The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-11-16
The LAST CITIZENSHIP CASE
In the Choet sw Nation Decided by judge
Sprinser-Thirteen Admitted.


South McAlester, /. T. Nov. Is.
Springer has handed down |
his opinion in the case admitting
to citizenship all the applicants
named herein, thirteen in number.
His opinion covers thirty one type
written pages, in which he reviews
the testimony taken on the part of
the applicants and the Choctaw
nation, quoting almost the entire
dispositions, and after setting out
the testimony he sums up the case
and states that the real question to
be determined is: Is Martha Ar
mold, the principal applicant, a
Choetaw Indian by bloodf' He
finds by all the testimony in the
case that she is copper colored and
has long, black, straight hair, and
that there are but two witnesses
whose testimony contradicts the
theory of the plaintiff, and that
both of these witnesses are negroes
and ex-slaves, and that their testi-
mopy is conclusively contradicted
by the testimony of respectable
white witnesses, who testify in such
positive and unmistakable language
as to carry conviction with their
testimony. He further mentions
the fact that while the case was being
tried before him, Martha Arnold,
the principal applicant, was pres
ent during the trial, and that after
both sides had rested, he, on his
own motion, had her sworn and
examined her and had her testi
mony reported, and that he observ-
ed her color, features and hair, and
that her appearance indicated that
her hair was that oc an Indian, and
not that of an African, and that
her complexion aud physical
features were such that it conclu-
sively contradicts the charge that
she is a negro. Quoting from his
opinion, he uses the following Ian
guage: No person who is SO dark
in complexion and whose hair is SO
perfectly straight, long and black,
could possibly be negro or have
any negro blood. One of the wit
nesses testified he measured hel
hair; that it was thirty-one inches
long at this time; she is dark in
color as the average full blood Choc
taw Indian; her hair is long, Goa
black and perfectly straight anC
free from kinks; her every feature
and physical condition prove con
clusiyely that she is an Indian
Further appears the following as
conclusion of his opinion, afte
carefully weighing all the evidenc
and considering all the circum
stances in the case, that the princi
pal claimant, Martha Arnold, is
Choctaw Indian by blood, and tina
she and her children are citizens O
the Choctaw nation. The judg
ment of the United States commits
sion to the five civilized tribes re
= iecting the claim of Martha Arnol
and her children as citizens of th
Choctaw nation is reversed, and
is ordered and adjudged by TIL
3: court that the said Martha Arnol
and her children are Choctaw cit
zens by blood and citizens of I'll
Choctaw Indian nation. The name
of the persons who are adjudge
- citizens of the Choctaw nation a
>. as follows: Martha Arnold, Il
<. principal claimant, and her son
- Frank ]. Arnold, Jam es E. Arnol
Park E. Arnold and Elizabeth \
10 James, now married to Silas Jame
James F. Arnold, son of Frank
Arnold, Roscoe G.. Arnold, son
al Jones n. Arnold; Lizzie Arnol
or Hugh Arnold, Arthur w. Arno
Of Of and Tottie Arnold. children
lg James E. Arnold"
m Thus ends the last citizensh
of case on the docket from this d
an n trict. The case was heard by Jud
up Springer because Judge Clayt
mge m was disqualified, having been &C
'al nected with the case. Judge j.
~ Rails of Atoka and Harley & Lii
ley OF this city represented
plaintiffs, and Judge Shackelft
- of Muskogee the Choctaw matte