The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1889-05-24
ILLEGAL OCCUPATION IN OKLAHOMA.
United States Mdrshat Needlcs Makes HI
Report TO the Attorney General

United States Marshal Needles Makes HI
Report to the Attorney Gsnera.
Washington special: Marshal Nee
dies has sent the following report to the
attorney general, dated Nashville, His,
May 10: "Your letter Of the 4th inst. ,
addressed to me at Muscogee, when re-
received there, found me again in Guth-
rie, looking after matters there, to
which point it was forwarded by my
clerk. Before the receipt, at Guthrie,
I received a telegram from this place
(my old homes. notifying me of the
very serious illness of my wife. I hnr-
ried there, arriving on the 18th. Your
letter was, by my deputy, forwarded
from Guthrie to this point, reaching me
this morning. This much in explana-
nation as to the seeming delay in an
swering the [ shall return to
Muscogee at the earliest moment pos
sible, as my wife is better. 1 am in
formed that a marshal should not leave
his territory without permission from
the department. The urgency of this
case is my excuse for leaving before
securing the necessary permission, and
sQd hope you will not disapprove.
Now, in reply to your letter, permit me
to say that as far as L nm concerned, 1
have not entered any land or lands,
town lot or lots, in Oklahoma district,
and have no interest whatever, directly
or indirectly, near or remote of any
kind or nature whateve. in any land
or lots in the territory. l do not know
positively as. to my deputies, but have
had an intimation that II of them has
secured a town lot in Guthrie, and that
one or two have entered quarter sections
of land apiece. / am not positive as to
this, and at once will ascertain the facts
and report to you. If there are any
other violations of law by my deputies [
have not heard of them. No person or
persons, other than the parties reported
by ME to you i'll my letter of the 50th
ult., had any authority whatever from
us to enter the territory on or before
April 90. [ have not inquired into the
matter of those deputies entering town
lots on land, because of the fact that the
interior department has had two special
agents on the ground for some two or
three weeks investigating the whole mat
ter in every particular, to whom L rem
dered every assistance in my power to
assist them in arriving at n proper con-
clusion. Knowing that the acts and
doings of myself and deputies were be-
ing thoroughly investigated by them, [
presumed, apd, in TACT, had been in
formed, that you would be fully in
formed and advised as to their reports.
[ am satisfied that said report will give
you all the information you desire in
the premises, and would suggest that
you possess yourself of the same. If
you still desire particular information
from me, [ will proceed from Muscogee
to Guthrie at once and make q thorough
explanation as to land and lots upon
which any deputy may have a claim. [
will be at Muscogee by the time your
order can reach me. Las yet have made
no lease for court room or building. We
are now occupying temporary rooms
without cost to the government, and will
occupy the same until September or
October, at which time the party build
ing the new house will have it ready for
occupancy. Ihave thought it advisable
to defer entering into o case until that
time. Very respectfully,
Il. r. NEEDLES, Marshal.
P. S.-"If the statements made by me
and reports of officers of the interior de-
partment are not satisfactory to You, L
should like a copy of the specifications
filed, in order that l may furnish testi-
mony in detail to refute. I should also
like to meet my accusers face to face be-
fore you" Attorney General Miller,
commenting on this report, said to your
correspondent: "It looks on the face of
it rs though he had been trying to do his
duty, but of course, as there are these
reports out we must try to probe the
matter to the bottom"