Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-09-09
COL. wISDOM'S "BUSY DAY.,
He Is Directed to Remove JEFF Watts
and Have Him Prosecuted.
Department of the Interior.
Office of Indain Affairs.

WASHINGTON, August 30, Isg7.
d. NJ. WISDOM, Esq, U. S. In
dian Agent, Union Agency, Mus
kogee, |. T. SIR; l have receiv-
ed your report of August 13. 1897,
relative to the controversy between
William Robinson, a citizen of the
Greek nation, and W. J. Watts. an
intruder in that nation and a
claimant to citizenship in the
Cherokee nation.
The facts in the case seem to be
that Mr.. Robinson enclosed certain
lands of the public domain of the
Creek nation which at the time of
his taking possession thereof were
not enclosed or otherwise occu-
pied by any citizen of the nation;
that Watts had, for the outside
speculation, purchased this land
from a licensed trader in the Creek
nation, and had it surveyed into
lots, ETC., by person employed
by him and paid out of his own
funds for the purpose, who had no
authority from the Creek nation
or any other person with power
to give such authority to make
such surveys. Watts claims the
right as if he were a citizen of the
Cherokee nation to settle upon
and thus speculate in the lands of
the Creek nation.
In your report you hold that
Watts has no authority to hold
this land or to speculate in it, even
if he had purchased the same or
right to occupy the same of a rec
ognlzed citizen of the Greek ma
tion, and that Robinson in entitled
to the land as a citizen of the ma
ton.
Your findings in this case are
fully concurred in by this office.
The status of Mr.. Watts in the In
dian Territory is nothing more or
less than that of an intruder. The
fact that his application for citizen
ship in the Cherokee nation is
pending before the court gives him
no more right to enjoy the benefits
of the property of the Cherokee
nation or any of the privileges of
a citizen OF the Cherokee nation
in the Indian Territory than any
white man would possess until
those rights of citizenship are de-
cided in his favor. Even if Mr..
Watts were a fully recognized cit
izen of the Cherokee nation he
would have no right to speculate
in property of the Greek nation,
and under existing law he is liable
to prosecution and penalty provid-
ed tor unauthorized settlements on
Indian lands.
You are therefore instructed TO
remove Mr.. Watts from the Greek
nation, and to lay all the facts in
the case before the U. S. attorney
for the Northern Division of the
Indian Territory, with request
that he institute proceedings
against him under Sec. 2llS OF the
Revised Statutes, prohibiting per.
sons from making settlement on
any lands belonging, secured or
granted by treaty with the United
States to any Indian tribe, or sur
veying or attempting to survey
such lands, etc, for which a pen
atty of 81 600 is provided.
The fact that the town Of Wag-
oner is alleged to be an incorpor-
ated town would not give any per-
son the right in violation Of the
law to survey. any part of the
Creek nation, as has been the case
In this matter.
For the information of the dis
trict attorney, | return herewith
the enclosures to your report.
Very respectfully,
w. A. JONES,
Commissioner.