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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 37 Although the United States attorney for the southern division of the Iudian Territory had reported that no intoxicating liquors were being sold within his jurisdiction, the first place touched by Special Agent Brewster-Ardmore, in the Chickasaw Nation-was found to be infested with liquor dealers. A number of saloons were running in open viola. tion of the law, and he seized there some 206 barrels of bottled beer in the possession of two wholesale dealers. The condition was found to be but little better at other towns in that nation. A number of per-sons were arrested by reason of the evidence obtained by Mr. Brewster, and many have been convicted and sent to the penitentiary. The most serious disclosure was the fact that some of the officers of the court were frequently intoxicated, especially one United States commissioner by the name of Hean, at Purcell, Chickasaw Nation, who, at the time of the investigation, arrived st Purcell to hold court in such a state of intoxication as to he unable to perform his duties. This man was removed by Judge Townsend when the matter was laid before him by. Special Agent Brewster, as were also two other persons, members of the bar at that place. It also appeared from this investi-gation that the only person at Wynnwood who had authority to suppress the liquor traffic and to make arrests therefor was an Indian policeman by the name of Walner, and he was found by Mr. Brewster in such a state of intoxication 5s to be hardly able to walk. This man was summarily dismissed by order of this office as soon as the facts were ascertained. Complaints have been received from the superintendent in charge of the Florida Seminole Indians of the traffic in intoxicating liquors with these Indians, and steps have heen taken through the Department of Justice to suppress it. These reports came to hand some months ago, and no further complaints have since been received. At Devils Lake Agency a very unfortunate case occurred in connec-tion with the drinking of some lemon extract purchased by Indians of that agency at a place near the reservation. With a report dated April 20,1898, Mr. F. 0. Getohell, agent at Devils Sake, transmitted to this office a sample of lemon extract, with the statement that of three Indians who drank some of it, one had died, and the others had lost their sight and were otherwise suffering severely. The matter was submitted to the Department April 30,1898, with the recommendation that the Department of Justice be requested to issue instructions to the United States attorney for North Dakota to endeavor to secure the punishment of the parties furnishing the extract to the Indians if suf-ficient evidence could be produced to bring the matter within the stat-utes prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors to Indians. A sample of the lemon extract was inclosed to be forwarded to the Agricultural Department, with the request that it be analyzed, and later a larger quantity of the extract was obtained for the use of thaohemist. |