Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-29
Especial Correspondence Of the Globe. /

come from Lt.-Col. Carlin, commander of
the garrison, and his dispatch was said to
have concluded with statement that he,
Carlin, would not be responsible for the
consequences if Hughes was longer retained
as agent. Col. Carlin also mentioned
that the party which thus assailed the agent
was led by chiefs of bands whom Hughes had
broken. This incident did occur. The
agent was thus dragged from the presence of
his wife and daughters. But the true au-
thors of the outrage were not the Indians
who perpetrated it. Anyone familiar with
our Indians, or even with general Indian
characteristics would have at once suspected
that the Indians were encouraged and sent
to seize the agent by some one whom they
believed to be able to protect and reward
them.
Agent Hughes, in informing the Indian
Office of this affair, stated that on his re-
quirement the commanding officer of the
garrison had arrested the Indians who as
sailed him, and still held them as under
arrest. They are still so held, by being re-
quired to report once day to the COM
mander, and have not since been near the
agency. Subsequently to his first dispatch
on the subject Agent Hughes wrote to
the Indian Office that he had
seen it published that Col.
Carlin had notified the government that he
would not be responsible for the safety of
the agent and his employees, or of the gov
eminent property at the agency, unless the
present agent was relieved; in response to
which he, Hughes, had only to say that he
needed and asked no other protection for
the agency and all connected with it than
the immediate removal of Col. Carlin.
These dispatches indicate the fact that
Agent Hughes and Col. Carlln are not
friends, but quite tho reverse. 1t would
perhaps be difficult for either of them to
correctly describe the origin and rise of
their enmity. They were in such harmony
for time after Agent Hughes first came
here that it was with some outsiders mat
ter of doubt as to which was the agent. But
it was impossible that such condition of
amity could last long without one or the
other sacrificing his authority and his opin-
ions, and when the agent set up for himself
in his newly built quarters the two estab-
llshments soon quarreled.
Their quarrel first came before the public
of the East, if remember rightly, in con-
nection with an assertion by the agent that
the presence Of a garrison was demoralizing
prostitutes among the Indian women were
increasing in number, and accused Col. Car
lin of inefficient or lax government of his
command. AS to the truth of his specifca-
ton and accusation I know nothing except
from mere rumor. In the absence of proof
it is safe to say that neither Col. Carlin nor
the officers of his command would neglect
any possible measure Of precaution against
Indian morals suffering by reason of the
presence of the garrison. The
fact remains, however, that it would be
impossible to keep soldiers and civilians
connected with the garrison from associ-
ating with tie Indians, and though the OPP
portunities of the soldiers are much less
| than those of the civilians connected with
the agency, yet the presence of one to three
hundred men-though they be under army
discipline-who are without social or family
restraints, must add greatly to the chances
of Indian women being tempted into pros
titution.
The Indian agent does not appear to be
| in favorable situation for bringing formal
charges against Col. Carlin, and if he should
| it is doubtful whether any military court
would respect such evidence as an Indian
reservation affords on such occasions. AS a
matter of fact, so far as can learn, the
agents party does not make any specific
accusations against Col. Carlin, though in
general terms they denounce him freely and
characterize him as an unrelenting, active
enemy citing Captains Grossman and
Donovan as instances of the perseverance
| (and of the methods) with which he pursues
those whom he dislikes.
| But Col. Carlin has made specific charges
against Agent Hughes, and by direction of
the Indian officer, Gen. Hammond of Oma-
ha, superintendent of Indian affairs for the
Dakota or northern superintendency, is at
this time and place making an exhaustive
inquiry into the subject matters of the
charges. The witnesses to the charges have
now all been examined, and Gen. 81. is hear
ing evidence for the defence. This will be
mainly directed to proving conspiracy
against the agent on the part of certain per-
sons in military employ or other
wise connected with Col. Carlin,
and to the impeachment Of witnesses called
| by Carlin. believe that the conspiracy ex-
lists, and that much of the evidence against
agent Hughes and persons connected with
him is suborned by fear or favor; but, while
the agent personally will be cleared by fai,
Judgment upon the whole evidence, yet il
will appear that the agent, in some matters
of no great public importance, has been
very unfortunate in his surroundings These
however, may be corrected.
The proof being offered by the defense
with what is said to be forthcoming, vii
show that for months the agency and all il
any way connected with it, have been under
the close espionage of persons connected
with the garrison; that men discharged from
employment about the agency and the trad
ing establishment connected with it, have
sought and found refuge at the garrison. ane
that others have been approached and urgee
with inducements to give evidence agains
/ the agent. Among the persons alleged b,
1 the agent and his friends to have been tn,
workers of the conspiracy, are Eugene Wal
] droff, an ex- farmer of the agency, discharged
| by Agent Hughes; E. h. Allison, Col. Carliu'
4 Interpreter, who was put off the reservation
i, by order of Agent Palmer, and again by or
4 der of Agent Burke, and who was also ar
! rested, and on preliminary examination hele
for trial for the larceny of government
j; goods from the Grand River agency, but es
i capped trial under the statute of limitations
and E. r. johnson, book-keeper, dis
charged from the agency store and now EN-
!, ployed by the post quartermaster. Allison
. Is said to be the chief operator in the con
spiracy, and the evidence for the defens
has already shown that he is kept on the res
ervation contrary to law. Anon,
others whose assistance he j
said to have had is Van Solen, who is re
membered at st. Paul in connection with
famous murder case of several years ago, bu
he has not SO far appeared in the investiga
ton. Allison has also had the aid of tn
eight Indian scouts enrolled at the garrison
One of these is Goose, = who was chief of
small band, numbering about twenty per
sons and was raised to the dignity of chic
pending the arrest of Kill Eagle by Capt
johnson, when the latter was acting agent