Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-31
NfR. BoUpINoTs CHARGEs.
First Steps Taken in Suit Against SIr
Phillips.


Several months ago, says Washington
special of the 2Sth inst. to the New York
World, charges were preferred by Z. c.
Boudinot, at present private secretary of
Senator Walker. before Secretary Teller
against ex-Congressman Phillips, of Kan
sas. Boudinot, who is a member Of the
Cherokee Nation, charged that Phillips
had procured from the Cherokee Nation a
sum OF S22,5OO as corruption fund for the
passage of a claim of the Cherokees
amounting to $500, 900. Boudinot said in
his letter that Phillips had represented
that this money was needed to satisfy the
claims of Secretary Teller and Senator
Dawes. BOudinot asked both those gen.
tlemen to investigate the charges. but
notice of the matter. They denied any
knowledge of any wrOng-doing by Phillips.
Boudinot, after falling to secure an in
vestigati0n in the Senate, or the Interior
Department, has brought suit against
Phillips, charging him with cOrruptly in
fluencing Congress. Yesterday, before
Commissioner Brady Dennis w. Bushy-
head, Chief of the Cherokee Nation, was
examined. Bushyhead's testimony is
very important. 1t proves that so, 800
was paid here by this chief in a room i'm
the National Hotel to two delegates who
represented the Cherokee Nation here.
The proof of the payment Of the money
here will bring the entire trial to this Dis
trict. The testimony of Bnshyhead is
very clear and direct. In the course of his
examination be gave full details of the
original claim of the CherOkees to $780,
600 for lands ceded by them TO the United
States. He said that Robert B. Ross and
Richard NJ. Wolfe were the delegates of
the Cherokee Nation employed at the
capital to watch over its interest. When
the 100000 was obtained from Congress
the Cherokee Legislature made a per
capita distribution of it with the eXcep-
ton of $22, 800, which was sent to Wash
ingtOn. Bushyhead was chief of the ma
tiOn at the time. and he himself brought
the money to Washington. The money
was given HIM in the form of draft.
"What disposition did you make 0 fit?
he was asked.
81 paid it over to tho delegation as au-
thorlzed by the the act of council" he
answered.
"Did the act of the Legislature mention
the delegation as being entitled to receive
that mOney?1
''The title of the act" he replied, "was
to pay obligations of the delegation
He said in addition that he meant Wolfe
and Ross, the regular delegate. Bushy-
head, although President of the Council
which approved the bill to pay the money,
did not know the character of the obliga-
tions assumed by the delegates. They
gave him no receipt. The money was
PAID over in Delegate WOlfe's room at the
National Hotel, in June. 1888. Bushy-
head denied any knowledge as to what
was done with the money after it
went into the delegates hand. En-
Congressman Phillips, he said, was pres
ent when the Council passed the act
to pay the So, 500 and was in Washington
when the money was paid, but the wit
ness denied having any knowledge of
Phillips interest in the matter. The
proof of the delivery of this corruption
fund will necessitate a Congressional in
Yestigation. The delegates have been
summoned as witnesses, and will be eX-
amlned as to the direction the money took
after it reached their hands. They are
paid regular salary by the nation. The
amount given them was for the purpose
OF paying extra expenses. The investi-
cation promises to develop some very in
tereStlng facts