Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-14
A FRUITLEss MISSION.
Why Two Government Agents were
Glad to Return Home.


soever. The statement that special agents.
life l. not always unalloyed bliss is susceptible
OF proof. and there is. residen: in this city. a
reliable witness who could be called 10 support
the assertion. The witness in this case is Mr.
j. :. Lyon. . well-known lawyer. who has been
for some time in the employ of the Depart
Inent of Jnstice an assistant attorney Mr.
Lyon arrived in this city and reached his COM
Portable home. at I12 I'd street southeast. on
Thursday morning last and the probabilities
are that he was more glad to reach the shelter
of his own roof than he had ever been before
Accompanying Mr.. Lyon was Mr.. E. Richmond
a special agent of the Attorney Generals de-
partment, and he, too. was we'll pleased to see
once more the graceful curves Of the capitol
dome and to look again upon the snowy shaft
which pierces the clouds.
To tell in detail the whole story of the trip
from which the two officials returned on Thurs
day would make long story, but the facts are
condensed in the following. the main features
of which were extracted from Mr.. Lyon last
night by STAR reporter, who had heard some
thing of the strange experiences undergone by
him and his companion.
THE CLAIM.
Ever since the close of the war Of the rebellion
acertain claim against the United States for cot
ton. which. it was alleged. the government took
away and disposed of. has been pending in one
died some ten years ago. killed. it was said. in "a
street fight; but the claim has been urged very
persistently by his heirs, both of whom are in
the departmental service in this city. The
matter was well worth fighting about, for if
the claima nt's heirs could only prove the case.
they would become the possessors Jointly of
about half million dollars. The government
law advisers also thought the little $500. 900
tribe was worthy effort on their part. SO
they prepared to upset any and every claim
might no do
partment. The case at last got into the Court
Of Claims. and there it will probably meet with
Its fate at no very distant day.
THE MISSION.
The Acknowledgement did not believe the
claim Just one. 40 he detailed a couple of
agents TO go down into Arkansas and Louisiana
to take testimony in the case. Mr.. Richmond
and 1lr. Lyon We're the two. Both hrd been.
previous to the present administration. en-
Ployes III the Department Of Justice but the
whirl of the political wheel was so rapid that
bOth flew off Its periphery into the more indie
pendent and more profitable sphere of private
and personal endeavOr. Their knowledge of
such intricate and ancient claims as this case
was valuable. however. and their experience as
special agents in times past of such impor-
lance 10 the Office that they were engaged to
LOOK up certain line of testimony which the
government regarded a. essential to its case
SO. early IN December. Mr.. Richmond started
out and visited a number of places in the south
where witnesses were supposed to be. and from
many of these witnesses he learned sufli-
cient to believe that even supposing that
the cotton in question had been seized.
the owner had no claim upon the gov
eminent. for during the war ii was claimed
he had been an active sympathizer with the
lost cause" Mr.. LYON followed not long
after Mr.. Richmond. and the two met at Grand
Lake. Ark From this place they agreed and
arranged TO so TO ferry near Oak Grove. La.
where most important witness resided This
same man had already made affidavit before
Mr.. Richmond to the effect that during the
war the original claimant had given to this
witness brother q colOred bov. for and in
consideration OF the witness brother exerting
himself as q fighter on the Confederate side
IL was thought desirable that this witness
should reaifirm some OF his statements and it
was In pursuit Of The reatfirmation that a trip
was taken to Oak Grove. in Carroll parish
The way was not too PLAIN. so the services of a
farmer were secured As guide. The trio seemed
10 attract considerable attention a. they
neared their destination. and number
of horsemen. some of whom passed and re-
passed the wagon several times made inuuiry
OF The farmer 30 the identity of the two
strangers who were with him. and 10 these
queries he invariably replied that they were
government agents engaged in taking deposit
tlpLN IL oelg,i OF ;he government in the we'll
known cotton case. One or two of the horse
men remarked that they would see the visitors
later. 5uI no attention paid to their utt err
ances.
THE SITUATION.
When the agents arrived at Oak Grove they
were somewhat surprised to learn that one OF
the heirs had only left there on the previous
day, after having spent a week in the neighbor-
hood II seems that II had been learned from
counsel just what the government was going to
do. so a leave of absence from the Treasury de-
partInent was secured and Louisiana was Wis
ited to see II the plans OF the opponents could
not. IN some degree. be counteracted. just
what was said. or did. or promised. does not
yet appear, but the people of that region we're
decidedly inhamed against the government
agents when they arrived. and seem TO have re-
manned IN state of Inflammation until they
went away.
IT WAS DARK
when Mr.. Lyon, Mr.. Richmond and their
farmer guide arrived at Oak Grove. where
they found temporary shelter in the house of a
Practicing resident physician. Everything
moved along quietly until little after 9o'cIock
and then the house was surrounded by num-
Der of armed men and about thirty shots were
nred around and into the premises TO the terror
of the doctors family and the doctors guests
The besleged barricaded the doors and windows
and made ready to defend themselves as best
they could with couple of shotguns and four
or hve revolvers. No effort having been made
to enter the house and the yelling band having
withdrawn before daylight the front door was
unDarred anu the doctor yentured out On
one of the gate posts a sheet of paper and
on II. beneath a rudely-drawn skull and cross
bones, was notice to the farmer (who was well
known to the vicinity requesting him and his
companions TO get out of the county that
morning. and notifying them that the desired
witness would not testify for the government.
The doctor said that he was satisfied that
further stay IN that region or continued search
for their man would be at the risk of the agents
lives. and he. therefore advised them to beat
speedy retreat. Acting under this advice which
was seconded by their own apprehensions the
officials left az once for Grand Lake
What would have happened had they con-
tlnued their search for the witness is unknown.
but one thing Is certain-they would not have
found him. He was spirited away: leaving
Oak Grove about the same time as the heir de-
parted therefrom. He has. however turned
up since, and Is an ardent and enthusiastic wit
hess Tor the claimant. his previous affidavit TO
tue contrary notwithstanding. The next agent
who Is sent by the Department OF Justice down
10 Louisiana 10 take testimony in a case where
the government Is defendant will probably first
make requisitiOn on the War Department for
q Gatling gun OF else will shield himself behind
an immediate resignation.
He Has Forgotten IL.
From the Atlanta Journal
Associate Justice Lueius Ouintius Cevitips
Lamar. 1t Is well known. has never made his
''circuit" of the federal courts of the southern