The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-24
Official of the Indian Ter
ritory Accused of
Wrongdoing.
MANY KINDS OF GRAFT"
Department of Justice Re-
ceives Complaint of In
timidation.

F. Flnis Fox, editor of daily and
weekly newspaper at Ardmore, Indian
Territory has filed with the Attorney
General serious charges against Ben
jamin II. Colbert. United States marshal
for the southern district of the Terri
tory.
The charges include the alleged use of
his position for the furtherance of the
political ambitions of his friends; TAX
ing prisoners out OF Jail in order TO give
them a chance to vote; threatening to
imprison an Indian If he did not vote ac-
cording 20 the marshars directions:
connection with land company engaged
in shady deals with the Indians; contin-
ued neglect OF duty and absence from
the sessions of court and from the Ter
ritory.
Intirnidated Opponents.
The complaint says of Mr.. Colbert:
Soon after his appointment he
took an active interest in the guber-
Material election of the Chickasaw
Nation and used his Office to intimi-
date by force of arms the opponents
of his candidate for governor, and by
false representations induced the
Government of the United States to
use its civil powers in the further
ance OF his political schemes, which
caused not only the expenditure of
a large amount of money, but which
necessitated the taking away. of a
large number of deputy marshals
from their posts of duty.
Colbert is accused of reappointing as
deputy marshal a chiekasaw Indian
named Ben Collins, who had been re-
moved from that position for miscon-
duct in Office. Collins is said to have
expressed pleasure at the news that
President Mckinley had been shot. and
10 have expressed the hope that he
would die. so that Colbert could get a
job An affidavit to this effect is said
to have been on file al the Office OF the
Attorney General at the time of Col
bert's appointment
Made Prisoners Vote.
The charges against Colbert continue:
During said gubernatorial election
he took prisoners out OF the Fed
eral jail and carried them to Oak
land. distance of thirty miles, in
order 10 have them vote for his can
didate for governor He also threat
ened 10 have an Indian put in Jail If
he did not vote like he told him TO.
He is a director of an Indian land
company. whose headquarters are at
Tishomingo. the capital of the Chick
asaw Nation. l have been reliably
informed that for his prestige and in
fuence the stock which he has in said
company was given him as a present
He has gotten the power OF attorney
from Indian convicts TO use In this
company, which is engaged in some
very shady deals in parting the In
dian from his property. This COM
pany, which is known as the Tribal
Development Company" is engaged
In the business OF alloting and leas-
ing Indian lands. They evidently have
pull with the officials of the Chick
asaw land Office. as they experience
none Of the difficulties in having land
allotted 10 their Indians as other In
dians do.
Neglect of Duty.
The marshal is then charged with
continuously absenting himself from
sessions OF the court in order TO attend
TO private business in Texas, Arkansas.
and other States with the result that
witnesses and jurors have frequently
been unable TO get their checks from the
Government undl after several days
delay, causing great inconvenience 10
farmers and others who have driven
long distances TO attend court Also,
private citizen, he is alleged to have
been allowed to use the telegraph at the
Goyrnment rate OF toll The charges
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