davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14
TESTIMONY OF A JUROR.
RespOnsibility,On the Public
Prosecutor.

The testimony OF an ex-grand
juror, and a gentleman who stands
high in the estimation Of all who
know him, will have Its weight in
proving the attitude of the pros
ecuting attorney in reference To
the finding of indictments. Mr..
Parker has opened a discussion
that Is boundless, and that will do
good in that it will call attention
to the real facts in the case. There
are several hundred men in the
Northern district who have served
one time and another on the grand
juries and who know the methods
of the attorneys. The following
letter explains itself:
EDITOR CHIEFTAIY:-I read in
your daily of Sept. Sth the article
on what Luman F. Parker, Jr.,
has to say about grand juries fail
ing TO do their duties, and also the
reply of the Muskogee Times.
Now it happens l have had little
experience in grand jury work, as
| served about thirty days two
years ago this October term and
Mr.. Parker was the prosecutor
who worked with us. A little re
Election or inquiry will make you
remember the men who served Oh
that jury. We, as a jury, found
about 1877 bills, if l am not mis-
taken, goOdly number for high
crimes and perhaps one-halt We're
whisky cases. | have watched the
court dOckets closely since that
time and / have also cOnVersed
with other members of that jury
and We agreed that fully one-haIi
of these cases never saw "day
lighi," i. e, something was done
with them. Now | wish to ask
what use is there for a grand jury
to work hard and faithful and have
their work ignored as it seems was
done in this case? | am not man
who likes to be made a tool of or
subteriuge of in any matter, and !
have often made the remark that
considered grand juries a farce
and a fraud for this and other rea-
sons. 1 wish TO ask again what
inducement is there for grand ju-
ries TO do hard and faithful work
when the prosecuting attorney can
come into the jury room and
strongly intimate that if a certain
bill is ignored be will hold it over
for the next grand jury to investi-
gate, or if a true bill is found in a
certain case he will nolie prosseil?
Now If this does not make the
grand juries subject to the will of
the prosecutor what is the reason?
| hold that a grand jury's work is
at the mercy and good will of the
public prosecutor and not that the /.
prosecution is handicapped by the I
action OF the grand juries, as held /
by Mr.. Parker. | heard the late
Col. Downing make the remark in
Ninita once that grand juries gem
eTAlly done as the prosecuting at
torney wanted them to do, and |
for one, believe it, notwithstand
ing Mr. Parker to the contrary.
w. S. MALoNEY,
Bluejacket, |. T.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14
OUR NOBLE STATESMEN?
TOOquaStee BewaiIs the De-
generation of His Party.

Editor Chlettaln: That late
mysterious mission of the Muskrat
Gritts and Coon delegation tC
Kansas City was d manifestation
in the general whirl of our Cher.
okee affairs which deserves some
serious attention.
What are these men doing?
What are they driving at? 1t is
sad that they are collecting their
counsels and preparing the neces-
sary proceedings to contest the
election of T. NJ Burlington; that
is all right enough. If Mr.. Buff
ington's election is illegal and un-
fair, it is right that b g should be
denied the chieftaincy by the pro-
per tribunal. But thz t is not the
question; what is it IN such a pro-
ceeding that should draw these
men to Kansas City? What juris-
dictiOn has Kansas City or any ofits
magnates, in matters pc rtainiug to
the contest of election in the
Cherokee nation? 1t is ,oticeable
that Mr.. Coon was NUN bered in
this delegation; he was Il ,e defeat
ed candidate, and is to be the
complainant in the contest pro-
ceedings. How. is it that, in his
political adv ,rsity, he turns his
back upon b is faithful Indian con-
sutuency, and runs off to Kansas
CITY and throws himself into the
arms Of a little knot of strangers?
now is all this? How is it that,
"nen they return, they wink
'oOu' significantly and myster-
our ly, and say they have got it all
X ed; that something awful is
:ewing up there somewhere, and
hat ere long, it is to be expected,
a tornado of upheavals, reversals,
and restorations, etc., will roll
down upon US as the result of their
masterful contriving? If these
men have done anything, or are
doing anything. in conspiracy with
any junta of white men at Kansas
City, it is important that the Cher
okee people, especially the friends
of Mr.. Coon who stood firmly by
him during the campaign. should
know a little something as TO the
real nature of the job.
What are these men working af-
ter? Did they run their part of
the campaign solely with a view
to getting control of the 81 900, 600
collection against the government?
and, being defeated, did they hast
en- away to Kanas City to pour out
their grief at the feet of the little
syndicate to whom they had lent
themselves as supple cat-paws for
fleeing their own countrymeD,
who had trusted them and voted
for them? Pshaw! pshawl Whom
can you trust? 1t is well known
that the Downing men were never
without "nigger in tie wood
pile;" is it possible that our noble
statesmen of the National faith
have become so degenerate as to
follow the depraved example of
the Downing party?
Whom can we trust? Here is
Charlie Curtis, with congress at
his back, laughing at plighted
faith and overriding our treaties;
here are our Downing statesmen
who have just completed the job
of riding our poor little spawned
nation TO death, and are now only
scrambllng for little mementoes of
its wasted carcass; and now, alas
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

either for the good or the i'll of the
Cherokee public, they were trans
cending the authority of private
citizens and their acts are Justly
open to suspicion.
"Quousque tandem abutere Cati-
lima" Too QUA-sTEE.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

The inhabitants of Vinita have
recently been highly compliment
ed. A high government official
has declared it to be the only place
in the Indian Territory where
public sentiment is strong enough
to secure the rigid enforcement OF
the liquor laws. The people who
are trying to make Vinita an ed
ucational center have made no
mistake.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

discharge and the getting OF bet,
ter man?
But the question still recurs
what was it that called these men
to Kansas City? 1t is we'll known
that Messrs. Muskrat, Gritts &
Co. have for long time been en-
gagged in some kind of correspond.
ence with powers, or persons. out
side of this nation; what the object
is, nobody outside of their conf
dence is allowed to know; hence
the only solution ofthe mystery is
that furnished by surmise. There
is plausible rumor abroad to the
effect that they have been endeav-
oring to consummate an arrange
ment with moneyed parties some
where in the world for an ex-
change OF lands in the Cherokee
nation, for others somewhere in
the republic of Old Mexico. Now
the words of the compiled laws of
the Cherokee nation are these:
every person who shall + + agree
to cede, sell, or exchange, or dis.
pose of in any manner, the lands
belonging to the Cherokees, or any
part of portion thereof, shall be
guilty of treason, and. on convic-
ton thereof, suffer death by hang
ing" But the Curtis act, that
burlesque of legislation, has ab-
rogated this Indian law, has torn
down the public fencing which the
Cherokees had thrown around
their landed interests, and made
it fsasable for any man, clique or
party to embark, without the dread
of any condign penalty, in enorm-
Gus speculations upon Cherokee
real estate. A short time ago,
while the Cherokee government
lived, to sell a town lot to a non-
citizen was regarded as an infam-
Gus crime, working even the for
feiture of life; but now, under the
screen of the Curtis law, the prac-
tice has become not only venial,
but common.
In 1885, the government was,
and had been for a long time, de-
sirous of getting possession of the
lands then owned and occupied by
the Cherokees east of the Missis-
sippi. The Cherokee authorities
refused to negotiate sale. The
people, especially the fullbloods,
were overwhelmingly against it;
and to meet the difficulty, and to
carry point, the government, by
promising protection against the
fury of the tribal laws in reference
to treason, induced a number of
our tribesmen to assume the re-
sponsibility of making, on behalf
the nation, the bargain desired.
The terms of this memorable deal
is now what is known in Cherokee
history as "the treaty of 1885,"
But the government afterwards
paid no attention to its guarantee
of safety to these men, and the re-
suit was a triple tragedy in COM
parison with which the closing
scenes in the life of Caesar and
Charles / were but tame affairs.
How times have changed!
And the query still remains:
What did these gentlemen, In this
very formal manner, go to Kansas
City for? Was it to patronize the
white mans market; to sell them
a few bleating calves, or squealing
pigs, or a muckle of wheat or oats,
or some such thing, all the pro-
ducts of their own sweaty labor?
If SO, then they were on their own
private business, and doing al
together the right thing. But if,
on the contra-y. they went, as
self-constitui I'd commissioners, for
the purpose of doing something,
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

1t is reported that Judge Thomas
has promised Tulsa that a court
shall be provided there as'soon as
the court of appeals meets. How
about Nnwata, Claremore, Fair
land, Sallisaw and other aspiring
towns? Are they to be thrown
DOWN." Not all the good hunting
ground is tributary to Tulsa.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

Just what will ultimately be
done with t ne school system now
in vogue il J the Cherokee nation is
an unsoi' yed problem. The school
funds o. over s. 600, 600 will have
TO De > handled and disposed OF, as
wen as the buildings, the SEM
ina les at Tahlequah, and the or
pr .an asylum, colored high school,
J insane and blind asylum, etc. 1t
is we'll nigh an impossible task to
give the II 600 Cherokee children
of school age the benefit of this
norton of their birthright. 1t is
probable that the money invested
will have to be paid to the Chero-
KEGS per capita, and the institu-
tions sold to the highest bidder.
The complications that will arise
have already begun to manifest
themselves, and certain 1t is that
no considerable portion OF the
Cherokee children will, under the
present arrangement, get the ben
eft of the funds due them.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

here are the trusted leaders of the
old incorruptible National party,
(Ol shameD fugling, secretly fug'
ling with outside parties for the
purpose of despoiling their people
who honored them with their con-
fidence and their votes. Whom
beneath the skies can you trnstf
Great God, thou refuge of the
poor, the widow, and the orphan,
to thee, to thee alone, can trust be
due.
The history of this 100000
claim, as a factor in our Cherokee
affairs, is not only unfortunate,
but exceedingly disgracefnl TO
the national name of the Cherokee
people. 1t has perverted the leg
lslative mind; it has absorbed the
executive attention to the neglect
of the better interests of the peo-
pie; it has stimulated into exces-
sive activity the depraved ingen-
uity of jobbery and speculation; it
has damaged the standard of pub
lie morals within our nation, and
has furnished a motive for unholy
cupidity abroad.
Some years ago this claim was
let out for collection to General
Butler of South Carolina, at a fee
Of five per cent, a neat little sum
of 5000, ,000; this was some four or
five years ago. The arrangement
was made with Mr.. Butler by Mr..
Mayes, our present chief execu-
tive. Long, long, has been the
time since this job was thus "salt-
ed down." and all these years not
a syllable has ever been heard re-
porting progress in the work of
collection; while, from session to
session of the national council, re-
peated applications have been
made for an increase of the fee,
from five to ten, to fifteen, or even
twenty per cent. General Butler
says the fee is not large enough;
he cannot afford to work for so
small a pittsnce as 100000. Now,
We do not pretend to say what
General Butler can afford to do;
if he says he cannot afford to work
for 100000, we are, of course,
bound to believe him. Yet we
have right to our own opinion,
as to the real value of his service.
The truth is, his work is not, and
never can be, worth to this nation
the half of 100000. Besides here
is a thing that looks little like a
bug under a chip. General Butler
knew just as well, when he made
his bargain with our chief, what
his services were worth, as he
knows now; why, then, did he
undertake the job at five per cent?
Can it be that there was simply an
understanding between him and
our chief that he would undertake
it at that figure for no other pur-
pose than to "hold it down" until
he could wiring out of the nation
an agreement for a bigger fee2 For
about five years now General But
ler has been holding down this
job and importuning for more pay
and refusing to go forward with
the work because the nation has
not seen fit to comply with his re-
quest. Now, what are the dictates
of common sense in such a case?
What is the usual practice? Where
the attorney whom you have hired
to attend to your case tells you
plainly that he cannot, and will
not, go on with the business, but
falls back upon the breeching, and
you discover that he is only trying
to bleed you. does not common
sense in such a case prescribe,
above all things, an immediate
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

The prospects now are that
somebody is going to be greatly
disappointed when it comes to the
collection of the S4,3OO,OOO due
the Cherokee nation from the gov-
ernment. 1t is almost a certainty
that the government at Washing
ton will not consent to contract
that gives any extortionate fees to
any attorney or lobbyist. We be-
lieve the debt will be liquidated
at no distant day, but not through
the agency of lobbyists.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

Attorney General Griggs, at a
cabinet meeting few days ago,
recommended the appointment of
Joseph A Gill, of Kansas, Judge
of the Northean district, and sue
cessoy Of Judge Springer. The
commission will be issued at once
and Judge Gill vii. hold the
Octo Der term of court at Vinita.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

Most OF Kansas has just been
visited by two or three days
soaking rain and vegetation has
changed its coat from yellow to
green.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

1t is within the province of
newspaper to discuss public men
and public measures. The CAL
cium light Of the press never hurt
a blamelesS man, and he has no
dread oft 1t is the fellow who
doubts the righteousness of his
cause who breads the sensure of
the press. The truth must be un-
chained, and the people have a
right to look to the newspapers of
the country to point out every
wrong, and to defend every right.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14
Yours truly, j. ADOUE.
Calvert, Texas, Feb. "a. 1899"

"We have enrolled at least nine
ty-five per cent of the Choctaws," !"
said Mr.. Bixby this morning.
Probably it viii reach ninety
eight per cent. This is getting
pretty close TO the 100 mark, and
Is excellent work, at least it is so
considered by the commission.
There a few Indians who do not
understand what enrolment means
and they have held back Until the
last, but their brethren have in
most cases sent out and had them
brought in and their name placed
on the roll. The members of the
tribe have been as jealous in get
ting their kinsmen on the rolls as
they are in keeping of fraudulent
claimants.-Muskogee Times.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14

The great Dreyius trial has end
ed. 1t has been like a variety
show Of French peculiarities rath-
er than a sober trial of the accused.
The prosecutors seem to have ta-
ken their cue from Shylock in his
hatred for Antonio, except the
venomous line should read: 81
hate him, for he is a Jew"
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14
ROUNDLAP BALE is WORTH MORE
Why a Texas Farmer and Compress s
Man Wishes success TO the
American Cotton Conn.,
pany's Package.

The following letter from Mr.. J.
Adoue, of Calvert, Texas, is inter-
esting as showing the attitude to-
ward the American Cotton Com
pany's Roudlap bale of a man
who is a cotton farmer as well
the owner of a square bale COM
press:
Dear SiI: A few days ago l
noticed a bill introduced in the
Legislature proposing to tax your
company 40 per cent of its gross
receipts. | presume the bill is
intended to confs iate your prop
erty OF drive you out of the state.
"Your machin cry congresses
the cotton in smaller and better
package than the present COM
presses. You are in the field now
Offering to save the growers fully
s1.OO per bale by reason of COM
pressing the cotton at the gin and
the saving of bagging and ties,
yardage, etc.
"NO doubt it is the intention of
the Legislature to protect the pres
ent congresses from your iniq-
uitous competition. and as a CON-
press man | want them to do it.
"As farmer, however, 1 hope
you will not be driven out; | want
TO continue to sell you my cotton
at about 81 90 per bale more than
If put up in square bales.
Yours truly, ]. ADoUE.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-09-14
THEN WEAR JUNE

Have YOU seen it? That Seal BOx-toe, extra heavy
shoe, sold everywhere at 80, our price SIoS
Gentlemen, will you take time to look at this?
Light weight calf boots side and back ned you never
bought sold its equal for 3d. our price is
only $3.50.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-17
WOULD LIMIT lNIUNCTIONS.
tn Their Issuance Against
Working men.

WASHINGTON, oct. Is.-The executive
council Of the American Federation Of la
bor met here to-day The secretary's report
shows "A marvellous increase in the mum
ber OF organizations formed and affiliated
The income Of the organization was more
than double that OF the Year lN9S- The
miners trouble in the Couer d'AleUe dis
trict OF Idaho wss taken up and the fol-
lowing pTeambles and resolutions were
adopted:
where's. The struggle OF the miners of
Idaho IN the COugr d Alone district IS one
,hat should have the support and - m
pathy Of all organized labor. and.
Nv hersas. The arrest and imprisonment
OF said miners FOR alleged violation OF law
has been unparalleled FOR the brutality eX-
hihited toward the men while confined In
the bullpeu, where, because OF uuneceSsdry
deprivation. some have died and the health
of others impaired: therefore. De II
Resolved. That the executive council Of
the American Federation OF Labor does
hereby anpr8DFiate the sum cf $500 10 assist
in their legal defense. and most heartily
urges all local unions who have not al
ready made donations. who are directly or
Indirectly attiiaJcG with the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor, |" respond as lbera!ly as
possible TO the appeal Of the miners for
Tor funds for proper legal defense.
1t was decided that q. bill be drafted 10
he presented to congress limiting the is
suance OF irjunctions by courts. so that
they shall not lie against working people
emrloymcnr or against the moral pcrSua-
sion Of workers concerning the question of
quitting such employment
II was decided to press in the coming
congress the cight-hour bill. which passed
tn. house of representatives and failed of
passage in the senate in the last hours OF
the Fifty-hfth congress.
Attention WAS called to the fact that the
order OF the secretary OF the navy for the
payment of time and a half for work over
the eight-hoUr day in cases Of emergency
has not been carried out in Charestown.
Mass. navy yard, and action was taken
To bring this to TIE notice OF the navy de
partmeut with a view to its reCtiticatiou.
The reports OF the iJo organizers through
out the country We're considered. as we'll as
those of the nine specie. u.Ls,Eizers VINO
are now travelling throughout the South
and the inteImountaiu country Of the
West. 1t was resolved 10 add 70 the mum
her. with a view to the more thorough or
SaniZatiOn Of the wage workers cf the
country II was also decided To appoint
organizers for Western Michigan, Mime
sofa and Wisconsin.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-17
HILLMON CASE OPENS.
Examination of Jurors Begins in the
Sixth Trial of the Famous


LEAVENWORTH, KAS, oct. i6.-(Spc-
cialD The HilImon case was called for trial
upon the convening Of the United States
circuit court here to-day. The two insur-
ance companies. the Connecticut Mutual
and the Mutual Life. of New York. are
made Joint defendants in the one case. The
process of selecting jury was commenced
when court assembled this afternoon. Thir-
~ jurors were examined This afternoon.
ana jury had not been obtained late this
afternoon. The prosecution was allowed six
challenges and each of the defendant COM
pau!es three.
The insurance companies are rcpTcsg gnted
by J. W. Green and G. J. Baker Of Law
renee; Eugene Ware. oi Topeka. ana JudSt
Isham. of Chicago. The widow Of til!iIuon
now Mrs. Slilic T.. Smith, i represented by
J. II. Atwood. L. B. Wheat, OF this city,
and c. +. HutchiuEs, OF Kansas city. kaS
TOPEKA, Oct l5-lSpociaD George +.
Sharrftt clerk of the United States cir
cult court. took about wagon load ol
records to Leavenworth to-day TO be used
in the Hillmon insurance case now on trial.
Among the traps is the old trunk, the
Dropertv OF John HilImOn. which Is sup
posed to contain his personal effects. The
trunk was sealed at the cGrpnsrs inquest
twenty wears ago and. although it has
been filed with the clerk ; Of the federal
court ever since the fam Gus case was
started it has never been Opened. Neither
s!de seems anxious to have 1t opened