New-York tribune., 1880-02-06

posed 10 put us in possession or the rscoiu' VI ~
We have with great minucneB examiner 's''
antv ofreeords letters telegrams reports accounts
shstroets and OF her Official documents, Des'des taxing
,ne oral testimony OF a number OF witnesses nearly all
of which given in the presence OF inc Oou'SSio"
and his coansel.
Inesmuch as the operations OF Agent Hart ana III
.pector Hammond were closely connected with cach
other and bore such relations 10 the charges against
the Commissioner the committee found 1t necessary 10
review the Official OF these three parties lor
period of about twelve months AS the result OF our
inquiry we submit the following;
In January 1879, Inspector j. II. Hammond reee'eu
Instructions from tne Commissioner Of Indian Affairs 10
nroceed fo san Carlos Agency Arizona. 70 inquire into
certain serious alleged irregularities Oh the part oi
Agent and his employees, reported TO the Depart
ent by ST. Clair Deening, chief Of police for tue Gov
erDment al San Carlos"
On the 18th Of March Inspector Hammond arrived ~
the reserya on and between the 14h and 2oth of ha
month took nineteen dcpositions against Agent Haft
and his associates being careful 10 avoid those whose
testimony could be challenged"
On the 2Iat of March he reached the san Carlos
Agency aud on following day received the resena
tlon of Agent Hart which was accepted py the Commis
sloner on the 25th 10y telegram.
After the resignation the Inspector ceased actively
to collect evidence considering the interests OF the
Government sufficiently protected by the resignation OF
the Agent"
Inspector Hammond remained in charge Of theAgency
till the middle OF April, at bis own request he
was summoned to Washington. He reached this city
ON the lith Of May, bringing with him the ahidavits
taken in March against the Agent and others. lie
brought also with him bond for the Washington Nine
signed by Agent Hart aud Henry Fuller. This mine Is
located al MeMhlen, mining settlement ABOUT forty
Ave miles north northeast OF San Carlos Agency.
Inspector Hammond left for NewYork on May II, re
naming there three days, he had several inter
views wish William HOgencsmp. presidents OF the
Second National Bank OF Jersey City, an In
innate friend and associate OF Bit. HayI Dur
ing this visit to New-York preliminary arrange
ments were made by Mr. Hogeneamp. M Ham
mond and others purchase OF mining property in
Arizona Including the Washington Mine, and FOR toe
organization Of q company, OF which Mr. Hammond was
to be the business manager.
On the 6h of June he ordered by the Indian Office
to return to Arizona possible complete 'hc
examination OF the Agency. Pursuant to these instrue
tions he left his home Evanston, Ill., the 10th of
June and reached Arizona early IN Jny On the 9th Of
July be took the affidavit Of Colonel Jonathan bOH al
Globe, mining village the Agency, charging gross
fraud and dishonesty by the cattle contractor with the
connvance of Agent Hart and otb,r empoyes- This
affidavit was received the Indian Office the 26th of
July and on the 30th the secretary ei the
Interior with recommendation feT It's transmission 10
the Attorney General for prosecution which was done
About the middle Of July Inspector Hammond wrete
o letter to Agent Hart saying that inasmuch Us bis
resignation accepted he had decoed net to e
him that IL did not seem necessary 10 do so.
General Hammond az first declared this letter for
gerry but upon refreshing his memory with all the cir
cumstanc pronounced 1t TO be genuine.
On the I9th Of July Captain Chafee. by direction Of
the took possession or the Agency, and
90 far "a are informed has ably and honestly admin
lstered its affairs that date. Although the rcs'g
nation of Agent Hart accepted on the 22d OF March,
and thereafter treared an ex-agent various
circumstances for which the Commissioners does not
appear to have responsible prevented an earlier
transfer of the property OF the Agency.
On the eth OF July the Commissioner telcgraphed
Inspector Hammond TO "Ienoyate the Agency, obtain
fu evidence OF fraud, and recommend proper man for
Assistant District Attorney TO prosecute conspiracy
cases successfully" At the date he teegrap0ed
Captain Cnaee TO discharge all the employes o. Late
Agent whom he bad reason 10 distrust and ill their
places WITH honestmen."
About the middle OF July Inspector Hammond tele-
Could be bought for $4,000 He Informed in reply
that special agent named Edward Knapp would be
FROM Hammond to Hogencamp inquiring how he would
know Knapp aud where he should md nim, Inspector
Ham alleges that In reply TO his dispatch 10
Hogencamp. Commissioner Hayt replied You know
Knapp" words to that effect. Mr. Hayt does not ad
init sending TINS telegram.
About the goth OF August he met by appointment at
hSTsls ,a1Sedaeon n from RHsR % Of
as accredited agent for the purchase OF the mine
August the purchase of the Washington Mine was
effected by transfer from ExAgsnt Hart aud Mr.
Fuller co-equal owners for $4,000, for which sum
drafts given on Mr. Hogencamp The deed was
made out IN Ine name OF Charles ID Desher OF New
Brunswick, n j. who was named trustee. The prop
erty subsequently transferred to MI Hogeneanp
Inspector Hammond waited two days 10 see the
trahsaciion CLOSED and subsequently, ACCOMPANIED Mr.
Knapp Ph@nix the county seat where the deed was
On or about September Inspector Hammond left the
Territory East On the 22d Of October he reached
Washington, made written report, and brought Win
him additional testimony against the Agent and his
associates. nor has he FURNISHED ,hs DrparIent win
warded the Bggs afdavt the 10ih OF July, 1879 On
the th OF January 1880 he rendered his resignation IA
InsDe be accepted,
cisl connection with the Government Terminated
CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
The case must generally be divided into two parts
Ts-Copcerning the interests OF the service and the
protection OF the interests OF the Indians
second-The prosecution of an e1 Agent who had lett
the service consequence OF maifeasdnce III Office.
As 10 the frat part INVESTIGATION has brought the
committee the conclusion that when the offences Of
Agent discovered steps were taken by
the authorities in Washington to investigate their
ture to remove Agent from the service. to remedy
the abuses existing at the Agency, to put the Agency
under proper control and to protect the interests OF the
Indians.
The responsibility for tho long delay which happened
IN turning over the property by Agent Hart to one
properly authorized to receive it cannot be justly
charged to the Indian Office.
Az 70 the second part. the prosecution Of exAgent
Hart we find that number OF afiidavts bearing evi-
eence OF grave misconduct On the part of Hart were
delivered to the Commissioners OF Indian Affairs by
Inspector Hammond in the month OF May tnat in June
Hammond directed 10 return to Arizona for the
purpose among other things. Of completing the testi
mouy that In the meantime these aidavits remained
in the Indian Office unacted upon that IN July another
case OF malfeasance the part Of exAgent Hart
evorn TO by Colonel Bggs, transmitted TO the Indian
ONCE by Inspector Hammond, and forwarded TO the
Denarnent OF Justice for the prosecution Of Hart that
the affiavts first .poken OF su!i remained unacted
upon IN the Indian Office after Inspector Hammond
had returned from Arizona In October without bringing
ANY additional testimony that on the 23d of OotoDer
the Commssioner OF Indian Affairs recommended 10 the
eecretary Of the Interior that the Department OF Justice
Be reques ted employ assistant to the District
Attorney in Arizona In the prosecution OF Hart, which
request was promptly forwarded TO the Deparnent OF