The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-17
Indian Frauds JneartlieI:
DISCOVERIES MADE At CROW CREEK AGENCY
A RECORD OF ROBBERY AND CORRUPTION.

f.n II
4 RECORD OF ROBBERY AND CORRUPTIoN.
WASHINGTON. July ia letter has Just
been received at the Indian Office making
Startling disclosures OF the numerous
frauds praclced at the agency OF the Crow
Creek Indians, Dakota Territory, during
Agent Liyn9ston's administration. The
letter gives Il detailed account and dcscrip-
ton OF some fifty fraudulent vouchers, the
most of which arc for Indian labor, and
describes the frauds as being "thc bold
est and most unblushing" ever hay
ing occurred in that region. Indians
who worked at any little thing a
day or two were rated at $50 and 800
per month for whole quarter, and several
for six and eight quarters, as long as money
was available. at is impossible" the
writer says, " to put your hands on paper
in the Office without clutching fraud"
Indian chiefs say that DR.. Livingston APP
pcared ut Brulc Agency with a handful OF
two-delur bills and gave one to each OF the
chiefs and headmen, distributing in all
about 500. The vouchers call for $3.50 as
being expended in that manner. y dcscrip-
ton is given of the purchase OF seven tons
of hay at IS per ton, and accounts rendered
for seventy tons at 1920.
The correspondent says that the Indians
are much provoked at the prospect OF an
agent coming out, and have manifested
their dissatisfaction by saying that the land
between Crow-C Creek agency and the James
river belongs to them, and that they have Il
right to live anywhere upon the tract they
choose. He does not think, however, that
many; of the Indians will leave the agency
on that account. The chiefs have been
questioned in relation to the immense en-
pcnditurcs by the Bureau for annuity goods
or the last four years and in regard 10 their
losses OF cattle, and have shown by their
replics that the annuity goods had not bee n
received, and that their cattle losses were
very heavy. 1t is stated in this connection
that DR.. Livingston has Il private herd OF
six hundred.
The following statement is made, show
ing the difference between the amount OF
stock reported on hand by the agent and
the amount actually found upon invcstlga-
ton: Tobacco reported on hand, 2,2l2
pounds; actually found, $3.50 pounds. Po-
tatoes reported on hand, 100 bushels; ac-
tually found, 1900 bushels. Horned cattle
reported on hand, 40 head; actually found,
more than 400 head.
The document describes at length various
forged vouchers as having been discovered,
and sets forth that upon official invcstiga-
ton, from the information now in posses
sion, those guilty cannot escape punish
mcnt. Every possible effort is being made
bv the Indian Office to prosecute the guilty
par les.
\ special dispatch says: "Livingston
began life rs Theological student. He gave
fonts and stained glass windows to churches
during the time he was agent. He IS now
very wealthy, owning large landed estates,
town lots, and interests in three Nevada sill
yer-mincs. In Yankton he is interested in
almost every industry, and stands li@l'
The life Of General Hammond has been
threatened by anonymous letters, ana IL Is
freely asserted that it will be taken II the
ring can't break him down by SANDER anu
force COMPROMISED '
The Lower BruIc asd Cheyenne agencies
have also been seized, and it is reported tiiat
a secret investigation into their aha'rS' Whicn
is still INCOMPLETE, has developed con>pl-
racy between the agents and traders that
even startles the natives.