The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-20
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
His Career as United States Indian
Agent in Utah.
A LEAF FROM HISTORY.
Was There Fraud in His Accounts with
the Government?
United States District Attorney HOward's
Purpose in Washington.
WHAT DID LEE CONFESS Z
Starting Documentary Proof Of Mormon
Completely in the Bloody Deed
at Mountain Meadows.
United States District Attorney hOward's
Purpose in Washington.
WHAT DID LEE CONFESS Z
VOUCHER NUMBER 8"
It's Disclosures of Atrocity and
Avarioe.

AvarCe.
WASHINGTON Juno Is, 1871
The recent visit Of Mr. sumner Howard, Cnited
Btates District Atorncy OF Utah. 10 Washington,
dountedly means more than at first conJectured.
1t Is significant that SINCE Mr. Howard IS return 10
Utah requisiton has been made by Attorney General
Devens upon the second Auditor OF the Treasury Tor
verified copies OF the of Brigham Young when
thu latter superintendent OF Indian Affairs Utah
Territory, and the inference IL taken that addition
TO his
REVELATIONS
concerning the Mormon murders, john D. Lee who
was executed at Mountain Meadows lust March, i'm.
parted secret TO District Attorney Howard, COM
promising the administration OF Indian affairs by
Brigham Young. and charging fraud in his accounts
with the government
BY vriuo Of old law In force up to the year 1858
Brigham Young, who was Governor Of the Territory,
became cDico Superintendent OF Indian Affairs, and
In this capacity had The management of the tribes in
and adjacent TO Utah Territory, disbursng account
Of the government, large sums oil money in payment
Tor goods aud supplies distributed 10 the Indians.
Everything went pretty smoothly IN his relations with
he United States until the beginning OF tho year
1887 when the Commissioner OF Indian Anairs took
exception obvious irregularities his
counts for the previous quarter. Those tho days
when ..cooked" accounts could not DO palmed on
upon Treasury officials and Indian rings had not been
Invented The accounts for the Two succeeding quar-
tiers, making eighteen months in all made their up
pearance course OF time, upon their prescn
laon at the Indian Bureau their liquidation aud pay
ment wero likewise refused space Of several years
now INTERVIEWED, during which the Utah Delegate III
Congress, and other
FRIENDS
OF Brigham Young, cxcrled every effort TO have the
accounts allowed and settled. but vain until they
had procured special action by Congress- based upon
the report OF an investigation specially ordered 10
examine the matter.
The total amount claimed, but disable wcd was
t32 64S, comprising disbursements alleged by Brigham
Young TO have been made by him on account OF the
Indian service, as iolows:- ~,...M as Il.
During quarter ending december 81, 1856. . 81 301
During quarter ending March 81. 1857. ...... .s7S
During quarter ending June so, 1857. ....... 1868
During quarter ending september 80 1857. ON
During quarter ending December 81, ls67 ... ia
During quarter enuing March Jl 1865 ........ 27i9
TOTAL. $S2oiS
Accompanying tho accounts were vouchers 10 the
number Of l44 in all, the voucher in each instance
beng statement OF goous rendered TO tho
Indians or for their made out by the person
furnishing tho goods services and supplement ted
with receipt reading in each instance as follows
'soN HONOR
''Receiyed, Mt Great Salt Lake City, this day OF
-. Is, vi Brigham Young Governor and 0Dicgo
superintendent OF Indian Affairs, tho sum OF -, In
tuii oil ,he above account. y
Attached to this certificate, al follows, signed
by Brigham Young
81 cortfy, on honor, that tho above cor.
rcci ana Inst, aud that have actually this day
oil -, ID, paid tho amount thereof
Frequently there was further signature, but IN
many II not most cases the voucher panied
Wy still tnrd certificate that vi Dmlck Is. Hunting.
ton, VINO was tho Interpreter in Brgnam Youna's
Office, and, It is saio, tho personal conndanJ oflhe
Mormon Chief The third name was In some Instances
that oil Calder, Younss chief cerk IN Others tAat
OF Jonn d. Lee, who expiacd his crimes for.
texture OF h,s lilo ON Mountain Meadows last March,
THIS third certificate to The effect usually that the
person signing 1t "was present and saw the articles
mentioned IN this voucher distributed to the Indiausn
(mcGtio.ing the bands or trtoes ar chleitainsI.
Copies Of the Ia vouchers, which are based the
Six quarterly accounts summarized III the above table
arc before me NIB write In looking over them IL Is
curious 10 note the number OF now
FAMILIAR SAxgs.
Bigler SNOW Dame, Lee, klngensmith are all
tbero written twenty years ago, when the men were
probably midue-agc, n not fairly advanced IN years
ind the obseiv naturally wonders that the villany
involved in the system of Mornonsm should
snjoy long lease OF Lille. In the score Of years
Which ended with the execution OF Leu the held Of
Mountain Meadows now many vrluous men did not
that hoAry wretch ouliveY
The man Huntington, who figures 10 prominently in
these papers the Interpreter and witness OF the
dElrbuuon oil the goods supplied TO the Indians, IS
Character interesting enough to allow him toll
the story OF himself which he narrated uuder oath
during the oical investigation suisse uently mado Of
the accounts
81 was,h no says, stho pr Dcipal Interpreter of
srgham Young during MS term OF Office o1icio
superintendent OF Indian Affairs IN Utah Territory. |
ave lived in this Territory thirteen years, ending
with the 10Th day Of July, 1850. Beng an artisan, 1
was brought INTO with great many of
The indians, from having to repair their firearms,
traps, &c ut an carly day In tho settlement OF tins
country, aud IN that way became familiar with them
aud their language / have studled and acquainted
myself with the language Of the Indians generally ia
this country, ana can hold conversation Iamiliary
With almost any OF tLon. have published a book in
lie Indian tongue, and revised and republishcd tho
was ono OF tho pioneers who vis,iod different
sections oil inis Territory, with view to ITS settle
mcnt by tho Mormon people OF which body am u
member. an iamar with the ditoront gcograph.
ical sections OF the Territory. and with The In
dams residing there. was Interpreter for
Mr. Holman, Indian agent in this Territory;
Tor 4. A. Bcdell also Indian agent; Agent
Rose. Agent Hunt, superintendent Forpey,
aud accompanied Colonel slcpoc IN his expedition
against tho Pan-yanls In The Same capacity. | col
lccled tbs mules arms jcwery ami trakess bolong.
Ing the command OF the Inflated Gunnison and In
tcred the remains OF his command by order OF super
inlcnicnt Young. have ooen IN the habit OF
PAVING super nendents Indian agents and army OIL
Gers on expeditions among the Indians Interpreter
and guide. The couaitioa OF the indians from 1855
1866 was just us bad us 1t could be Tor human beings
10 I've. Ito settlers worry poor nnd unable TO
hip them much. superintendent Young was In the
habit Of distributing presents among them with lib.