Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame
Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT 59717-3320
United States
Phone (406) 994-4242
Fax (406) 994-2851
http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/
University Archivist
spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 2146, MtBC, us
Museum of the
Rockies
Crow Indian Agency Fraud Hearings
Collection
1876-1877
11 folders and 1 reel microfilm
The Crow Indian Agency Fraud Hearings Collection consist of
affidavits, letters, and a statement. The printed documents reflect the grand jury hearings
of the United State District Court in Virginia City, Montana into the allegations of fraud
posed by Captain Edward Bell against Dexter E. Clapp and Nelson Story in 1876.
Collection materials are in English
Biographical Note
In February 1876, Captain Edward Ball of the Second U. S. Cavalry leveled charges against
Dexter E. Clapp and Nelson Story alleging fraud perpetrated against the Crow Indian Agency
in Montana. The charges in question included bribery, providing inferior pork and cattle,
payment for merchandise not delivered, and "cheating the Indians out of their supplies." E.
C. Kemble, United States Indian Inspector, investigated the accusations directed against
Clapp and Story. Kemble compiled two reports in November 1876 that prompted rebuttal by
Clapp and Story in December 1876 and January 1877. Judge H. N. Blake, United States District
Court 1 in Virginia City, Montana, presided over the grand jury hearings in April 1876.
Clapp resigned from the agency in May 1876, but neither he nor Story were indicted and the
matter was dropped.
The printed documents in the Crow Indian Agency Fraud Hearings Collection include
affidavits, letters, and statements. The documents relate to allegations of fraud at
Montana's Crow Indian Agency in 1876, leveled by Captain Edward Ball against Dexter E. Clapp
and Nelson Story. The affidavits detail Clapp's recollections on the receipt of shipments
and refute allegations of bribery, as well as Charles Rich, John Goewey, and Warren Allen's
verification of pork presented to the agency. Letters outline the charges against Clapp and
Story by Ball, rebuttal of the charges leveled, as well as a description of Ball's
character. The statement provided by Story refutes the charges levied by Ball. Folders 7-12
represent photocopies, microfilm, and a typed transcription of materials from the Montana
Historical Society Manuscript Collection 39.
This collection is open for research.
The documents were transferred from the Museum of the Rockies in April 1985. Additional
photocopied documents, a typed transcript, and a reel of microfilm from the Montana
Historical Society Manuscript Collection 39 was added in July, 2017. It had formerly been
accessioned as collection number 1064.
This collection was processed 2017 July 18
Ball, Edward,
1811-1872
Clapp, Dexter E.
Kemble, Edward C. (Edward
Cleveland), 1828-1886
Story, Nelson,
1838-1926
United States. Office of Indian
Affairs. Crow Indian Agency -- Procurement
United States. District Court
(Montana)
United States. Office of Indian
Affairs
Crow Indian Reservation
(Mont.)
Crow Indians -- Government relations
Fraud investigation -- Montana
Government contractors -- Montana -- Crow
Indian Reservation
Grand jury -- Montana -- Virginia
City
Indian agents -- Montana -- Crow Indian
Reservation
Political corruption -- Montana -- Crow
Agency
Public contracts -- Montana -- Crow
Agency
Civil Procedure
and Courts
Native
Americans
Politics and
Politicians
Montana
1/1
"The Honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs : Sir, I
respectfully submit the following reply to the charges and allegations of E. C. Kemble;
. . ."
1/2
"In the matter of the investigation into the affairs at
the Crow Agency and the conduct of the late agent, Mr. Clapp, and Nelson Story"
1/3
"Sir, I have the honor to report for the information of
the Department, . . ."
1/4
[Affidavit] Dexter E. Clapp
[April 18, 1876]
1/5
[Affidavit] Charles Rich, John Goewey, Warren
Allen
[April 17, 1875]
[i.e. 1876]
1/6
"To the people of Montana : having seen in the
Madisonian newspaper a copy of the signatures of about ninety citizens . .
."
1/7
Major James S. Brisbin's Report of Indian Frauds made to
General Sherman
1/8
Typed transcript of folder 7
1/9
Exhibits a-e
1/10
Exhibits f-q
1/11
Exhibits s-x
1/12
Microfilm of MHS Manuscript Collection 39