New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-17
BULI,pozNG eoyERNMENT AGENTS.

HIGnHANDED METHODS TO BOLSTER UP
FRAUDULENT LOUISIANA CLAIM.
Washington, Feb 10 Specialize. Richmond and
l. S. Lyon returned the other day from louisiana
whore they had been sent by the Department Of JUS
tice TO gather some testimony In suit now pending
In the courts ia which the Government is defend
ant The recent experience of these two United
state officials in West Carroll Parish, La, exhb-
Its character Of society and methods adopted to sup
port false claims that disgracefu as they are
criminal
In the somewhat remarkable claim of the heirs of
Sterling T. Austin against the United States, involving
about 100000 for cotton alleged to have been seized
by the Federal forces in various parts Of Louisiana
and Texas during the war, the Department OF Justice,
ia order to further evidence in the case, sent
Mr.. Richmond TO Carroll Parish In November last to
ascertain what further testimony existed In that sec
ton OF the country respecting this claim In due
time he reported that he had secured statements and
afhdavits in large numbers showing not only that
Austin never had bale Of cotton seZed but that he
was thoroughly disoyal during the waterproof OF
either fact being fatal to the clam-and that one
L. A. Cooper had participated with Austin IN
matter which alone would secure the defeat of the
claim The matter referred TO was the active en-
couragement Austin had given small planter 10
Join the Confederate States Army in 1862, in fur
nishing this farmer with able-bodied negro to
serve in the farmers family during the as
induccment to his enlisting. Tbereupon the At
claimant in Washington Of his purpose to take de-
positions In the case, and furnished them with the
names Of those whom the agent had reported as
witnesses.
This information served to bring forward Of
the claimants, a clerk in the Treasury Department
and the taking of measures to defeat this proof
before The witnesses should take the stand to testify
The Attorney General sent Isaac S. Lyon and T.
Richmond to Oak Grove, Louisiana, to secure f. A.
Cooper their first witness On reaching Oak
Grove, backwoods settlement in West Carroll
Parish, La they put up for the night al DR.. r. p.
Pooles, prominent physician Of the parish, intend
ing to resume their journey to the
house Of their witness, four miles distant
the next morning. Thoy had given no attention 10 the
fact that thor progress along the road had been
watched and inquired about by horsemen passing and
repassing but the reason soon became apparent fog
they found to their surprise that the claimant hid an
tcipated their visit. that their witness. Cooper had
been induced to sign statement contrary to the
made to Richmond in November last. and had actually
left HIS business for parts unknown.
In the Of the night Of their stay In this neigh
borhood genuine Louisiana KuKlux reception was
gwen them. About dusk DR.. Poole's house was sur
rounded by armed men, and some thirty shots fired
around and into TO the terror Of his family and guests
In the morning the usual skulland-bones notice was
found attached TO his premises warning the Govern
mont officials to leave the country Immediately After
a night passed on guard and behind such means Of
defence as available, Dr. Poole advised his guests
that further attempts to find Cooper or longer stay In
that neehborhood, would be at the risk of their lives
Acting under this admoDiton and their own aPprc-
tensions, Messrs. Richmond and Lyon made hasty
exit from Oak Grove and abandoned their attempt to
secure Cooper as a Government witness Ten days
efteftyard tfds Cooper appeared at Grand Lake,
Ark as a witness for the claimant and testified the
very opposite Of what SIX weeks before he had stated
In an affidavit to Mr. Richmond. the Government agent
Tamperng with United States witnesses is said to be
no new thing in this case nor uncommon in the South
~ snfrT ~ fraudulent claims, but this hgh-handed
ourarc is decidedly bold as well as novel departure
from the usual method.