The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-12-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
NEW RESERVATION RULING OF
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK.
The Worth Case Before the DepsTtmen nt'
AppoIni ments Under Judge Gill.
Committeeman, se""e't
Rolled.
Special to the Ardmoreite.

Washington, Dec. 23.-Secretary
Hitchcock has come to the conciu
sion that the loaning of Indians for
show purposes exercises most de-
moralizing influence upon the noble
redmen; and consequently has un-
eouivocaliy refused all requests for
loans of Indians for exhibition pur-
poses. Both he and Commissioners
of Indian Affairs Jones have deter
mined to stop the abuse of the privi-
lepes and have SO stated in number
of communications lately. Mr.. Jones
said yesterday:
'sThere will be no more Indians
permitted to leave their reservations
for wild west exhibition purposes.
They cannot secure the consent OF
the Indian bureau for the exhibition,
save it be along the lines OF progress
in Indian education. The day of the
departments permitting indians to
be let for wild west shows and such
affairs are past. IT demoralizes the
indians, many of whom would dress
in citizens clothes and otherwise
conform to more civilized ways but
for the dollars and cents there is in
continuing in their old customs"
~
Attorney General Griggs has de-
MED the application OF Stewart,
Lewis, Gordon & Rutherford, Hut
chins & West, and Owen & Gent, at
torneys for Charles Il. Worth, in
dicted by the grand jury in Indian
Territory for completely in the fraud
ulent Creek warrant deals. The ap-
plication was submitted last month
by the attorneys for the defendant
on the ground that the evidence in
the case was insufficient to convict
and the attorney general was re-
quested to direct that the case be
dismissed. Special agent Zevelly of
of the interior department, who has
direct charge of the prosecution, as
si sted by United States District At
torney Pliny Soper, Immediately an
tagonized the application of the at
t)rneys for the defendant and insist
ed that the case should 60 back fer
trial. His Recommendation was also
concurred in by the United States
Attorney.
At the trial which commenced On
November and concluded on No
yember Z, which resulted n a hung
jury-eight being for acquittal and
four for conviction, it is claimed that
Judge Thomas instructions were
exceedingly favorable to the defend
ant. In fact had it not been for
these instructions it is probable that
the attorney general would have
ordered the case dismissed provid-
ing the decision had been the same.
After an examination of the records
of the trial, Attorney General Griggs
became convinced that the evidence
in the case was sufficient to convict
and promptly decided against the
application of the defendants at
torneys. He made a careful investi-
cation of the evidence and particu-
larly Ct the rulings of Judge Thomas
during the prosecution, and it is
disclosing no secret to say that tie
attorney general was dissatisfied
with the rulings by the judge. The
case will go back for a retrial with
the understanding that it will come
before Judge Gill, the newly appoint
ed federal Judge to succeed William
NJ. Springer.
The case is of unusual interest by
reason of the fact that the prosecu-
ton of several other prominent par
ties in the indian Territory, notably,
Frank M. Davis of Wagner and s.
B. Callahan of Muskogee, depends
upon the result. Both of these par
ties have been Indicted by the grand
Jury and much Of the evidence used
in the Worth case will be used il
their cases.
Special Agent Zevelly and Mr..
Soper are confident of obtaining a
conviction in the Worth case, and
the attorney general has stated that
if they are turned loose it must be
done by jury and not by the depart
ment.
~
The department is advised by the
commissioner of Indian affairs
that the appropriation heretofore
made for the expenses of the town
site commissions Twill be practically
exhausted by the end of January
next" and it follows necessarily
that unless an appropriation is made
in the urgent deficiency bill prior to
the 1st of February next the work OF
said commissions will be obliged TO
cease, thereby causing great injury
to the public service.
Judicial matters of interest to the