The Disappearing Superintendent

When B.F. Kendall arrived in Olympia, in September, 1861, with a commission as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, that office was turned over to him by W.W. Miller, his predecessor, in less than twenty-four hours notice, with all the books, papers, and vouchers, with nearly $20,000 in gold. General Miller's account showed the exact amount of money he had received from the Department, and just how every dollar had been applied. About six months afterwards, Calvin H. Hale was commissioned as Superintendent, and demanded possession of the office. Mr. Kendall asked for eight or ten days' time to arrange his accounts. Several days were given, and he finally turned over a part of the papers; but nothing to show the state of his cash account, nor a single voucher by way of showing how much of the twenty thousand dollars he received from Gen. Miller, and $72,000 he subsequently received from the Department, had been disbursed. It is generally believed by those who have good opportunities for knowing, that he retained in his hands thirty-five thousand dollars, and some of it is very likely now being used in Portland to buy up treasury notes.