The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-09-17
HFTCHCO(K'S
Ferrets Will Soon Be
gin Work in Indian
Territory.

Washington, Sept. i7.-1t is eald at
the Interior department that there will
be no delay in starting the Indian ter
ritory investigation and that Charles
j. bonaparte OF Baltimore will take up
that work early next week. II Is un-
derstood that Mr. Bonaparte will be as
sisted By Inspector S. f. OFallon and
possibly by Or. George Bird Grinnell.
editor OF Forest and Stream. II was
said yesterday that Inspector Frank
Churchill would be one OF those detail
10 assist Mr.. Bonaparte. but his selec-
ton may be countermanded, owing to
report that Mr.. Churchill is himself
under charges It was said today that
charges have been filed with Secretary
Hitchcock to the effect that I'm pur-
chasing the improvements on land set
aside for a government reservation at
sulphur Springs. Chickasaw nation.
Mr.. Churchill who was in full charge
Of that work, had some of the most
desirable property set aside for himself
and that this fact has been used as the
basis for the allegation that he was
involved in Irregularities that should
have been investigated. s.,
The report concerning these charges
could not be confirmed at the Interior
department as none of the officials
there would discuss it. Mr. Churchill
has the confidence of Secretary Hitchv
cock and the fact that he has been se-
lected as one of Mr. Bonaparte's assis-
tants would indicate that IL charges
have been made against him they are
discredited by the secretary. II is
likely however, that the critissm Of
Mr.. Churehins selection may lead Mr.
Hitchcock TO substitute some other in
spector, as it is clearly his intention
TO have the investigation placed In the
hands OF men in whom the President
and the public have the fullest con-
fidence. O'Fallon has been ir. Indian
service only a few months. He is a
Missourian and has served in the Mis-
souri, state senate.
Postal Inspectors Might Help.
Dr. Grlnnell would undoubtedly rem
der valuable assistance. He mas had
considerable experience In the investi-
cation of scandals on Indian reserva :
tons About year ego az the request
OF President Rooseveit, he disclosed the
facts in connection with an attempt
that was made to defraud the Standing
Rock Souix in the leasing of 400, 600
acres of iands belonging to those IN
dfans and thus saved them their homes
and prevented cattle men from get
ting possession of their lands. DR..
Grinnel has hadfan experience Of many
years among the Indians and for some
time he lived among the Blackfeet OF
Montana He has reputation for un-
err.ns judgment and. in the opinion OF
ofhcials here, his name would add vast
ly to the weight of authority i'm the
report Mr. Bonaparte will make on the
situation in the Indian territory.
The suggestion has been made that in
view Of Mr.. Bristow's success in run-
ming down bribe takers and other
'grafters" in the Postofice department
with his force OF trained inspectors.
some Of Mr.. Bristow's men be detailed
10 assist Mr.. Bonaparte in exposing
graft" in the Indian territory It was
pointed out that Inspectors Mayors
and FOsnes. who developed the irregul-
aritles in the Machen case. would be
valuable addition to Mr.. Bonaparte's
force.
Especially is Inspector Fosnes well
equipped for the Indian territory work,
as he has had experience In scandals
connected with the Indian service and
the general land office. There Is a
growing belief among officials in Wash
ington that the investigation in the
Indian territory will develop scandals
even more sensational than those
brought 70 light by the postal investi-
CATION That the public is keenly in
terested In the Indian territory situa-
tion and that it expects results from
Mr.. B0napartes investigation Is shown
by the editorials and other articles
that are appearing in newspapers and