, 1873-06-05

BEA ZaH DROy.1. EDI7OR
MORE OF THE WEBSTER ROBBERY
Since our comments upon the measures
taken by Government Agents to rob MIR.
H. A. Webster of his homestead at Nee
ah Bay, We have met Mr.. Spittall. who
was the farmer at that rese, walton under
Mr.. Webster and his successor in office.
till he was transferred to the charge OF
two reservations under the agency Of
Father Cherouse. Mr.. Spiltall. who is
frank, candid and independent man,
Of unqrestioned veracity, no, only fully
endorses every statement we have here
tofore made III regard to the attempt to
rob NJ Webster, but has given US sew
eral additional facts in rala ion to the
same. He says that within his know
ledge, Mr.. VI ehster never employed bnt
one unmarried man upon the Indian
reservation, and that the same man was
appointed by Agent Gibson, and that
the charge against Mr.. Webster insinua
ted by Garfield and made direct by Supt.
Milroy, that he in ally manner tolerated
promiscous intercourse with the squaws
is utterly groundless. He also says at
before the extension of the reservation
was recommended to the President,
Agent Gibson proposed 10 him (Spitt-
all) to inmp portion of Mr.. Webster .
claim, promising his official influence to
sustain him in the attempt. Gibson
made the same proposition to A. Z. Fran
els. son of Hon. Allen Francis, who Is
willing to .certif, to this fact. The
lands which the Agent thus attempted
to deprive Mr.. Webster Of for the benes
fit of private parties. is now seized by
the Government on the representations
from the same quarter that they are
necessary to the reservation. These
facts show conclusively that Gibson has
acted with duplicity from the beginning
and that he was conspirins with Gar
fielde and Mckinney to rob MIR. Web
ster of his possessions by hook or by
crook.
Mr.. Spitall further says that al the
improvements ever made upon the re-
servation were made by Mr.. Webster
while he was Agent, and that the money
since appropriated for that purpose has
never been appropriated to that object.
and that the improvem ents made by Mr..
Webster have been allowed to fall mot
decay and disuse. These statements of
Mr.. Spitall. correspond with the obser
walton of all disinterested parties who
have ever visited the reservation while
Mr.. Webster was agent and since he
was superseded. There is no reasona-
BILE doubt in the mind of every intelli-
gent man cognizant of the facts that Mr..
Webster is the victim of as VII con-
spiracy as was ever formed against the
personal rights of any individual. and
the Government has been exceedingly
lax or unpardonably arbitrary in lend
ing its power to the designs of the con-
spirators. If the Federal authorities be-
lieved, from the representations made.
that Mr.. Webster's property was Eeces-
sary for the use of the Government. why
was the whole movement to that end
carried on clandestinely and er pLrte :?
Why was no public commission appoint
ed or investigation had as to the neces
sity of the extension or the private
rights involved thereby :? Why has Mr..
Webster never been allowed a judicia
hearing to prove up his rights and the
amount of his damages On private
inform alton the President issued his
proclamation peremptori.ly extending
the reser vation over Mr.. Webster's prop
erty, and then the whole matter was left
in the hands Of Secretary Delano, the
Modoc sympatl.lzer, to remove Mr.. Web
ster from his home and possessions by
military force if he would not leave vol.
UNFAIRLY, and he was informed that if he
left peaceably recommendation W. u.d
be made to Congress to allow him such
n p1ttance as the conspirators against
him had concluded to award.
We believe that Congress, at its last
session, provided for the appointment
of Inspector of Indian Affairs, to inves-
'igate causes of wrong complained Of
Mr.. Webster is summarily and arbitra-
rily deprived of even this recourse. He
is peremptorily ordered to leave with his
stock, his merchandise and his
household effects; a removal necessaril.
attended by great loss for which no in
demnity is offered or suggested, and he
is allowed no time or opportunity t"
take an appeal from this tyranical order,
either to The i xecutive, Legislative or
Judicial powers of the Government. 1t
is such an outrage as to provoke the in
dignation of every freeman and the
disgust of every honest man.
SUPPORT HOME INTERESTS. support
the interests OF your own town or com
munity is not only good economy. bu
duty which every Inc mber of commun