The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-10-02
WILLIAM e. JOHNSON OF DEN
YER, WHO RESIGNED, NAMES
GOVERNMENT iNTRi0UERs.
THEY NULL|F|ED HIS WORK |
Assistant Indian Commissioner r. II.
Abbott and Assistant Secretary Of
the Interior Samuel Adams, Are De-
cIarsd to Have Helped "Bootlssssrs"
Other Charges Made.

Denver, oct. 1.--William T.. Johnson
of this city, whose office as chief spe-
cial officer of the office OF Indian af-
fairs. became vacant today by his
resignation. Issued n public statement
In which he declares that his useful
ness In the position which he II said
to have created for the protection OF
the Indians, has been practically null
flied by an alleged cabal in the de-
partment Of the interior at Washing
ton and In New Mexico. In his state
ment Mr.. johnson names Assistant
Indian Commissioner r. II. Abbott of
Nebraska and Assistant Secretary of
the Interior Samuel Adams, formerly
a Chicago lawyer.
These two men," says the state
ment. "have done everything In their
power to hamper, undermine and pre-
vent the success OF our efforts in
catching reservation 'bootleggers.'
refused to be chloroformed, hut these
men finally got me so bottled up that
l could do little except mark time and
draw my salary. ] saw no other way
to maintain my self-respect except to
resign"
Indians Plundsred.
The retiring special officer. who says
that since he organized the special
service five years ago, 3,400 convic-
tions against persons selling liquor to
Indians have been secured. and that
about half million bottles Of rum
intended "for Indian stomachs." have
been destroyed. charges that for 10
years the Pueblo Indians of northern
New Mexico We're systematically plum
dered of their pasturage, being kept in
subjugation by the encouragement OF
drunkenness and debauchery Two
years ago. Mr.. Johnson declares. most
of the, Santa Clara Indians. through
the special service, became abstainers
and assisted in gathering evidence
against '"speak- easies." The converted
Indians are said to have secured evil
dence againt an alleged liquor selling
drug store at Santa Fe, controlled
Johnson alleges. by c. J. Crandall. In
dian superintendent of New Mexico
No indictments were returned, IN
which connection Mr.. Johnson states
that the foreman Of the grand jury
was a partner Of Crandall.
Next" the statement continues
Assistant Commissioner Abbott com.
PEELED me to dismiss the two deputies
who had been mainly responsible for
the evidence gathered against tho
| speak easies.'"
johnson alleges that when Juar
Cruz one of his deputies, killed a
man In self-defensc. Commissions,
Abbott ordered him to take no steps
for the deputy's defense. johnson
says he appealed to Superintendent,
crandall and to +. s. Wilson, attor.
ney for the Pueblo Indians and sale
to be paid salary by the govern.
ment. but both declined to assist II
the defense. The w. c. T. Y. even.
tually raised fund fnr this purpos.
and Cruz was acquitted
| Johnson further alleges that Abbot
and Adams are now trying ito FIND
a way to disalow my account for ex
penses In the trial, and compel me /,
pay the bills for witnesses expenses
travelling items. tee
johnson left his statement behint
him when he started east last night
He left word that he was going I,
Chicago. but his intimates here are O
the opinion that he is bound 70
Washington to insist on an investiga
tion of the whole subject.