Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-10-14
About Wheeler.
CASA GRANDE, Oct. 3, 1882.

columns in the interest of justice and hu- manity and that when it finds it has been deceived, will be as prompt to expose the liars as it was to condemn the Hbeled, 1 will undertake to correct the false state ment contained in an article entitled "Wheelers' Whims" and published in the ENTERPRISE Sept. 30th. am in 2 posi- tion to give the press and public the facts in the case. The conclusion of your arti- cle shows that your information came from one who was persmptorially dis charged by the department for crooked ness in making certain misrepresenta- tions in petition for the removal of Pap ago Indians from public land, by which said removal the rascal would have been benefited by corralling 480 acres of land in the vicinity of Gila Bend. Now I am not trying to defend Indian agents in general, for I have lived too long on the frontier-in fact was raised ln the sage brush, as it were-and have had exper- fence as an agency employee. But in this case l know, from personal knowl- edge, that the whole thing is base fabri- cation of falsehoods, intended to ruin and injure an honest man, whose hands are as clear of fraud as any mans and who is as innocent as his estimable wife, in pe
 cuniary sense. Of course he may be lack ing in some points, as every man has his faults. He made some mistakes. One was when he was ordered by the depart ment to remove settles from the Papago reservation. After due notice they failed to leave and MT. Wheeler, believing he had done his duty, ordered their premises to be burned down. Hence the indict- ment in Pima county, followed by &C., quittal, when brought to trial, in which he was supported by the department Nevertheless he incurred the ill-will of the citizens of Pima county, who would sacrifice his honor and send him to the gibbet for doing what he believed to be his duty. Again he ordered the police to arrest and bring to the agency certain Quajate Inians, who had violated the rules and regulations of the agency, and the said Indians attacked and tried to dis arm tho police and in the melee two or three Indians were killed. Mr Wheeler immediately informed the department of the trouble and the secretary, in replying, said the department was very sorry, that unfortunately he had exceed his author ity, that he was liable to be brought be- fore civil tribunal for murder and that had it occurred on the reservation the government would protect him, but as il did not the government had no jurisdic
 ton. Another mistake he made was in al
 lowing two clerks to make Mrs. Wheeler present of their salaries, in compensa
 ton for her kindness in procuring then
 employment-a matter of few dollars
 which MT. Wheeler, after sober reaec
 ton, requested her to return to sait
 clerks, as he feared his enemies migh
 make capital out of it to injure him. Al
 these faults he freely disclosed to the em ) ployees about the agency, in whom h
 had full confidence and looked upon 6
 friends. But he made mistake, for Q
 we said before, Palmer, the "Dr." ha made certain misrepresentations in peti ton asking the department to remove
 lot of Papagos from off the public land il
 the vicinity of Gila Bend, where they ha
 made them home, took out ditches an
 improved the soil and which land sai Palmer wanted to get possession oi } When Mr. Wheeler received informatio
 of this fact he asked for leave of at : sence from the department and went t Gila Bend to investigate the matter an 3 while he was there, Dr. Palmer hastene to Casa Grande and reported to the de partment that Wheeler has skipped, an presume, at the same time furnishe the startling facts to tho ENTERPRISE , On telegram from either Palmer or Ma . hon that Wheeler had skipped, the de 3 partment ordered Mahon to take chars of the agency, greatly to the consterna tion and surprise of MT. Wheeler when h 1 returned. He had sent in his resigna ] ton some time since but considered him
 self agent till his successor should arriv 3 and to whom he would turn over the af l fairs of the agency. MT. Wheeler wa
 here yesterday, all day. attending to hi business in connection with Washington 1 and if 1 am not much mistaken he wi I put some of these ''smart alecks" wher
 the dogs won't bite them, for openin r and meddling with the mails. At leal r it behooves them to keep their eyes oper n These are unvarnished facts and I giv
 them in the hope that the public wi
 take into consideration that MT Wheele
 filled the office to the best of his under
 standing, honestly and manfully, an
 hope the press will undo what it has don . in the unfortunate publication of the sill and sneak charges put out by william (
 the deepest dye, who glories at the mi
 cry he has caused an honest husband an !, loving wife. If that is the reward fc honesty and integrity, may the heaver n fall and earth open and swallow up tt