The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-15
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Unearth1ng Great FRAUDS at the Agencies

CHICAGO. July l5.-The TTJuhe's
special from Fort Thompson, Dakota ter
ritory, says, the visit of Commissioner
Hoyt to Indian agencies is developing
astounding official fraud and rascality on
the missouri river, and q conspiracy be
tween the agents and traders which
startles even thenatlves. DR.. Livingston.
OF Crow Greek is condemned by over
whelming testimony, as he was taken uu-
awares and had no opportunity to remove
the evidence OF his guilt: his stealing be
gan in 1870, when first appointed through
the influence Of the Episcopal church as
agent Of the combined Crow Creek and
lower Brule agencies numbering 10000
He has accumulated a fortune. acquired
an interest iu three Nevada silver mines,
aud owns two cattle ranches and . hotel
which was regularly supplied with food
and vegetables irOm the agency; he and
bis partners forced the agency employees
who were most ignorant men to board
there; they utiIlZ the government
blacksmith shops aud material for private
gain, fed their private stock at the govern
ment crib, sold government wood to steam
boats, and hay to Black Hills wagons,
The Indian annuitles were stolen and
sold; the ring would charge the govern
msnt for hay and wood which the Indians
were compelled to put up in order to get
their annnties and r3tI...s. and then sell
this hay ana wood sec lnl time to steam
boa 6, mljitary pus's, and buiiW hackers,
the process uI the crops raised 90 rhe
agency we're hot accounted tor, thetrader =
warehouse was stocked from the govern
ment warehouse and provisions sold TO In
dams; ralinus ard anputies were drawn for
| $50 nore Indians than were at the agency.
! Congress appropriated 100000 for this
agency during Liviugstou's administration
aud he stole all he could. his Ignorant em-
pioyers were glad to get their rations: Ee
would issue false vouchers of which l5C
have been already discovered ranging In
accounts irom $50 to $1,000. Livingston
was, says the commissioner, pious fraud
guilty. o! every crime against official honor
and business integrity; the Deighborina
| agents and traders are III the same condi
ton as to dishonesty except that they haYt
been notified OF the coming storm. and
have put their houses ID order The re
turns OF the agents as to goods on hanC
are aim 3st invariably false, iorgeries anC
perjuries are OF nearly every day occur
eDce. and the amount of evidence is over
wheming, Inspector Hammond had re
moved three agents since last spring, aul
replaced them with military officers a
acting agents; the crack of doom is sounde,
about those agencies.
Commissioner Hoyt and the Stan
ley commission held counci
yesterday with the Red Cloud In
dians; Hoyt spoke pleasantly to them an
Red Cloud responded; he said they wante
: to go to White Clay creek over two hund
4 red miles from the Missouri river, the
would not locate nearer. The great fathe
had promised them the selection in writinI
: he wanted three hundred cows and othe
cattle, wagons, farm houses, and school
he was content with their supplies; b
wanted catholic priest; the commissions
saw it useless to attempt to get the Ii
! dians to locate on the Missouri river bu
! General Stanley told Red Cloud the CO,
= of transportation of supplies that long di
: tance would come out OF the supplies: Ii
commissioners generally agreed that Re
: Cloud was right and that the ludiar
might go west. Spotted Tail is equal
determined to go thirty five miles west
the Missouri river Hoyt is much disal
d POINTED.