Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-04
MA'kre, TINE SUICIDE.
4 Statement ~; As Causes Which ladsesd Hk
sen DssaseHsM

Az Gen. Hammond Has Made Public DAM
aging Instnuations, We Advance
s Evidence to Disprove Them.
A great many attempts have been made
BY some Of the distinguished gentlemen
who are conducting Indian reform" ID Do.
kota to fasten the blame of the death Of
seveft Haakker, who sulcided at Fort
THOMPSON, upon DR.. Livingston, agent at
that place. We were conyinced that this
attempt was but q subterfuge on the part of
the bulldozers to enable them to escape the
ignomy attached to this portion Of their
work, and after the letter written by Gen.
Hammond to the Sioux City Journal, from
Dubuque, we took steps to procure all the
facts In the case. II this effort We have
been successful. Information has been Civ.
an us which the public can rely upon. II
necessary, and it probably will be before
this matter is settled, eyely word Of it can
be sworn to in any court of justice. Our
informations runs as follows: -
On the evening Of the l1th of April,
about nine O'Clock, DR.. Livingston was in.
formed by E. G. Durfee (st that time in con.
troll of the agency under Capt. Dougher,y,
acting agenD that Haakker had just been
found dying in the mems quarters by Geo
Kunkson. an empleye. Mr.. Durfee request.
ed DR.. Livingston to 20. and see him, which
he did. being accompanied by Durfee. At
the quarters they found Col. Eddy and
some others. Proceeding up stairs they
found Haakker dead. DR.. Livingston then
suggested to Mr.. Durfee that Capt. Dough.
erly and the military surgeon at Brule post
be sent for, stating that under the Law
Capt. Dougherty, as acting agent would
have authority to examine witnesses and
that DR.. Lauback, the surgeon, could con.
duct medical examination. About two
O'Clock the same day Capt. Dougherty, &C.
companied by the physician named, reach.
ed Fl Thompson. No official examination
into the causes of Haakker's act was made,
DR.. Lauback. under instructions, confin.
Ing himself strictly to medical examina.
tion. He began his professional investigs.
tions in the presence Of Capt. Dougherty,
Mr.. Hudson, Str. Russell, DR.. Livingston,
and others, The body was found in the
mems quarters lying face upwards. A re.
volver containing one cartridge and one
empty shell, the latter under the hammer,
was found near the body. Haakke1's cloth.
ing had been burned across the breast and
the flesh was slightly burned. DR.. Lau-
back gave as the result of his medical ex-
animation, that, in his opinion, death had
resulted froma pistol shot which had pene-
trated the heart. Capt. Dougherty then
took possession of Haakker's effects and
the body was buried.
No official examination was made into
the causes of Haakker's suicidal act or Of
the circumstances attending it. 1t can be
shown, however, that the deceased was ar
rested several days previous to his death
and placed under guard, and while under
guard examined by Gen. Hammond. 1t
can be shown that he was thus examined
several times, and that during these exam.
nations he was intimidated and threatened,
as were other employees. 1t can be proved
that Haakker stated that he was afraid be
would be placed in the guard house at
Brule, where Broekmann and LeClair were
confined for the purpose of compelling them
to testify. Also that Haakker made inqui-
ries regarding his right to bail himself out
with his own money should he be thus con-
fined. 1t can be further proved that he
stated 10 parties that he must talk of what
had been said to him during his examina.
tion, and Of the threats made, although he
had been ordered not to, and that he could
not stand it much longer" All of these
facts can be shown by an official examination,
and unless Gen. Hammond desires to persist
in heaping insult upon injury he will re-
lieve Dr.. Livingston of the insinuations
placed upon him by the Sioux City Journal,
at his instance, by Immediately ordering the
investigation asked for. From the time the
military assumed charge of the agency DR..
Livingston held no communication, either
directly or indirectly with Haakker, which
assertion can also be clearly proved.
We have obtained the true version of this
affair for the reason that there has been an
underhanded attempt to throw the blame of
this unfortunate affair upon worthy citi-
zen Of Dakota, probably with the intention
of attracting public attention from the true
incentive to the crazy act. There are
3 great many things to criticise in detail in
with Hammond's seizure of In
dian agencies, bnt this affair is one of the
specialties which will bear looking into.
One dollar will buy lady's ready made
suit complete, at Eiseman s. Co.'s, Broad.
way. AZ.
Henry Photenhaur, at Fort Pierre is pre-
pared to supply steamboats, with fresh meat.
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