The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-30
COREY A QUEER DUCK
His Recent Business on the Reservation
Is Much of a Mystery.
HE IS MUM AS AN OYSTER
United States Commissioner Smith
Places Him Under Bonds to
Await Examination Next
Tuesday-He Is Quite I'LL.

Missoula, Jan. 29.-F. NJ. Corey, the
man who is believed to be a bogus gov
eminent agent, was arratgned this
morning before United States Commits
sioner Smith and was placed under
bonds to await examination next
Tuesday, when United States Attorney
Leslie will be here to conduct the exam
ina ton. Corey is quite i'll and he was
not taken from the county jail on this
account, Commissioner Smith going to
the sheriff's office for the arraignment.
Corey seems to be suffering from light
attack of pleurisy. He still maintains
his stoical silence. and will vouchsafe
no information regarding the motive
for his peculiar conduct and is indiffer-
ent to his present predicament, appar-
entity, although he admits that he is In
a tough place.
There IS some difference of opinion as
to Corey's true character. Some are
inclined to believe him a fanatical fell
low, who desired to be of some assist
ance to the Indians of the reserve. and
took this means of doing IL. The stron-
ger, opinion. however, seems to be that
he is a thoroughbred crook and that he
has made a considerable sum of money
while posing as a special agent of Hoke
Smith. He has turned over to Major
Carter, as stated in the Standard to-
day, about $500. but 1t is estimated that
he has collected in the neighborhood of
three or four times that amount This
would have made his sojourn at the
Flathead reservation a most profitable
one. had he not fingered too long. 1t
Is this fact that makes IL seem that he
may not be such a rascal after all. He
must have known that the fact that he
was an imposter would be discovered
as soon as Major Carter communicated
with his department chiefs.
Corey is peculiar man. He impress
ed all who had business with him in
his assumed capacity of special agent,
as being a man who was honest to a
fanatical degree. He always insisted
upon absolute correctness in the mi
nutest details of his business, and he
was as exact himself, to all appear
ances, as he required others to be. In
his work he was active, energetic and
tireless, and 1t seemed at times as IL he
were made of iron, so great was mis- en-
durance. On the big horse roundup,
which he organized and conducted, and
which resulted in Kidding the reserva-
tion of about 1000 horses that had no
right there, he was in the saddle long
er than the experienced riders who were
with him, and he rode back and forth
here and there. all day, with a feverish
nervousness that kept everybody jump
ing all the time. His executive ability
was remarkable, and his familiarity
with the methods and regulations of the
indian department, made 1t compare
lively easy for him to successfully
practice his deception.
While he was at work on the ranges,
he succeeded in collecting from some of
the oldest and boldest trespassers who
have allowed their stock to Craze on
the Indians land. From one of these
uyhn al laf3a II
authorities. and who had never paid
fine or range fee, he collected nearly
S2OO. This Is but a single instance of
his success in protecting the Flathead
tribes from the encroachment of whites
and other Indians. AS the Standard
stated to-day. the Flathead reservation
is without doubt greatly benefited by
the operations of Corey, even though
he be a fake.
His presentation OF a letter OF intro
ductton from Major Lane of the Wash
mgton reservation and his familiarity
with the rules OF the department and
the conditions prevailing at the Flat
head reservation made his story so
plausible that II is not surprising that
he deceived Major Carter and the re-
servation employees. His information
regarding the reservation was so COM
plete that IL seemed impossible that he
could have obtained il from other than
OiliCldl SouICeS. lie knew what the de-
partment had said regarding the in
fringement of the rights of the Indians
by outside stockmen. and he knew Just
how to go TO work to prevent any con-
t.nuance of IL. He not only knew. but
he did IL. He acted promptly and eff
fectively and, whatever portion of the
fines and fees that he collected stuck
to his fingers in passing through his |
hands, he earned all that ne made in |
this way. His experience is one of the |
strangest stories ever told OF reserva-
fion life. and there Is much curiosity |
as to what he will say when he is ex- |
amined. Commissioner Smith fixed his |
bonds at 81, 800.
Corey has retained Hal s. Corbett az |
his attorney. He sent this evening for |
Charles Allard, at whose ranch he made |
his headquarters during the roundup. |
1t Is not known what he wants of AL |
lard, but II is supposed that he has
some papers and documents there Mar
shall Davidson returned TO Helena this |
evening. To-day ne had all the sher- |
IFS officers looking for the man Who |
stole his overcoat. The garment was |
found this afternoon at the Florence |
hotel. and he went home contented.