The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-09-18
WASHINGTON NOTES.
The Captured Apaches-Important Lane
Observation-Disclosures Shortage


The Captured Apaches-Important Lane
Decisions-Beecher's Shortage.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1O.-The President
has teegrapned Adiutant General Drum,
Acting Secretary of War, yesting him with
discretionary authority as to the present
disposition of Geronimo and his band,
When the President returns he will decide
upon permanent place of confinement tor
these Indians. General Drum, in pursuance
of this discretion, to-day telegraphed Gell-
eral Miles, who is on the ground, and mole
familiar with the surroundings than the
Adiutant General can be, transferring this
discretionary authority to that officer. II
is learned that General Miles will remove
Geronimo and his bucks aS once from Fort
Bowie, which is near the mountains, to Fort
Bliss, in the open country. This precau'
ton is taken for fear the wary chiettain
might escape at Fort Bowie, where his
flight to the neighboring mountains would
be easy, while he could elude his guards at
Fort Bliss and easily be capiAred in the open
country. Attic War Department the idea OF
civil trial fOT the ApaChes is secuted, as
no witnesses could be obtained to the
numerous murders by these Indians because
of difficulty in obtaining positive evidence
of guilt in the individual cases of the murE
der. The Indians, like negroes, army oti-
GERS say, resemble each other so much as to
make Identification Of individuals difficult.
Besides in all but few cases Of murder,
there were no living witnesses left, and
more than this, most Of the bulChericS took
place at night, under the cover OF the dark
ness. Court martial, therefore is believed
to be the only proper method of trial.
This view is cOncuTed in by the United
States attorney, who telegraphed here exc
planning and pointing out the difficulties
likely to be encountered in civil trial. The
other ApacheS-thOse already in the hands
of the Government and who were not on
the warpath with GerOnmO-will be sent
to Fort Marion, Fla. at once.
IMPORTANT RAILWAY LAND DECISIONS.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.-In the case Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company vs..
Benjamin V. Clark, involving the right OF
said company to lands embraced within
that part of the Crow Indian reservation re-
leased under an agreement of sale ratified
by Congress April II, 1882, and decided by
the Department September II, 1884 Acting
| Secretary MuIdrOw has Oyerruled the mo-
ton for the review filed therein by said
company, holding that at the time of the
| definite location of the road opposite these
| lands they were excepted from the grant
| by reason of the existing Indian reserYa.
ton.
In the case of w. D. jarrett vs. the Mis-
souri,, Kansas a. Texas Railroad Company,
involving land in section II, township 35,
south range %, east, in the independence
land district of Kansas which lies within
the ten mile granted limits of the grant to
said company, and also within the ten miles
of the located route of the Kansas & NeO-
shO Valley Railway Acting Secretary
Muldrow afIirms the decision of the General
Land Office, and decides by the priority Of
the grant to the last med company that
its rights took effect On the definite location
to the exclusion Of the claim now made by
the defendant company herein, and as the
grant to the NeoshO Valley road has been
repealed by an act of Congress, the land is
accordingly awarded to the settler. A large
tract of land in Southeastern Kansas will
be affected by this decision.
BEECHER's SHORTAGE.
WASHINGTON, Sept. lO.-The apparent
shortage in his accounts has rendered the
Treasury officials somewhat anxious to hear
from ex-COlIector Henry F. Beecher, son of
the Brooklyn preacher, who, since his re-
lection by the Senate has not been heard
from. While he was collector at Port
Townsend w. r., a quantity of opium was
seized there, aggregatiug about $40, 800 in
value. When Mr. Beecher came here to
look after his confirmation before the Sem
ate, he left the Office in the hands of his
deputy. When he turned over his Office on
August he had only deposited to the
creditOf theIIreasury Departmentthes sum of
S35, OO0, thus leaving an apparent discTep.
ancy of s., 800 1t was ascertajued that the
deputy while in charge had used that
? amount in paying legitimate expenses OF
( collection of the revenue, but as he had
given no bond he had no right to handle
this money. The settlement consequently
shUuG be made with Mr.. Beecher. Re.
peatcd letters and kilograms sent to Port
Townsend and ali along the Pacific coast
failed to reached him. His accounts have
been held up as a collectors bond never eX
pres; he is still responsible for it, Mr.
{ Beecher was appointed year ago last
, june and had the Office until the Senate
, rejected him the day before it adjourned.