The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-12-05
A MOST SERIOUS CHARGE
Agent Budd Accused of Immoral
Relations With Half-Breed.
AT THE T0NASKET SCHOOL
1t Is Also Alleged That He Has Been De.
frauding the United States
Government.
Spokane. Wash. Dec. ..

The statement in yesterdays Wash
ington dispatches to The Spokesman
Review that charges mad been pre-
ferred against Captain Bubb. Indian
agent for the Colville and Occur d'Alene
reservation, did not come as a surprise.
Several days ago The Spokesman-Re-
view informed it's readers that Special
Agent Lane had returned from the &bl
vile reservation, where he had been
sent to investigate charges and counter
charges. Colonel Lane declined to be
interviewed in the matter. but 1t is
known that he spent several weeks at
the agency and at the Tonasket In
dian school, where he took elaborate
testimony, returning with big grip
sack filled with the evidence there
taken.
1t is said Captain Bubb is charged
with maintaining immoral relations
with half-breed girl now at the Ton
asket school. The charges were pre-
ferred by officers at the school. The
girl is named Francis Welsh, and she
Is about 16, and is said to be quite hand
some. She came from Hawk creek,
near Fort Spokane, where she lived
with her sister, Sallie. 1t is alleged
that Captain Bubb took her to the
Tonasket school, on the Okanogan riv-
er, 20 miles this side of the interna-
tional boundary. and gave her employ
ment as assistant cook. 1t is said the
superintendent at the school preferred
the charges, which are fatty denied by
Captain Bubb.
1t is alleged that Captain Bubb has
been practicing dishonest methods in
his purchases of supplies for the res
ervation, although it is understood
these charges have not yet been formal
ly preferred. 1t is said that he went
to the owners of a flour mill in a Pa
louise town and contracted for As bar
rels of flour for the Upper and Middle
bands of Spokane Indians on the Occur
d'Alene reservation. The millers quot
ed him a price of $225 per barrel, and
it is alleged that he made out the bill
for SO per barrel and pocketed the diff
ference himself. The SpokesmanRe-
view has information that the miller
in question has made affidavit to these
charges. This affidavit, 1t is said, al
leges that Captain Bubb sent check
for 1875 in excess of the agreed price,
and then asked for the return to him
self of the difference; the miller said
he would give him check for the
amount, to which Captain Bubb is said
to have replied, 81 don't want the check
to go through the bank. You get the
money and bring it to me at my hotel
1t is said this was done, and the agent
pocketed the money.
In June, 1894, the department gave
| fnr 40 httiI1ino nf a h1a n
smith shop on the Coeur d'Alene reserv.
alton. 1t is charged that Captain Bubt
went to Hugh Mclaughlin, carpen
ter at Tekoa, and employed him for II
days at $3.50 per day. 1t is said tha
he called Mclaughlin aside, and said
now, this is little private matter be
| tween u.s. and that when the checl
came it was for $3.50 instead of $35
Later, it is said, Captain Bubb went t.
Mclaughlin and asked for the return
| of the difference, and when the car
penter refused he is said to have be
come exceedingly angry. 1t is said b.
well informed persons that Mclaughlin
has made affidavit to these statements
It is further said that Jonathai
| Ramey of Tekoa made affidavit in re
gard to a lumber deal, and that thi
| was luIItu ONtl " DPtSidl <A6tnl ANtW
man.
Captain Bubb took charge of tn
agencies August 1, 1898, under an ac
of congress authorizing the presden
to appoint either army officers or civi
ians to the Indian agencies. 1t has bee
known for a long while that matter
were not running as smoothly as the
might on t. reservations. CAPITAL
| i -
with officers under him. Some tim
ago he ordered the discharge of Coz
ernment Farmer Steele at the sui
agency at Nespelim. 1t is said that
appealed to his brother, who is sui
agent at the DeSmet agency on II
Coeur d'Alene reservation. The latt,
wired to the commissioner of India
affairs, and that official telegraphe
back that Agent Bubb had been direc
ed to reinstate Steele within "a hour
This was done, but the incident is sa
r to have left a ranking on both sides.
A gentleman who came down fro
Stevens county Saturday said that 6
sorts of rumors are afioat around Il
: reservation. Indian Inspector McCo
| mick Is said to have been sent out
the interior department to make an /
| VeStigatiOn supplemental 10 tndt
. Gently made by Special Agent Lar
, 1t is understood that he is now at Fo
9 Spokane, and that Agent Bubb is al
:, at that place.
: A well informed gentleman says tn
CAPTAIN Bubb denies these charges
$ toto. and expresses confidence in I
i ability to disprove them. He Is 0
: of the best known officers in the s,
+ vice, and has always stood high in t
n estimation of those who know hi
|. He has a cultivated and refined w
e and daughters. When Sub-Agent Ste
y was in the city few days ago, he ss
that he had never seen anything
Captain Bulbs actions on the Coe
, d'Alene reservation that would just
a suspicion of improper relations w
the women on the reservation. This
considered a strong point in Capt;
D. Bubb's favor, from the fact the
&c lations between himself and Sub-Ag'
of steele have been of an unpleasant ]
rs | ture.