Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-12-30
CHEROKEE FREEDMEN SCANDAL
Widow Of E. C. B0udin0t Swears Il
Division of $126, GOO.

the exposure OF the Cherokee freed
men bribery scandal. Some days
ago the Globe Democrat printed
the affidavit of Frank Boudinot,
the brother of E. e. Boudinot.
The latter was the counsel for the
Cherokee nation in the freedmen
case. Frank Boudinot in his affi-
davit, told of the revelations made
to him by his brother before his
death regarding the bargain en-
tered into by certain parties, the
consideration being the division
of large sum OF money. E. C..
Boudinot died after the agreement
was made between counsel on both
sides and several high officials of
the nation, but before the distribu-
tion of the money took place.
Since Frank Boudinot's affidavit
appeared some attempts have been
made in the territory to deny the
allegations contained in it. Below
will be found the affidavit of Mrs.
(. G. Boudinot. 1t sustains the
statements of Frank Boudinot and
adds many details of the scandal.
A commission sent by the secre
tary of the interior is now in the
territory making an investigation
of the whole affair, in order that
the facts may be laid before the
congress.
Mrs. Boudinot makes oath that
the amount divided under the
agreement was s126,000. She
gives the names of those who
shared in the distribution. The
affidavit is as follows:
Limited States of America, In
dian Territory, Northern district.
Personally appeared before me
notary public in and for the above
named district and territory this
day, Mrs. E. c. Boudinot, to me
well known, who, after being duly
sworn, as the law requires, depos-
es and says:
"In the fall of 1895, at a special
session of the national council, E.
c. Boudinot, my husband, was
elected by the said council and
commissioned by the principal
chief of the Cherokee nation as
attorney for said nation, whose
special duty was TO represent the
nations interest before the United
States court of claims and the
United States supreme court at
Washington, d. c., in the matter
of an appeal from a recent decis-
ion of said court of claims to the
supreme court, which the nation
desired to be taken in the case of
Moses Whitmire, trustee, etc,
VS. Cherokee nation ct al.
During the first part of Octo. !,
Der, 1895, | went with Mr.. Boudi-
not, my husband, to Washington
City, where he went to perform
his duty as such attorney in the
premises. While there a propo-
sition was made to him by R. H.
Kern, attorney for Whitmire in
The freedmen case, that a commits.
sion might be established that
would reduce the Wallace roll and
4 new roll be made, based upon
he roll af 1890. This Mr.. Boudi-
not considered was fortunate Off
sr for the Cherokee nation, as the
Wallace roll was known to have
more than 1000 fraudulent names
.hereon. 1t was also understood
hat this would hasten the decision
Of the case; that R. H. Kern was
o share the fees; supposing the
amount to be S126 900, with my
husband, E. c. Boudinot, S. II. |
Mayes, W. w. Hastings, C. J.
Harris, Jake Guthrie, j. E. Camp
bell.
"At that time the compromise
vas not carried out, but after we
'eturned home Mr.. Boudinot and
myself, in response to a telegram
Ealing him to Kansas City, No,
vent there in the earley part of
November, 1895. There an un-
lerstanding was reached between
he parties named above. No
written contract was made, but
Kern was to pay the money to
Zach party as soon as he received
ees of the allowed named parties.
Ny husband and myself went to
Washington City in Decem ber
ollowing, as well as James S.
Stapler, and a trial was made to
fleet compromise authorized by
he act of the national council. /
lon't know the exact nature of
hat compromise, but at any rate,
III parties seemed perfectly salts
led. We returned to Tahlequah in
February, and my husband died
IN the 10th day of February,
S96. {
"A few weeks after this Mr..
came to my house AMI
old me that the amount was ex. {
'ecting from the fees to my hus-
and would not be quite as large
S we had here tofore expected,
wing TO the fact that they had as {
ociated other parties with them. t
expected that Mr.. Campbell {
Vould do the right thing by me.
,ater on Mr.. Stapler spoke to me
bout the matter and asked me if i
was to share my interest with s
rank Boudinot. gave Frank an 1
rider to Mr.. Stapler ordering him t
0 pay Frank Boudinot one-third '
f the amount. Finally, Mr.. Has t
ings paid me s2400, and paid t
rank Boudinot $1,000, stating that a
Ias all that was due US from the
ntire fee. | did not expect to get i
ess than $1,000 as my part, even
fter | had talked to Mr.. Camp a
ell, and further deponent sayeth C
OF.
Mrs. E. c. BoUDINoT." t
"Sworn to and subscribed to v
efore me on this, the 18th day of j
uly, 1897. 4
"R. E. BUTLER, Notary Public.