The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-24
NORTH DAKOTA
The TROUBLE At FORT TOTEM
Indian Agent 0etcheI Gives His Version
OF tho Controversy With Court.

Indian Agent 0etcheII Gives His Version
Of tho Controversy With Court.
DEVILS Lake, N. D.-The trouble be-
tween Indian Agent Getchell and POST
master Court at Fort Totten has attracted
much attention in this state. In explana-
ion of the reasons for removing Postmas-
ter Court Mr.. Getchell gives the follow
ing interview:
II am not interested In any scheme
touching the sale of Indian lands, either
directly or indirectly. There is great
deal Of this class OF land to be sold. There
we're 1,132 allotments made and COM
pleted in 1892. OF this number about 400,
or fhore than one-quarter of the original
allottees, have died. This amounts to, In
round numbers. about $4,000 acres on this
reservation. This land Is subject to sale
by the provisions of the act OF congress
approved May 81, 1902.
NATURALLY the Indians desired to sell.
or to probate. so they could sell under the
law. Frank Palmer, the Indian trader, and
several lawyers, principally at Minnewau-
kan, took up the work Of probating. Mr..
Court, the postmaster, was at that time
also official interpreter, and undertook to
of the order of Acting Commissioner Ton
ner that permission must first be- secured
from the land commissioners office. This
ran along for some time, until finally Mr..
Court ignored entirely his official duties
and was discharged from the service on
Aug. % and ordered to vacate the quar-
tiers occupied by him without unnecessary
delay. Then he undertook to get permis-
sion from the commissioner to build on the
school grounds. The commissioners tele-
graphed Superintendent Davis. and 1t was
referred to me, upon which I wrote the
commissioner on Sept. 6, entering my pro-
test against any permission to Court tc
occupy either agency or school grounds
giving my reasons therefor. On receipt
Of this letter the commissioner wired me
on Sept. 10 not to allow Court to build
or occupy a building on the agency OF
school grounds, and directed me to notify
him. I notified him, as directed, and he
answered that he would move only wher
ordered to do so by the second assistant
postmaster general.
II wired his reply to tho department
requesting at the same time that the De.
partment see the postmaster general ant
mako the necessary arrangements. upor
which the commissioner wired me thai
the question Of removing Postmaster Cour
from the agency building was entirely II
my hands, and informing me that thu
postmaster general would not interfere
with me In discharge Of my duty, and d.
recting me to dlspossess Court 1mmed1
ately, which order put into execution.
"Of course the people with whom MIR
Court was doing business took up the mat
! ter for him, not forgetting the power o.
| the press. However. have done nothing
but carry out my orders. My last order II
the land matter is to stay the proceedings
| per ding new rules.
II presume the lands will be appraised
| and sold at auction, as being the best wa.
| to obtain the most for the Indians will
the least chance for frauds. It is thu
intention of the department to safeguard
these transfers in every way, and to MAKE
the title to the purchaser substantial.
1T is only natural that persons desire
to obtain this land as cheaply as pos
sible. I do not accuse anyone Of trying
to defraud wilfully. have no doubt tina
Mr. Court was advised, and thorough!
believed, he had a right, as a citizen, tt
use his official information for his owl
benefit