Issued and the money
paid. That the papers had been placed, with
many others, before him for signature, and had
been signed without his noticing them, nor had
Butterneld, who prepared the papers, brought
the matter to his attention. Mr.. Curtis had sent
for Butterfeld Immediately upon the discovery
of the facts, and being asked why he had per-
mitted his chief to deceive the parties Interested
replied that he had supposed Mr. Curtis was
fully aware OF the facts.
Butterfield protests his innocence, and is anx-
ious to have q full and thorough invcstga-
ton. A reporter Of the STAR to-day called on
Mr.. Sayille, the Chief Clerk of the Treasury
in the absence Of the Secretary, and he ex-
pressed decided opinion that he did not be-
iieve that Butterfield's action IN the matter was
controlled or Influenced by money.
A MISSING Observation-Disclosures of Foul
Pldy.-The Brazilian corvette NietherOy, with
crew OF 1913 men, arrived at this port about a