Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-20
INDIAN NTRADERSHIPS.
The Investigation by the Platt Com.
nlitlee.
SENATOR BLACKBURN SHARPLY CROSS-EX.
AMISES r. N. HUNTER.

The Platt committee of the Senate to-day
continued the investigation into Indian trader
ship matters. Senator Blackburn resumed
the cross-examination OF X. NJ. Hunter, counsel
OF Cleveland Co., Indian traders He read
the para graph of Hunters letter to the Pres-
dent, declaring that from facts within his
own knowledge. If an investigation should be
had. 1t would practically con>ign an ex- United
States Senator and an Indian official 10 iu-
fanny. Mr.. Blackburn vainly endeavored to
extract from the witness facts within his
personal knowledge, but he persisted in giving
lie knew o no facts beyond thuse already sub
mstted. He spoke of letters which he under
stood to exist. and the committee ruled that
any letter, on file can speak Tor themselves
and VIII be called for.
THE PUBLICATION OF SENATOR VESTS LET
TEkS.
Mr.. Blackburn could not prevail upon the
witness To state who gave Senator Vests letters
out for publication. Hunter in al evasive
manner replied that the President, the Secre.
tary OF the Interior, the commissioner Of In
dian affairs, the chairman OF The Senate COM
m'se ana others had copies Of those letters
Senator Blackburn asked: Ibid you give
them out?"
IL decline to answer" was the reply
Mr. Blackburn did not regard it AS profess
siona or proper for the witness to insinuate
that either the Presi dent or any of the others
he had named had permitted those letters to
be made public while ne (witness) refused to
state his own Information on that pOiut. The
witness declined to state whether he had amy
completely in procuring the publication OF the
letters Or was cogDizant Of it.
HUNTERS HAND GRENADEs.
The witness, i'll reply to questions, said he
had had no great amount OI law business for
Indian agents. He was pressed into admitting
that he did send out circular to Indian us,en Is
Offering 10 represent their interests before the
department here. He denied that In those cir
cuiars he had made any reference to haud
grenades for extlneuishing fires, but it SubSe.
Quently came Out t-ial he sought u list OF the
pose was " send them circulars proposing to
supply them with hand grenades.
CLEvELAND's STOCK.
With regard to the estimate in Hunters letter
to the President of Cleveland's stock, which it
was substantially alleged lie had TO sacrifice, u
material discrepancy Was developed. Hunter
adv iseu the President that the stock was wOrth
S2O,OOU, whereas Cleveland before the commil.
lee valued II at 81, 900. The witness also ad.
mltted that Cieveland's offer to engage in bust.
Charge that jackson hau attempted 10 extOrj
from or blacknlaii Cleveland.
Alter many questions and evaSive answers
iOr the witness wriggied all through, painfully
| at times, he admitted substantially that he di1
thank Comm uissiOner Atkins iOr his fair and
courteous treatment and did say the com.
missioner had been more lenient toward
Cleveland q Co. than he (witness) would have
been under like circumstances; also that he al
Cieveands counsel, would not appeal the case
to the President Were IL hot that he way under
Imperative instructions to do SO, and thai
unless he complied he would be liable in dam
| ages to his clients.
Chairman platt asked ii witness had been IL
Hunter replica that he had: that he was 8
nrst lieutenant, but acted as captain. He ad
| mitteu that he was couft-martialed, and prom
lse0 10 produce the proceedings OF the triul.
The committee adjourned until Thursdas
| morning.