Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-05-20
THE CITIZEN.
Thomas J. JenordS.


control were perhaps the widest ant
most savage tribes in Arizona. At tn,
time Of his assuming control he wa.
represented as well acquainted witt
the Indians and as having great anG
supreme influence over them. He ha:
remained IN charge of those Indian.
from the time mentioned above until
the first of this present month. At in
tervals throughout the specified time
of his control we have heard more OF
less compliant of the management OF
the Indians, but believing Agent JET.
fords to have difficult task and 10 be
honestly and earnestly endeavoring to
keep the Indians at peace we have re-
Trained from needlessly publishing any
and all complaints, Judging that peace
was the first and great consideration in
southern Arizona When the rude
shock Of the late murderous awaken
ing came, accompanied by a sudden
and most remarkable revelation of the
secret management of the Chiricahua
Indians, We even then judged it best
to keep matters quiet until the Indians
could be transferred to other ground
and other management The revela-
lions resulting from the late Apache
outbreak most seriously implicated
Agent Jeffords and his immediate as
sistants, but we entertained the delu-
sive hope that by Withholding the sick
enlng details of murder and wrong.
during the most critical period of the
transfer, the late agent might see a.
way to at least gloss his crimes BY
using his influence with the Indians.
and aid in their transfer and initiation
upon new way of life We had a
faint hope that perhaps he would do
this as slight reparaiion and then
gather his filthy blood-money and creep
of to some forgotten corner, Gn com
pany with his clerk and lie down to
die preparatory to his own transfer TO
an inevitable hell.
The hope was delusive. From Ger
tain appearances it would seem that
this man Jeffords intends to not only
be in at the death, but, If need be. to
see that there shall be some death toi
be In at At the same time that we get
this impression, there comes to us.
directly from Camp Bowie, an upright q
and truthful man who has been located {
continuously in the immediate vicinity /
Of the Chiricahua agency for several +
years past, and who knows intimately u
Of Jeiford's life and actions, and he IN
Iolds tale Of this incarnate demons ~
1Olngs for the Last t,-~ 49, --4-i..l- I
has so Mortified Us that # it lies with I
IN our weak power, we propose bring z
ng the late United States Indian Agent :
It Chiricahua to justice. -
We have asked the good citizens Y
who now reveal the terrible state of b.
affairs which has existed for two wears Al
mi more around Chiricahua.-wby b
hey have kept silence all this time OF
md the answer is that their lives and O
wing were there and at stake: that al
ntll general calamity brought ali
he people together for defence, an in.
lvidual who attempted to DO ANYTHING
would lose what he lad, even to per 4.
APPS his life. This has undoubtedly -
cen the case. But We have now at
east one good, reliable and competent
fitness, who will swear to facts and IL
atements when called upon. By sucb cI
'siimonY it can be shown that for ,be W
asst two years, JefTords, while agent of tw
large and most important Indian res pc
walton, has been helplessly drunk 20
least one half Of his time and has tt
rossly neglected his duty. That while pa
charge Of wild and dangerous Ind m,
ms he has been in collision and m bo
rest with outside parties, has known a.,
hquor and ammunition, in vast 4.
Quantities, being brought upon the ~,
seryation, and has at times had tenn
'-ary charge Of such liquor and am. ~ ;,
unItlon. That he has purchased az
rye amounts Of ammunition with the ter
pressed intention OF giving it to the WI
dlans and with the intimation from tic
mself that they would bring in good TIN
turns with 1t from Sonora. That he the
5 been fully aware that his Indians thi
IRE committing murders and depre be
tions upon the citizens Of Sonora vii
at he has shown no inclination IN one
'p or prevent such outrages; that he cor
5 expressed satisfaction thereat. and IN,
en- styled Mexicans the legitimate emf
me OF the Indians; that he has re- ,
wed his savage proreges. upon their E
urn from raid, with kindness and
leone; that he has received and p'o
released from them their booty. either !
his own person or through his as VII
tanis; that m February last he So yes
'eived large quantity Of gold which IS
IS taken by the Indians from some exI
eXicans whom they had murdered in Is t
nora. That while be was in full an tiol
orlty over these Indians he, AZ one Mr.
ne was knowing of the fact that the He
dians had in their possession two sat
ris whom they had captured in So TIN
IRA and that he made no attemp, or
,ort toward their rescue; thattbe Ind. 49,
Us endeavored to sell these girls and - -,