New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-07
oRvIL GRANTS SALE OF sUTLERsHIPs.

lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRTBUNE.l
PHILADELPHIA March en- addition to the facts
which appeared in The TRIBUNE yesterday relative
TO the connection of 0ry Grant with the sale of the
post traderships at Fort Stevenson and Standing
Rock The Times of tomorrow will contain a CONVEX
satiOn between one of its reporters and Mr. Grant.
He was found in the office of Mr.. Casselberry, with
BOnnahOn, who, in the dispatch of last night, was
mentioned as the persons for whom Orvil Grant oh
tanned from the President the agencies at those
posts Mr.. Grant admitted that he did by
his influence with the President, secure
the appointment of Bonnatfon as sutler to the mill
tary post at Fort Stevenson, and of CassebcTy to
Standing Rock, an Indian agency the Missouri
River, 80 miles south Of Bismarck, Dakota. He
expressly denied having received any present for
obtaining either appointment, or having any inter
est in the sutlershp at Fort Stevenson, but admit
ted that he possesses third Interest IN the trade of
Standing Rock Agency. At that agency, Mr. Grant
stated are two companies Of troops and from three
TO four thousand Sioux Indians, while at Fort
Stevenson there two companies of troops and no
Indians He expressly denied that these trading
posts and those at Fort Rice Fort Sully, and the
Cheyenne Agency, had by his influence been taken
from Durfree and Price and given TO other men.
His admissions are the more noticeable because to
reporters of two afternoon papers of to-day both he
and Casselberry denied having any business connec-
ton whatever and Mr.. Grant expressly denied
having used his influence in any way to secure the
appointments of Bonnaifon and CasselberTy.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATcHi
PHILADELPHIA, March CA reporter has con-
versed with j. r. Casselberry and A. l.. Bonnafon
of this city, who are charged a special dispatch
published in q New-YOTk paper this morning with
having in 1873 secured two military trading agen-
cies in Dakota Territory through the influence of
Mr. Orvi Grant, to whom, the dispatch alleges they
have since paid, and now paying, 80 per cent
on all sales made at their posts. Mr.. Bonnaiion
denies that he has ever paid any money 10 Orvil
Grant or to any other person, for military post
leadership and states that he is willing TO testify
TO that effect before a Congressional Committee, If
given an opportunity to do so. Mr.. CasselbeTy
asserts that the pOst-tradershp in which he is inter
ested was secured by legitimate means, and
denies that he visited the President at
Long Branch and dined with him there
is stated in the dispatch. Orvil Grant,
who has been in this city for a day two, was also
seen to-day and denied the truth of the charges as
far as he is concerned He states that he is neither
directly nor indirectly interested in the posts con-
trolled by Messrs. Bonnaflon and Casseibcny.
Mr. Grant left for Washington tins afternoon. lie
expressed his intention of informing the House In
yestigating Committee that he is ready TO appear
before il whenever wanted.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATcHl
ST. LOUIS, March Ga young man named j. A.
Brown was arrested here on Saturday night on adj
vices from Washington to hold him a witness un-
til called for by the Committee now investigating
the War Department. He put in the calaboose
under misapprehensiOn Of the order from Wash
ington, but was released yesterday, and will
hold himself ready TO answer summons from the
Committee. 1t appears that Brown was clerk,
few years ago. for Evans a. Smith, and subsequently
for Evans & Co. at the Cheyenne Agency in the In
dian Territory He knows a great deal about the
relations Of Evans & Co. with Marsh and Mr. Bel
KNAPP He says Evans 81 Smith paid So, 900 annually
for the Cheyenne Agency, and Evans d Co. $4,000
for the Fort Sill Agency. He cOrroborates
the reports regarding Orvi Grants relation with Mr.
Belknap and says that Evans and Smith obtained
the Cheyenne Agency from Mr.. Grant, and that Mr.
Grant represented Mr.. Belknap IN the disposition Of
sutlerships When he could not get his price
for Them he would stock them with goods
and run the business himself He kept
himself thoroughly posted regarding the bust
ness done at the various points, and no trader
could deceive him by Misrepresentation. He always
knew therefore, the exact vaue of each post and
made suffers come to his terms Brown says he
knows several persons who could give valuable in
formation regarding post tradershps and would will
ipgly do so but for fear of being prosecuted them
selves.
THE RAILROAD CLAIM SCANDAL.