The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-11-26

grand jury at this term" The CORE
spondence begins with a letter from
Summers to Knox, under date of June
% last, in which he tells Knox that
testimony he'd been brought before the
grand jury which involved not only the
postmaster of Hastings, Jacob Fisher,
but United States Senator Dietrich.
Condemned by the Attorney General.
For this reasOn-as senator was
mixed up in the, case-Summers said
he had urged the grand jury to dis
continue the investigation, and to in
duce them to do SO had promised to
transmit all the testimony to the de-
partment Of justice for comment and
advice. Knox, under date of June &c.
replied to Summers, sharply rebuking
him, and saying in part: Il especially
disapprove Of your carrying your inter
ference to the extent Of using your
promise to submit the matter to this
department as an argument to per-
suade the jury to discontinue their in
vestigatiOn. Upon the whole, your ac-
plished, and the means employed, were
astonishing. unwarranted, AID highly
improper"
District Attorney Is Mont Con- initial.
Summers was asked: do you an
ticipate any action adverse to you be-
ing taken by the department of justice
on account of the Hastings postoffice
investigation" and replied: The de.
partment of justice is fully advised in
the matter, and have the utmost con-
fidence that nothing will be done that
is not absolutely just" Beyond this
brief statement the district attorney re-
fused absolutely to talk Of the matter.
REPLY OF SUMMERS TO KNOX
Further Explains why He Did Not Want
the Grand Jury to Act.
But later In the day, after he had
read the correspondence as published,
Summers gave out the letter he wrote
and sent In reply to Knox's criticism.
This letter is dated Omaha, June %.
1903. and after acknowledging the re-
ceipt Of Knox's letter, and expressing
his regret that any action Of his Sum
mers) should meet Knox's disapproyal,
says:
May l ask IL you will not kindly
read the enclosures, requests made by
me and directions given by you rela-
tive to the investigation before the
grand jury Of the conduct OF the agent
of the Omaha and Winnebago agency
In Nebraska. Looking upon this case
as a precedent, aud believing it re-
fiected your wishes In similar cases,
felt you would prefer that the investi-
CATION be made under direction Of
the post0ffice department, the conduct
of postmaster and the terms Of ten
year lease being subject Of inquiry.
This course was not adopted by me
to avoid an unpleasant undertaking.
On the contrary 1t was for the pur-
pose of being the better prepared to
do my whole duty"
1t was explained that the paragraph
of this letter referring to Indians had
to do with other cases. In those cases
UNOFFICIAL notice had come to Summers
Office of certain alleged violations of
the law by men who were attempting
to fraudulently secure possession OF
Indian lands. The cases were Their.
under Investigation by the interior de
partment and Summers wrote for the
evidence 1t had to lay before the grand
jury. The department replied through
the Office Of the attorney general that
it preferred first to complete its own
Investigation, and did not want the
matter probed by the grand jury In the
me- =, Tina