davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1899-03-12
A Story of Joseph H. Choate

From tho Boston Journal.
 A good story about Joseph H. Choate tells of the only time his serenity was ever ruffied when cross-questioning a witness. It was during famous will case and Felix McClusky, formerly doorkeeper of the house of representatives, was the witness
 NOW MT. McClusky," insinuatingly asked MT Choate, isn't it true that you are the modern Munchausen?"
 You're the second blackguard that has asked me that in week." roared Me- Clusky, "an'-"
 Laughter drowned the remainder of MT McCluskys retort, and 1t was fully five minutes before business was resumed.
The age-herald., 1899-03-12
A Puzzled Youngstes

From the Houston Post.
 Small Johnny had on his best clothes, and his mamma told him not to play in the dirt with them on.
 Don't they have any dirt in heaven to play in?" he asked.
 NO; of course, not" replied his mother. '"Then, what do little boys do up there?" querled Johnny.
 'Oh, they play harps, and sing and sit under beautiful trees," was the reply.
 Well" said the little fellow, "I don't see how they can have trees if there ain't m dirt.p
The age-herald., 1899-03-12

churches, and the chances to get inland were few and far between. Now and then a strolling preacher would tell the gospel. but not often.
 The gospel yacht grew out of this idea, and 1t was built with the one thought of helping sailors and fishermen, though peo- pie on the coast may profit by 1t.
 Nor will 1t appeal to the working class alone. During their short experience the yacht workers have found that if opportu- nifty afford. wealthy persons will come on the gospel yacht as it lies at anchor of a Sunday morning Amateur yachtsmen will leave their magnificent private craft te spend an hour in prayer and song, and be glad of the chance.
 The purpose of the yacht will be to help physically as well as spiritually. The mis- sionaries will recognize no nationality. Cu-
The age-herald., 1899-03-12
Positive Proof

From the Chicago News.
 "Why do you think that man Is from New York;"
 s'Because he admits that he never stopped at the Squalldorf- Castoria- New York peo- ple are the only ones who don't go around boosting about how they put up there"
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
Froze to Death.

Mrs. George Swimmer, the wild
ow of Rev. George Swimmer. was
found near her home, last Satur-
day, frozen to death. She had
left home for the purpose of visit
ing a neighbor.
She was a very old lady, which
caused her to be more susceptible
to the cold than a younger person.
When found she was lying by the
roadside dead, her horse near by.
Some say that she applied to one
of her neighbors for shelter but
was refused. This can hardly be
true, for it is impossible to be-
lieve that there lives in Tahlequah
district a person so destitute of
feeling as to refuse assistance in
such a case. 1t is thought that
she was lost or was bewildered by
the storm, as her body was found
a short distance from her home
Mrs. Swimmer was a Christian
lady, and during her life did much
Christian work among her people.
She was the widow of the Rev.
George Swimmer, who was a prem
inent Cherokee minister.-Sen-
News reaches here from Grand
river, over near Wagner, of still
other victims of the intense cold
of Saturday night. Some movers,
whose names The Sentinel
representative did not learn, the
party consisting of a man and his
wife and two children, went into
camp for the night. They built a
fire by the side of the wagon, and
after a time the man and wife
went to bed in the wagon, the
children staying up by the fire.
When they were found in the
morning the children were still
alive and uninjured, but in the
wagon the man and his wife were
both dead, frozen stark and stiff
Sentinel.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
UNFORTUNATE INDIANS.

It's unfortunate for the Indian
citizens of the Northern district
that Judge Springer is to be
superseded by anyone at the
present juncture, but more especl-
ally by man not conversant with
conditions in this territory that
effect the Indian especially.
Judge Springer has been close
student for the past four years of
the laws and conditions peculiar
to the territory, and which have
no parallel anywhere else on the
globe. The duties of the judges
Office have made it necessary for
him to acquaint himself thorough
ly with the laws applicable to the
people of the Indian Territory.
The rights OF the Indians are es-
pecially at stake in this country
and there is hardly a civil case on
the dockets of the northern dis
trict that does not effect directly,
or indirectly the property rights
of some Indian, and in many
instances the rights of the whole
tribe. The best lawyers in the
country generally agree that
Judge springer's decisions are
sound in law, and will bear The
scrutiny OF the higher courts, and
it is pecially gratifying to the
Cherokees that their rights have
been so well guarded and pro-
tected by the United States
courts. The opinion and decisions
of Judge Thomas also have not
been less favorable to the Indians,
and while most of the questions
involving the citizenship of the
Indians have been before Judge
Springer. Judge Thomas has shown
great tact and ability in passing
upon questions effecting these
people. 1t is earnestly hoped the
new judge will show the same in
dustry in becoming familiar with
the conditions here that simply
have to be learned by contact an d
experience by whoever sits upon
the bench of Northern district.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
Robbery al Melvin.

Last nlght-the second time
within the year-Mrs. Zack
Taylor's store, u miles east of
town, was robbed. 1t will be re-
membered that last summer Zack
Taylor was killed while defending
his store against robbers. Since
his death Mrs. Taylor (brave
woman that she is) has conducted
the business.
As regards the identity OF the
robbers who made the raid last
night, suspicion rests strongly
upon certain parties, and a Mr..
McBroom, of that neighborhood,
was in town today asking for
officers to investigate matters.
No money worth mentioning
was taken las. night, but the
gentlemen of the road" helped
themselves lf.vishly to clothing
and other valuables which hap
pened to catch their eyes
Mondays v Wagoner Sayings.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
Should Have Enemies.

1t is no discredit to a man to
have enemies and opposition.
Many men hesitate to take any
course that will call forth the op-
position of any person, because
they do not want enemies. The
world is full of envious people.
Some hate a man because he is
successful in business or occupies
prominent place in the COM
munity. The world has no ami
mostly toward the quiet citizen
who offends no one, gets in
nobody's way. 1t is the live men,
the men of push and energy who
incur enmity. Every man who
is fearless in the discharge of his
obligations in any station of life,
has enemiea.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
STILL working" THEM.
Vinita'S Mythical Citizen Af-
ter the loWanS.

The following extract from the
Oskaloosa Globe indicates that the
"Rev. Felix Mayes," a person un-
known to the people over which
he says he is ruler, is still telling
some very fabulous stories to the
people up in Iowa:
"Chief CD Mayes" was in Oska-
loosa not long since and told some
wonderful stories. Said that with
his father he was camped on the
present site of Oskaloosa in 1926.
That be had come back here to
look for a cave filled with gold and
valuable relics; that he had found
it and there would be forty In
dians here shortly TO help carry it
away; that he was chief of the
Cherokees, had a fine three story
house at Vinita, Indian Territory.
costing $4,000 and that he fire.
quently entertained the Cherokee
council in his elegant home, etc.,
and so on. 1t happened that one
of the Globe firm had justreturned
from the Indian Territory and
knew that the "big chief" was
lying. The chief of the Chero-
KEGS is Samuel Mayes, but whether
he is related to Felix or not, we
do not know. The Cherokee
council meets at Tahlequah, the
so be could not entertain
them at Vinita. Furthermore he
has no $4,000 home at Vinita.
We doubt very much if he even
has a hut there. His finding
cave of Indian treasures here, of
course was all a hoax.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
A MEXICAN SYNDICATE.
They are Trying to Defeat
the Treaty,

The Cherokee people are indig-
nant Just now. David Muskrat,
Daniel Grittz and Henry Dick are
in Washington as delegates, self
constituted, to defeat the Chero-
kee-Dawes treaty, lately made and
ratified by the Cherokees by
two-thirds majority vote. Musk
rat, Grittz and Dick went to Wash
ingtOn at the expense of those en-
gagged in the Mexican colonization
scheme, which is to make the In
dians dissatisfied here and to keep
up the dissatisfaction until they
get desperate enough to trade their
fertile land here in the territory
for the barren and desert lands Of
Mexico.
To do this successfully, the colo
nizatien schemers are having them
fight the ratification of the CherO-
kee-Dawes treaty at Washington.
The people say this is an unhJly
scheme got up by a syndicate
which has an option on 1000, 900
or 10000 acres of Mexican sand
land, and these Indians are being
used by those steering the deal.
They warn senators and con-
gressmen to be careful of the state
ments made to them. They say
it would be a shame for these In
dians, nondeseripts, to undo a
work that has taken six or eight
years and hundreds of thousands
of dollars to accomplish. 1t would
not only paralyze business entirely
in the Indian , erritory to have
this treaty fail of ratification by
congress, but it would be a set
back to the whole southwestern
country surrounding the Indian
Territory.
St. Louis, Kansas City, Fort
Smith, Dallas and other cities are
vitality interested, for the status of
5000, 600 acres of fertile lands is
at stake, besides large commercial
and agricultural interests right in
their doors.
1t is said Chief Mayes will ask
the United States Indian agent to
have the Mexican meddlers and
prof gates stirring up strife in the
Indian Territory move from the
limits of this country, as provided
Dy the United States statutes. The
legally and authorized delegates to
Washir gton are Hon. L. B. Bell
and w. w. Hastings. A dozen
passes have been offered to various
Indians here by the Mexican syn
dicate to go to Washington and
fight the treaty.-Tahlequah
! Dispatch.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
.; s.;znnoIs for White Children.

The commissioner of Indian af-
fairs sent to congress Monday a
communication from the United
States Indian inspector, Mr..
Wright, and a memorial of the
Indianola Public Free School So
ciety in relation to the establish
ment of free schools for the white
children OF the Indian Territory.
The Indianola society urges that
the school system be established
simultaneously with the courts,
and in detail presents the need OF
free schools for the white children
of the territory. Agent Wright
also recommends immediate legis-
lation for the establishment OF the
white free schools.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
They walked.

Attorney Wilson, Of Vinita, and
w. /. Moore of our town were out
west of Talala the forepart of the
week on a business trip, and while
returning after dark the team ran
away, throwing them out, and
thew had to take it afoot for seven
miles before they could reach a
place to stay all night.-Progress.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
SmalIpox at Arbeka.

G. R Davis stated to a repre-
sentative of the Times Tuesday
that he had just received let
ter from Arbska, l. T., conveying
the information that smallpox was
raging there, and that Al deaths
had occurred in two days. Arbeka
is in the Seminole nation, about
80 miles southwest from 0kmul-
gee.-Muskogee Times.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
THE JENNINGS CASE.
Brief Sketch of the Crime
and Trial.

Al Jennings was sentenced at
Chickasha last week to imprison-
ment in the Columbus penitentiary
for the term of his natural life, a
recent statute making that the
penalty in case the life of postal
clerk is put in jeopardy in a rob-
bery-if the robbers display dead
ly weapons. The other defend
ants, Jennings brother and the
two O'Malleys, will probably plead
guilty if they can get of with
sentence of ten years or so. The
robbery for which Jennings was
convicted took place at siding
few miles from Chickashs just be-
fore noon one day a year or two
ago. The robbers were seen in
that vicinity several times before
the robbery but not afterwards.
While the robbery was in progress
a fellow rode up and was captured
by the robbers. This the officers
have always believed was part of
the play. This man swore that
the robbers took him six miles and
made him cut the wire fences. The
day after the robbery he could give
the officers no description, claiming
the men were all masked; at the
trial he swore that be saw all OF
them and that AL Jennings was
not of the number. His testimony
was of course discounted. Jen-
nings took the stand in his
own defense and the attorneys on
cross examination were unable
to shake his testimony to any con-
siderable extent. He swore, how
ever, that he was at home
which was shown to be untrue.
The officers knew a robbery was
going to take place somewhere and
as soon as it occurred they got a
special train out of Guthrie and |
hurried to Tecumseh, the home Of
Jennings and watched fol the boys |
but they did not come, nor were
they there. The testimony hav-
ing shown that Jennings and his
companions were seen at different
places, heavily armed, he explain
ed the matter by saying he was
searching for Temple Houston,
who sometime before killed Ed |
Jennings, one of his brothers.
Jennings attorney said after the |
trial that but for this statement he |
could have secured q disagreement /
of the jury, the idea being that the |
admission of being on an unlawful
mission was sufficient to turn the |
scale with the jury. The defense
was a fabricated one, very clearly, |
and since the trial several of the |
Jennings witnesses have been |
prosecuted for perjury. Jennings
father, probate judge of the county /
in which the trial occurred, is
among the the number.
The rewards are agreed to be
81 200, in the event the balance of
the gang plead guilty-Or stand
trial and are convicted. This is
for the one hold-up, on the Rock
Island road. If tried and convict
ed for robbing the Santa Fe, of
which there is little doubt of their
guilt, the amount would be $40, 400. /
There are nine persons to divide
the reward, but the bulk of it goes
to Paden Tolbert and Bud Led
better and Messrs. Gentry and
Baker of Checotah.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
NJ. Louis Cattle Market.

H B. Spaulding, shipping from
Muskogee, 1. T., had 16 loads of
cattle on the market consisting of
974 and 1908 pound steers at So 80
and 1,0SS pound steers at s4.15.
5. 5. Cobb, shipping from vi
nita, |. T.. had in As steers 947-
pounds average sold at SO 70.
Chas. Seaman, of Sapulpa, |. 7
had cattle and hogs on the market.
Come and see our photos and learn
our price. Vinita Photo Car.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
A CALAMITY.

The defeat of the Dawes-Chero-
kee agreement in the sub-com-
mittee of the senate and house
yesterday casts a gloom over the
Cherokee nation that will be hard
to dispel. The great Importance
of the treaty TO the CherOkees
could scarcely have been realized
by the congressional committee
which decided yesterday to let it
die in the committee rather than
report it favorably. This treaty
was reached after years of toilsome
negotiation between the Dawes
commission and the Cherokees,
and it afforded a final and salts
factory settlement of a vexed
question and one that has been of
great concern to the government.
The Cherokees at the present
juncture, feel that they have been
the victims of political maneuver-
ing, and that the government OF
the United States has suffered a
few political shysters to dictate
its policy in a matter that effects
the personal property rights of
more than thirty thousand Indian
citizens. The work of the Dawes
commission has been set aside,
and its representations to the In
dams declared to be of no effect.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
COMMISSIONERS COURT.

There is an overflow of business
at the commissioners court thls
afternoon. A. c. Dunn, of Fair
land. is before the court charged
with grand larceny. Dunn is one
of the men convicted a year or
two ago for the larceny OF 5. 5.
Cubb's cattle.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
MONDAY.

c. W. Poole of Chelsea, Ed Ben
der OF Nowata, and John F. War
rem of Adair, were appointed and
qualified as Jury commissioners
this afternoon and are engaged in
making list of persons to serve as
grand and petit jurors for the term
Of United States court beginning
the first Monday in next October.
The court instructed the commits
sioners to select men qualified to
serve, and from persons who be-
long to the law and order class of
society, and who are of approved
integrity. Judge Springer stated
further that the courts of the coun-
try could not be run on ignorance
and that therefore persons select
ed for jury service should be in
telligent. They were instructed to
select 10 persons TO act as grand
jurors, and six persons as alter
mates They were also instructed
to select sc persons to act as petit
jurors, and y alternates. The
court suggested that it would be
well to select the juries from that
portion of the Northern district
lying farthest away from other
places OF holding court, as other
panels would be selected from the
country adjacent to other courts,
TUESDAY.
a case of unusual importance to
Cherokees, and one never before
passed upon by the United States
! courts came up and was disposed
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23


The organization Monday of
relief union in Vinita marks
another upward step in the pro-
gress of the town. The men and
women who undertook Monday
to organize themselves into a body
to look after the destitute of our
community are the pioneers in a
field that shall never grow less.
They have undertaken a labor OF
love that appeals strongly TO mans
better nature, and there is latent
longing in every human breast not
destitute offeeling, to see the hu-
man race beyond the power Of want
and suffering. 1t is the natural
tendency of mans better nature
to lift the fallen, to clothe the
naked and to feed the hungry.
Just why this family, or that in
dividual is destitute does not need
to be considered when merely the
fact is apparent that they need
food and clothing to keep them
from suffering. The purest heart
is the one that is wrung at the
sight of human woe in any and
every form. The broadest mind
is the one that cannot be happy
with mere personal plenty while
surrounded with the want and
poverty of others.
The burden of Christ's ministry
while here on earth was 'going
about doing good" healing the
sick, giving sight to the blind,
feeding the famishing multitude,
and restoring to life and health
the dead loved ones.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23

The appointment of jury COM
missioners to select jurors for the
next term of court at this place
was not without incident.
1t seems that District Attorney
Soper took upon himself the func
tiOn of picking out the commission
ers, and straightway named three
gentlemen, including one of Afri-
can descent. When the news of
the government attorneys action
got noiseG abroad, the Anglo-Sax
on-lndian contingent "got upon
their ears" and set about securing
a change of program. The matter
was finally and amicably settled
by the court making new appoint
ments all around But the freed.
man, Mr.. Bradford, came all the
way from Nowata, it is said, upon
the receipt of personal letter
from the governments attorney
before learning that his services
were to be dispensed with.
OF course Bradford's expenses had
to be paid, which was prom mptly
attended to.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23

Another case waiting for a hear
ing is two colored women named
Lula Pullien and Kate Walton,
charged with the theft of dress
psttern from Annie Martin, the
wife of Blount Martin, the fellow
who is now in jsil at Muskogee
charged with stealing +. W.
Strout's horse last year.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23

1t is quite probable there will
be no spring term OF United States
court held at Wagner this year.
Judge Springer has made no order
vet as touching the matter, but
the prevalence of smallpox in the
Creek country west, and the great
danger of its spreading should
witnesses be brought to court
from that section, Will no doubt
render it advisable to defer the
court at Wagner.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23

If the treaty Is really knocked
ont it will now be in order for the
Cherokees to proceed to make
better one. Those Cherokees who
opposed the treaty ought to pro-
duce one with all the Objectionable
features of the old one eliminated.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
SATURDAY.

More than two years ago Martha
Garbrino brought suit against
VIM. Lauchner, ct al, for pO5ses-
sion of an improvement on the
public domain FIVE or six miles
south of town. The defendants in
the suit were claimants to Chero-
kee citizenship and Miss Garbrino
is a Cherokee Indian woman. The
case was decided in favor of the
plaintiff and a writ of ejectment
issued and the defendants evicted
from the premises. In the mean
time, Grant Lauchner, a brother
of the principal defendant in the
suit, married a Cherokee girl and
entered into possession of por-
tion of the land embraced in the
order of the court and brought
suit against the deputy marshal
VINO eJected him from the prem
ises. The trial came up yester-
day and was one of the most inter-
esting as well as important cases
tried at the present term. The
testimony developed the fact that
Lauchner could not have held
legal possession at any time,
either before or after his marriage
in 1896, with a Cherokee by blood,
as the Cherokee enactment of De.
cember 16, 1895, estoped him from
enjoying even political rights in
the Cherokee nation, much less
property rights under said mar
riage. The judge instructed the
jury TO return a verdict for Miss
Garbrino.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23

Then the murder case against
Martin Smith of Cow Skin prairie
is to be taken up this afternoon
if it can be reached.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
Judge CLIPS Appointment.

Washington, Feb. 2l.-The
president today sent to the senate
the name of Joseph A. Gill of Kan
sas, to be judge of the United
States court, Northern district,
Indian Territory.
Topeka, Feb. 21.-Joseph A.
Gillis alawyer and lives at Colby,
in Thomas county, where he set
tied about fifteen years ago.
The late Joseph Smith, director of
the bureau of American republics,
President McKinley's personal
friend, was Gill's cousin. Gill is
45 years of age and was slated for
this judgeship early IN McKinley's
administration. He was recon-
mended by Cyrus Leland.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-23
JUMBO STORE.

Our buyer was in the market early. If you want
to get more and better goods for your money than
be had at any other store in the southwest come
to the Jumbo Store. We have gladsome surprises
for YOU all over our big store You will find every
choice in the wholesale houses and will give you the
to show goods Come and see