The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-13
THE INDIAN RING.
Defence of Mr.. Walker, Clerk of the
Board of Indian Commissioners.
WILLIAM WELSH TO THE PRESIDENT
A Libellous Attack Attributed to
the Interior Department.
SHARP CRITICISMS ON SECRETARY DELANO.
How the Testimony Of Damaging Witness
Is Sought To Be Neutralized.

From tho Philadelphia Evening Telegraph August 12I
Mr.. William Welsh, OF this city, has addressed the
following open letter TO the President
PHILADELPHIA August IL, 1875
To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATEs:-
DEAR SIR invite your attention to overt act by
your at the head of the Department of tho
Interior which, with its attendant circumstances reveals
the lamentable moral condition of that department and
demands prompt action by you | refer to lbeous
attack on Mr.. Samuel Walker the confidential
clerk of your original Board Of Indian Com
mlssonors on account Of official services per-
formed by him In detecting and exposing
frauds under the authority and direction of that Board
This libel have good reason to believe was concocted
and published by General b. r. Cowan, the Assistant
Secretary OF the Interior with the cordial approval of
Secretary Delano This lbeous paper | am crcdibly
informed rejected by the agent OF the Associated
Press and then given by General Cowan to Il corrc-
spondent of the Eeefn9 Bulletin of this city, in which
paper II was published the I'd inst and TO the
respondent Of the Inter Ocean, of Chicago where it
also printed 1t was copied from the latter paper into
the Washington Chronicle OF the 9th inst This is the
elimination OF series OF covert attacks by Score
tary Dclano and General Cowan on an officer of u
he exposed frauds that II was the duty OF the Interior
Department to check. have, with deep and painful
interest, watched closely these varied attacks upon
poor young foreigner because his chief offence in the
eye OF the Interior Department from the adoption
by the Board Of Indian Commissioners of suggestion
made by me under the following circumstances:-
FRAUDS IN CATTLE DELIVERED
at the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies had become
notorious that the Board of Indian Commissioners
although most anxious for your sake to work in
harmony with Secretary Deano, constrained
TO reject vouchers for cattle to very large
amount Although more beef delivered ut these
agencies in six months than appeared from the liberal
estimate made by the department to DO necessary
whole year, yet Secretary Deano paid these rejected
vouchers in full This course pursued by n Cabinet
officer compelled the Board of Indian Commissioners
either resign ut If their rejection
OF vouchers was ustable and then to report to
TO Congress As Mr. Delano had paid vouchers for the
cattle after the Board had warned him of rreg..
ularity llegality and of their suspicion OF
fraud he could not be relied to search for
evidence against himself My former confidence
in Secretary Deano had, from sad experience far
decreased that suggested to the Board of Indian Com
missoners, through its chairman, that u confidential
agent should be make u thorough investigations
without notice to tho department the agents. Mr..
Felix T. Brunot, the chairman, after comforting with
his colleagues concurred in this suggestion and ap.
pointed Mr. Samuel Walker the efficient and conscen-
tous clerk of the Board and sent him to the Spotted
Tail and Red Cloud agencies His mode of conducting
cordial approval Of Mr.. Brunot, is shown
in a letter from him in my possession,
dated Pittsburg December 15 1873 The nc
curacy Of this report has since been confirmed
by letters TO by eye-wtnesses, by the testimony Of
numerous officers of the army and recently by Profess
sor Marsh 1t would have shown more manlness If the
series of attacks against Mr. Walker made by
Delano and Cowan had been made upon the Board of
Indian Commissioners instead of their apparently
rendess but faithful officer The report Of Mr. Walker
revealed many frauds and fully confirmed ac-
ton of the Board rejecting vouchers that Mr. Deano
determined send out called investigating
sion after notice bad been given for six weeks the In
dian agents and contractors to prepare for nvesga
ton. One of these commissioners called upon and
had confidence inlhs good Intentions though in
his power as an investigator, gave him letter to
the Clerk Of the Board of Indian Commissioners asking
them give him such information might aid in con-
Quoting proper investigation. Mr. Samuel Walker
complied with the request, loanng him in confidence,
original papers in his possession and the original draft
of his report Mr. Walker heard subsequently that his
confidence had been abused it is hoped, through for
getfuness or from some similar The following is
a copy of letter written by Mr. Walker to that gentle
to prevent further abuse Of his confidence II
should however, be borne in mind that the loan of the
rough draft of the report made TO commissioner
appointed by Mr. Deano for tho avowed purpose of re-
vealing all existing frauds
LETTER MIR. WALKER
WASHINGTON, February 81, 1874
DEAR SIR1t that my report has put theves
fear and trembling and am being made the target of the
nS thai G To & W si s. s.
will decline TO inform any person. no matter who where
that ssc5saTy Dlgno papers
notes and os S did S ee
called tell him all that gave therefore used
SAMUEL WALKER
The gentleman TO whom this very private and conf
dental letter addressed sent it at to General
Cowan who, thinking he could use it effectively, tele-
graphed for received authority use ut his dis
erection. Secretary Delano and Assistant Secretary
Cowan by putting false Interpretation upon this let
ter were able TO use privately with members Of Con
gress 10 prejudice them against Mr. Walker and his
report Secretary Dcano then sent copy to the mem
bers OF the Board Of Indian Commissioners to induce
effect The members of the Board with whom con-
versed deemed the letter from Mr. Walker q very
proper under the circumstances In his zeal TO pro-
mote fair investigation he had loaned in confidence to
q member OF Mr.. Delanos commission, letters from
employees who had given him valuable information, and
who might lose their situations If betrayed. He had
also haned his rough draft of this report and when he
heard that an improper use had been made of the papers
fearful that Mr. Delano might censure Mr. Brunot
the Chairman of the Board for allowing officer his
employ TO furnish draft Of report which had not yet
been shown to the Secretary of the Interior although
a rluhl N m IN 900 hn
than any other citizen 1t Is not conceivable thai any
fair minded man would suppose that Mr. Walker had
desired the gentlemen to whom he had loaned the letter
TO state nythng untrue anything more than such
truths as he was bound to state TO free him from
imputaton of breach Of faith
SsGSUATIoss OF CHARGES
To test the accuracy Of tho nsnuatons and charges
made by Assistant Secretary Cowan against Mr.. Samuel
Walker VIII copy Tho very words used In the Evening
Bulletin OF this city, III the Inter Ocean, Of Chicago
and then In response, append extracts from original
documents in my possession:-
Fist-Ie Or Walker) obtained employment In tho Office
Of the Indian Commission through tho Young Mems Chris
tien Association Of this city, Of which he became member
after professed reformation
RooMs OF rnR YOUNG MKN's Christian ASSOCIATION
This to certify that Mr. Samuel Walker has been
member OF this association obtained situation
GEORGE A, HALL, General Secretary.
cause his dismissal from the service ut that time.
Mr. Walker continued In Office until the original men,
bcrs Of the Board Of Indian Commissioners resigned
and then he and Mr. Cree tho Secretary, unwilling
Win now bOaru, WnlCn never nau ms conn.,
dence have letters in my possession from members
Of the Board written after Mr. Walkers voluntary
Withdrawal, not only confirming this, but also
testifying In tho strongest manner to their
high appreciation Of his efficiency and good conduct
during the entire term Of his service and their
ued confidence IN him. One of tho Commissioners
wrote that "Mr Walker most efficient aud faith
full clerkn fact, too much for Of the officials
IN the Interior Department" The letters before mo
are from Thomas X. Cree, Secretary, dated June l.
1874 from Nathan Bishop, dated Juno 20 1874 from
George H. stuart, drted June rs, 1874; from Vincent
| IA DAFT H lima A. fr...
January 20, 1875 and from Felix r. Brunot dated
July 20, 1874 in which he said To Mr. Samuel Walker:-
"You have proved yourself to be faithful efficient and
capable performing all your duties TO the satisfaction Of
the Board. Vincent Collyer former member OF tho
Board and Mr.. Walkers co-aborer, says:-"Ho was ono
among thousand for faithiuness, thoroughness,
liability, honesty accuracy and fearless ability In the
discharge Of his duty"
H,d-Ie was discharged from the Board Of Audit for
| drunkenness.