Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-01
DAWES BOARD ACCUSED
The Delaware Indians Counsel Makes
Sensational Charges.
AN ALLEGED INTEREST IN LEASES.
The Secretary Of the Interior Is Charged Win
Unlawful Acts to Defraud the Indians, Such
As That Of Encouraging White Gen Who
Have Married Squaw Wives to Make Claim
to Delaware Lands.

Washington, D. c. (SpeciaD. Jus
ticc Anderson, OF the Supreme Court
OF the District OF Columbia, gave an
opinion in the injunction proceedings
of the Delaware Indians against Sec
retary Hitchcock and the Dawes Indian
Commission, dissolving the temporary
injunction heretofore granted.
The case involved the right of the
Secretary to pass on the $4,000 acres
Of land in the Cherokee Nation segrc-
gated for the use of the Delawares.
The Indians claimed that the Secretary
is witho..: authority to approve or dis
approve OF the segregation, as it had
been approved by the Indians inter
ested, and asked that he be enjolned
against taking such action pending the
adjudication Of the same question by
the Court of Claims.
Soon after the case was filed the
court granted temporary injunction,
but Judge Anderson dissolved it. Alter
the decision was rendered Attorney
Walter S. Logan filed a petition IN the
Court OF Claims on behalf Of the Della
wares against the United States, ask
ing that damages be awarded in the
sum Of 100000 because OF the ex-
pcnses to which the Indians have been
subjected bv the necessity OF defending
title to their lands In this petition
they make some sensational statements.
One OF these accusations is that mem
bers OF the Dawes commission are IN
tereSted in oil leases and companies
holding leases made upon their lands by
Cherokees claiming title. Mentioning
the members OF the commission by
name, the petition alleges that, not
withstanding the lands have been prop
erly segregated, the Dawes comms-
sion, disregarding their official duties
as agents OF the United States toward
your petitioners, have conspircd and
coniederatcd and are conspiring and
coniedcratng together, and together
with the said companies to cheat and
deiraud your petitioners SO as to gam
possession OF their lands for themselves
or for their said companies, under pre-
tense OF allotting said lands, in their
official capacity as SAID Dawes COM
mission, 10 divers persons who are
willing to enter into contracts OF lease
and sale with representatives OF SAID
trust and land companies i'll which the
members OF said Dawes commission
are interested. and said Dawes COM
mission and the members thereof have
thus wrongiully allowed, and alter the
making of said segregation, as herein
before referred TO, continue to allow
filings to be made upon parts OF the
lands OF your petitioners, so segregated
as aforesaid, and over which said COM
mission has ceased legally to have any
further jurisdiction or control, but are
wrongiully assuming the same, and
said Dawes commission and the mem
bers thereof have thus wrongtully alter
said segregation was made alloTei
more than POO persons, not DelawarcS
to make selections Tor homes upon
parts OF the said Delaware lands So
segregated as aforesaid, and have al
lowed such persons to file applications
Tor alotments thereon, and have sought
BY recommendations contained IN their
reports of April 20, 1908, to the Secre,
tary Of the Interior to cause steps to
e taken to prevent the Supreme Court
OF the United States from rendering
such judgment in the cause now pend
ing therein as would confirm in your
petitioners the title to said $4,000 acres
SO segregated as aforesaid