Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-11
councn Nssetns.

A.,he meeting Of the Governor and Com
I'll. Tuesdsy morning, he pettioasss for tb.
,.raon Of John n. Pray Of Belg1sde, nou
Irving six months sentence in The county
I'LL for perjury were given bearing. A
N. Goddard APPEARED for she prisoner. Nr.
p.y VS. present and explained The sissafios
n her family, tbss the entire work On the lie
liz farm, - veil - the care Of her husband.
mother who il helpless from . broken hip
hsd to be performed by herself.
Later in the day the matter vas discussed
i, executive session snd the petitioner
r,sp,ed leave 70 Withdraw.
All the nominations by the Governor veYe
coearmed by the council with one exception,
ma, OF Charles A. Cushman Of Oldtovn, ap-
,o;n,ed - trial justice. which was laid on the
able.
Councillor Hatch was instructed by the
council, the vote being six to one, 70 draw =
,.,,.nt for the $500 asked for BY the rail-
,o.A commissioners for their expenses. Mr..
Hatch has opposed this and endssvored to
have the council decline to grant the war
,.n,. but their action was to decline 70
.ecede TO bis proposition. The warrant vas
snsn under protest by Mr.. Hatch, Who il
chairman Of the committee on warrants.
A large. par, Of the council meeting vas
occupied by 8 hearing on the petition Of the
P.sssmaquoddy Indians that an investigation
h. made on the management Of their s6airs
byH. c. Munson Of Calais, agent Of the
,r,be. Governor Joseph Lola and Peter j..
Gabrielle were present with their counsel,
Arson NJ. Goddard. Mr.. Munson vas also
present with his counsel, Judge c. C..
Rounds Of Calsis.
In opening, Mr.. Goddard said that be
made no specific charge sgainss Mr.. Munson,
bu, that the tribe had become dissatisfied
and uneasy and had petitioned the Governor
and Council for an invest CATION Of the man
ner 10 which the agent had dealt with the
members Of the tribe. The Indians claimed
that he had Disseminated in favsr Of certain
members who had married white women in
the matter Of pensions; that he had fled
receipts In former settlement Of his &C.
counts, purpor,ins to be signed by woman
Who had been dead a year; that he charged
the Indians e1orbitAnt prices for -four and
groceries from his store, and that he had
even aled false receipts for money he had
never paid out
Some half dozen affidavts and the testi-
mony of the two Indians present were put
~ to sustain the charges
Mr.. Rounds questioned the Indians very
closely but fairly in cross examination. He
called their attention to the fact that the
names on their petitions for an investigation
numbered less than fifty, but he held in his
hand q petition to the Governor and Council
10 retain Mr.. Munson in his present position
signed by ffty-hve members Of the tribe.
How do you account for ihisf" he asked Of
Mr. Gabrielle. That they were bought, 3"
quickly replied the Indian.
Mr. Munson stated that he had always
dealt .quarely with the Indians in all things
and that his books would show al itemized
account OF all bills which were covered by
receipts, and all had received what their
receipt called for. His books were kept and
the receipts all made out by his clerk and it WAS
possible there might be some slight errors,
but nothing but what could be sat
isfsctorilly explained In regard to
the receipts signed by the dead
woman he stated that the amount was paid
before she died. and in that, as in all other
cases he had the receipt signed at the time
tho goods were delivered, but that evidently
the clerk made the mistake in date when
the receipt was completed and filed. He
articles cold in his store. were the same to
Indians and white men, but that the price of
phosphate At the store was at the rate Of fifty
dollars ton at retail. but he charged the
Indian, at the rate Of sixty dollars and he
paid the freight to Pleasant Point or Peter
Dana, Point a. the case might be. The
matter was laid on the table till next meeting,
when further affidavits will be fled by both
parties.
The council adjourned at about six
O'Clock till nine O'Clock this morning. when
they will finish the business to come before
the meeting There was full attendance,
every councillor being in his seat. The
council voted that when the council finally
adjourned ii would be to December goth.