The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-16
WASHINGTON NOTES.
The Captured Apaches-Importnns Land
Decfsious-iSeecher's Shortage.


Decisious-iSeecher's Shortage.
WASHINGTON, Sept 1O.-The President
has telegrapned Adjutant General Drum,
Acting Secretary of War, vesling him With
discretionary authority as to the present
disposition of Geronimo and his band.
When the President returns he will decide
upon a permanent place of confinement for
these Indians. General Drum, in pursuance
of this discretion, to-day telegraphed GEN
eral Miles, who is on the ground, and more
familiar with the surroundings than the
Adjutant General can be, transferring this
discretionary authority 10 that officer. 1t
is learned that General Miles will remove
Geronimo and his bucks 4: once from Fort
Bowie, which is near the mountains 10 Fort
Bliss, III the open country. This precau-
ton is taken for fear the wary chieftain
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 captured in the open
country. At the War Department the idea of
civil trial for the Apaches is secuted, as
no witnesses could be obtained 10 the
numerous murders by these Indians because
of difficulty in obtaining positive evidence
of guilt in the individual cases OF the MUIR
der The Indians, like negroes army Off
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 butcheries 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 cOncurred in by the United
States attorney, who telegraphed here ex-
planning and pointing out the difficulties
likely TO be encountered in civil trial. The
other pacheS-thOse already i'll the hands
of the Government and who were not on
the warpath with Geronimo-will be sent
to Fort Marion, Fla. at once.
IMPORTANT RAILWAY LAND DECISIONS.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.-ln 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 IL, 1882 and decided by
the Department September II, 1884, Acting
Secretary MuldrOw 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. ID. jarrett vs. the Mis-
souri,, Kansas Il Texas Railroad Company,
involving land in section H. township 81,
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 K NeO-
shO Valley Railway. Acting Secretary
MuIdrOw affirms the decision of the General
Land Office, and decides by the priority OF
the grant TO the last named company that
its rights took effect on the definite location
10 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 i'm Southeastern Kansas will
be affected by this decision.
BEECHER'S SHORTAGE.
WASHINGTON, Sept 10.-Ihe apparent
shortage in his accounts has rendered the
Treasury officials somewhat anxious to hear
from exCOllector Henry +. 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. T., a quantity of opium was
oeILtu lHoit, dS8IcedllHR dUOuI S4U,oUO Ill
value. When Dir. Beecher came here to
look after his confirmation before the SEN
ate, he left the office in the hands of his
deputy. When lie turned over his Office OH
August he had only deposited to the
credit of thei'rreasury Department the sum of !
$50, 900, thus leaving an apparent discrep- |
ancy of s., 800. 1t was ascertained that the |
deputy willie 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 |
shOGIG be made with Mr.. Beecher. Re- |
pPated letters ana kilograms sent TO Port |
Townsend and all along the Pacific coast |
failed to reached him. His accounts have |
been held up as 4 collectors bond never eX- |
pireS; 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.