The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24
CARSON ON PELTRET.
The City Comptroller Attacks
the Democratic Editor.
SAYS he HAS BEEN TRApucEp.
All the Accusations Falss-Ths Press
Has Never Been Kind to Him
Since He Left Ohio.

brought my family with me-burned the
bridges behind me, as 1t were-expecting aud
intending to make Washington my future home.
and have had no other expectation than that
viii die and be buried In Washington soil /
have tried to so conduct myself and business
that could enjoy the respect and confidence Of
my neighbors and those with whom did busi-
ness. But the duties of the office OF special
agent are such thst he is brought in direct con-
fiet and antsgonism with many interests that
will not view the sets of the agent In an i'm
partial or favorable iigh IL his acts adverse
or unfavorab.e to their interests II the agent
hnds that men have illegally entered or caused
lands to be illegally entered, and seeks to prose-
cute the offenders or to cancel the entries, then
In the estimation of these offenders, che is per-
scouting them because they don't come down"
If he fails, from lack OF evidence or any cause.
to prosecute some case that they think ought to
be prosecuted, then they say, "he has been
bought on" The instances are rare where the
Offenders "feel the halter draw with good opin-
ion of the law" Any man who attempts to
serve in the capacity of special agent is under
the ban OF suspicion He Is hampered by scoun-
dreis who go through the country in the outly-
ing districts and palm themselves of as "the
government agent" and compromise him and
put him under the ban OF suspicion by Offering,
for consideration, to shield them. Sometimes
INSCRIPTIONS attorneys pretend to those inter-
ested that they can control the agents
action, and again create . suspicion
against the agent One instance OF
this kind can be recalled by
many residents of Olympia, in which an sttor-
ney suddenly found it convenient to skip the
country, and in his dire haste left his overcoat
at the depot, and the only word people about
the land office have had as to his whereabouts
was a request for information to disbar him
from practice in another place.
Again, the public press too often pander to
the sentiment OF these interested parties. and
misIepresent and abuse without cause these
agents; not always Intentionally, of course, but
upon hearing the complaint of the offender
only, who imagines he has grievance. and
without hearing the other side OF the story.
From the time landed in Washington to the
present can recall but one instance in which q
good or favorable word has been published
about me or my work by the Republican press.
The report of the occurrences during the trial
before the land office in 1855, in the
case OF the United States Vs. Emmett
T. Hunt, by all the press Of the city,
and which has been rel ashei By Editor Peltret
in an interview with Smell. of Tacoma, was ex-
tremely partial, disappearing and false. A
young gentleman reporting for the Posr-INTELr
LIGENcER at that time happened to be par
ticuiar friend to Hunt and his attorney and
always got his information and took his cue
from Hunts attorney. Never once did he try to
get both sides of the story. As al instance Of
the Justification OF the facts in these reports
and Peltret's rehashed interview with Smell,
filed with the city clerk. and published with
such ghoulish glee In the Press Times the 18th
instant, am represented as having induced q
man, Miles D. Hunt, to contest Emmett E.
Hunts entry. The testimony OF Miles d. Hunt
and the records OF the land office show exactly
the contrary: that Emmett E. Hunt, having no
faith in his ability to sustain his entry, hired
fn fn ha md
office and offer pre-emption filing on the land,
having furnished him the necessary money
under q contract that when he proved up on
the same he would transfer 1t back to him.
Mrs. White testified that Miles D. Hunt said in
her presence that had agreed, II he would get
Emmett of the land, would see that he got it;
but Miles D. Hunt fatty contradicted her state
ment Instead, the reporter and Smell reported
her as saying that had made that statement in
her presence This is the sum of the very dam
aging evidence falsely said TO have been given
by Mrs. White against me in that trial.
As / stated at the time, regretted having used
the language that did, as also the provoc9tion
that induced me to use IL, and was not entirely
sure at the time that my estimate OF Smell was
correct; but his subsequent actions here in Sc
attle the records of the Office of justice of the
peace in Pierce county. in which Smell is shown
to have been fined for contempt, for Just such
unprofessional and obstreperous conduct,
shortly after this land Office trial, the black eye
and unmerciful pummeling he got in his own
office shortly thereafter for bis treatment of a
lady in q trial in Tacoma, and other actions Of
his, all convince me, as well as many others,
that my estimate Of him at that time was COR
rect.
1t is useless to 60 further into the details and
occurrences of that trial. 1t was at that time
Investigated by q disinterested special agent,
caused by SMELLS charges against me- The atii-
davits OF twenty-thrce persons, most Of whom
were eye-wtaesses Of what occurred in that
trial, were forwarded to the department, and
they so completely disproved all charges against
me, that the commissioner Immediately for
varied to me the following letter:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE, :
WASHINGTON, D. c., December IL, 1858
James M. Carson, Special Agent General Land
Once. Seattle, W. T.-Sir: am in receipt of re.
port November q. 1855, as directed by office let
ter of October 8, lsSS, regarding charges against
you by Smell ct al, as to your conduct at the
hearing in the case OF the United States va. EN-
nett Z. Hunt aud in other matters. Ii clearly
appears that you were very much harrassed at
the trial of said case, by the conduct Of the at
torney for the defense; and while your striking
him and the language used Is to be regretted,
yet you were under great provocation at the
time, and due allowance must be made for that
have carefully examined this matter, aud am
OF the opinion that none OF the charges made
against you are In any way sustained; on the
contrary, they are abundantiy refuted, and /
take pleasure In assuring you that the conf
dence OF this office in your integrity is still I'M
shaken, and have no doubt that you are per-
forming your duties faithfully and conscien-
tously. Respectfully,
S. M sToCKsLAdER, Commissioner.
The stimsons think they have a grievance
against me for unearthing and producing evil
dence that cancelled 2,720 acres Of their land.
aud indicted their father, his partner and
cruiser for conspiracy against the government,
and the latter for perjury. The action of the
grand jury, the register and receiver, the COM
missioner of the general land ONCE, and the sec
rotary OF the interior. ought TO be conclusive
evidence that they have no grievance against
me.
The following letter written me when the re-
suit of the "stmson-Park" trial was announced,
shows in what light the commissioner viewed
my action and services:
DEPARTMENT OF THE IsrERYoR,l
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
WAsHIsGTos, ID. C., Aug. s, 1887.
J. NJ Carson, Special Agent General Land Of
fee, Olympia. W. T.-S1: ! am in receipt OF
your letter OF the 18th ult., announcing the sue
cessful termination of the hearing of the Slim
the Indictment of Stimson and Park, with Or
lando A. Thompson. their manager, for con-
spiracy, and Of the latter for perjury.
/ congratulate you upon the good results OBJ
talned in this case. well in otaer cases IN
which you have represented the government.
The good work you have performed and your
efforts to stop land frauds are fully appreciated,
aud this Office viii lend every assistance in its
p wiLLTax A. !. SPARKS, Commissioner
These letters. with many Others OF the same
tenor, sfiaavits and other documents in my pos
session, were shown to the members of the
Judiciary committee, and that committee unani-
mously recommended my confirmation. was
present with documents at the meeting Of the
noa ri nf all ~ tn rafu tn fha