The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-03-08
SENSATIONAL REPORT.
The Cherokee livestock Association Un-
der Grave Charges of Bribery.

Il
der Grave Charges of Bribery.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-Some rather
| sensational documents have been sent in
! TO the Senate by the Secretary of the In.
terror. They were transmitted in response
| to Senator Stewards resolution asking for
| information concerning alleged bribery Of
the Cherokee Council by representatives
| of the Cherokee Strip Livestock Associa.
ticn The papers transmitted include .
1 report by Robert L. Owen, Indian agent
| at Muskogee, citing the alleged bribery.
This report was made in a confidential
! letter addressed to the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs in April, 1887, and has
never been made public until now. 1t con-
tains some very damaging charges against
| various representatives of the Cherokee
| Strip Livestock Association, and sworn
| affidavits accompany the agents letter.
On the 18th of June, 1887, Owens report,
with the affidavits, was transmitted to the
Secretary of the Interior, Mr.. Lamar, by
Commissioner Atkins, and the letter of
transmittal is presented in the papers
sent to Congress. In closing this letter
Mr.. Atkins, after citing the allegations Of
| the report, says:
ut is suggested that upon the case pre-.
sented, the persons named have made
| themselves liable to expulsion from the
Indian Territory. and to a criminal prose-
| cution in the United States courts for
violation of section 9. 139 Of the Revised
Statutes, relative to liquor traffic with
Indians" ;
In accordance with this suggestion the
Secretary replied. directing the expulsion
OF these persons and the institution of
criminal proceedings. With this view the
matter was called to the attention of the
Attorney General, and last June indict-
ments were found against several of the
parties implicated. The matter was hushed
up for a while. and it is not likely that it
would have been reopened but for Mr..
Stewards resolution. The facts are all
now made public for the first tima, and
were it not for the coming change of Ad-
ministration, it is said, the Attorney.
General would Immediately resume the
prosecution that was dropped. Major
John F. Lyons, who is mentioned
in OWENS report is now in this
city, having been here most of the
winter opposing the passage of
the Oklahoma bill. He believes
that the report made by Owen is tissue
of falsehoods, aud that it was drawn for
the purpose of influencing the department.
against the Cherokee Strip Livestock As
ISOLATION. He further intimates that
Owen was interested in securing lease
of the strip to the syndicate of Texas cat
tlemen referred to in the report, and that
at the time Owen was doing all i'm his
power to prevent the release to the Cher
okee Strip Livestock Association in order
that the Texans might secure it. The re.
port and accompanying documents have
created a sensation, and it is stated that
Senators Stewart and Vest will demand a
full investigation. These two Senators, it
is understood, have known of the facts for
some time, and finally, growing tired of
the lobbying of the Cherokee representa-
tives against the Oklahoma bill, deter
mined to bring the matter to light