Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-03-25

| called upon 10 investigate. since bnc
last grand jury was discharged, IL has
cjme TO the knowledge cf the officers
Of the court that there are certain
irregularities IN reference to payments
10 citizens OF tile Cherokee nation by
officers Of the United States and that
these irregularities were in their ma
ture criminal. Tie matters we're sub
mltted by the district attorney to the
department at Washington and the
attorney general advises him TO in
yestigaie them and II there was prob
able cause for prosecution, the grand
jury should be specially called for that
purpose. lt Is for that reason this
grand jury has been cmpanneled, and,
while other matters may bc called TO
your attention by the prosecuting at
torney, the court desires to specially
call your attention to matters in ref
ercnce TO the payments which have
been recently made in this Jurisdiction
by officers OF the United States.
The court calls your attention 70
the following section OF the revised
statutes OF the United states, which,
Of course, is in force In this jurlsdlc-
| Jion
Sec. 5sol. Every officer OF the United
States. and every person acting for or ON be-
half OF the United states. in any official ca
pacity under or by virtue Of the authority OF
any department or Office Of the government
thereof; and every officer or person acting
for or on behalf OF either house OF congress.
or NJ any committee OF either house. or OF
both houses thereof. who asks. accepts, or re-
ccives any money, or any contract, promise.
undertaking. obligation, gratuity. or sccur-
| ity for the payment OF money, or for the de-
livery or conveyance OF anything Of value.
with intent 20 have his decision or action on
any question. matter. cause. or proceeding
which may. at any time, be pending. or
which may be by law brought before him In
his official capacity or In his place OF trust
or profit. Influenced thereby. shall be pun
ished as prescribed In the preceding section.
The preceding section provides that
the person found guilty shall be pun
ished by fine not more than three
times the amount asked, accepted, or
received, and by imprisonment not
more than three years. Section 64jl
relates To the conduct Of individuals
in reference to public officials and is
as follows, viz:
Sec. 5l5i. Every person who promises Of
fcrs, or gives, or causes or procures 10 be
promised. offered. or given, any money or
other thing OF value. or makes or tenders any
contract. undertaking. obligation, gratuity.
or security for the payment OF money. or for
the delivery or conveyance OF anything OF
value. TO any officer OF the United states. or
10 any person acting for or on behalf OF the
United States Ia any official function. under
or by authority OF any department or Office
OF the government thereof. or 60 any officer
or person acting for or on behalf OF either
house OF congress, or OF any committee OF
either house. or both houses thereof. with In
tent 10 influence his decision or action on
any question, matter, cause. or proceeding
which may at any time be pending, or which
may by law be brought before him In his Of
Aclal capacity. or In his place OF trust or
profit, or with intent TO influence him TO com.
init or aid in committing. or 10 collude In, OF
allow. any fraud. or make opportunity foi
the commission OF any fraud. ON the United
states, or to induce him TO do or omit 20 dc
any act la violation OF his lawful duty, shall
be punished as prescribed In the preceding
section.
You will see that one Of these sec.
tiUns relates 10 conduct OF the officers
OF the government or persons acting on
behalf OF the United States In any ca
pacity, and the other relates TO indi
viduals who may attempt by the use
Of promises or payments OF any kind
TO induce an officer, or person acting
in behalf OF the government, TO dc
anything on account OF such promises
or payments. They are guilty, and
the officer OF the government who al.
lows his decision or action TO be influ.
enced in anywlse by such payment OF
promises is also guilty under these
statutes.
IL will be your duty, gentlemen, tC
patiently and impartially investigate
the matters TO which l have called
your attention. The government OF
the United States cannot afford tC
have in It's employ persons who will In
any way violate the provisions OF these
statutes. There must be integrity on
the part OF public officials. II they
do not observe the laws, IL must not
he expected that others will observe
the laws. You arc aot 10 punish any
one merely because he may be an OH
Ger OF the government, and you are
not TO withhold any action on your
part against any official, however higl
he might be, by reason Of his connec
tion with the government. There !,
, no man, from the president dOwa e
, the humblest citizen in the land, who
is not required TO obey the law. II
, will be Ourduty, therefore, II you finC
that any official has been guilty OF {
violation Of this statute, or any indi
yidual citizen has been guilty undel
I this statute, 10 present him to thii
court.
The district attorney will attend
you In your investigation aud give yoI
such further advice In reference TO tn,
discharge OF your duties as may from
time to time bo required.
After giving OF the above charge "a
, the grand jury by the court, Mr.. Cliff
ford L. Jackson, United States attor'
ney for the Northern district OF th,
Indian Territory, made the following
I statement;
: "If your honor please, In connection
/ with this matter, In the presence O
the grand jury ana open court, de
, desire TO make this statement; II
. will be no part, OF course, OF the duty
, OF either the assistant district attor
, ney or myself to determine as 10 TIT
, unilt or innocence of anvhodv huf thi