Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-28
THE SCHEMES OF A scHEMER.

p - HH
The strongest evidences offs weakening
case are being developed in the operations
of the cratic Hammond, Indian inspector.
He was in Washington on the 23d inst. and
there rcsorted to lying without limit, if the
Chicago Tribune's version of his statements
are correct. He is undertaking to prejudice
the department and the public, not only
against DR.. Livingston, but against the
courts, the people and the officials of Dako.
ia territory. He sees that his alleged de-
velopments are destined to an inglorious
fzzle if the matter is brought into the courts
and is %endeavoring TO frame excuses in ad-
vance for the inevitable result. Hammond
possesses the cunning ofa fox and is filled
with an inordinate vanity. These two lead.
ing characteristics have urged him on in
this investigation business until he has be-
come himself so hopelessly entangled In the
web of his W weaving. that he must ere
long fall to the ground. The Washington
telegram which contains Hammond's latest
divulgences reads as follows:
Gen. Hammond, United States Indian
agent, who has been investigating the case
Of Livingston, arrived here to-day. He re-
ports the case stronger against him than has
and thinks that, If Livingston cannot be
convicted, the United States need not un.
dertake to punish crime in its own courts.
Livingston has made active preparation for
his defense, and has engaged four leading
lawyers at Yankton. His skill appears to
be of q peculiar character, for his lawyers
are reported to be in possession of copies of
all the af1davits filed at the department of
justice against Livingston BY the govern.
ment witnesses. The government may feel
compelled to call upon them to state how
they came into possession of these af1davits.
The Indian Office has been much annoyed
because the district attorney has not been
energetic in the cases. Judge Shannon
held the grand jury for some time for in
dictments, but the cases we're not presented,
and the grand jury was discharged until
October. Now the district attorney, Judge
Campbell, has himself gone to Europe on a
pleasure trip, and his place is filled by i
substitute. AT the department of justice
this morning, however, it was decided to
take immediate energetic steps TO commence
the prosecution, and competent counsel in
Yankton and elsewhere will be employed.
friends are very defiant, and
to control any jury that may be
drawn in Yankton, and even to influence
United States officials.
There is nothing remarkable in the fact
that q man who has been persistently as.
sailed in the public prints from Maine to
Oregon and from Canada to the gulf, and
by government officials, should make active
preparations for a defense of his reputation.
Hammond's suggestion that the attorneys
of the accused may be called upon to state
how they came into possession Of leading
points In their defense is one of the vagar.
les of that extremely eccentric individual
and will cause a smile TO fit over the public
countenance. 1t would be in perfect har.
mony with previous proceedings for Ham.
mond to surround those attorneys with a
Of soldiers. lug them off to jail and
stretch them upon his inquisitorial rack
until they divulge. But we opine that the
Hammond suggestion Is onlya reflex Of q
which possibly will occur to him
he may be compelled 10 show how he came
into possession of the af1davits filed at
Washington. This would be a most inter.
esting development In the case and one
which would induce the sweat o! agony to
stand in beaded drops upon the classic brow
Of the great fraud shrieksr.
The assertion that District Attorney
Campbell 10 neg.ecting his duties 10 con-
nection with this case is an entirely uncall
ed for reflection upon % Official who works
without fear or favor and % purely an at.