The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-07-06
Indian Territory Investi ga
ton all a Big Bluff and
will be Dropped.
WRIGHT and MURPHY
Make up with the Accused and all
are Brothers Again-News.
papers to Blame--Looks
Like Big Whitewash.

1t is said that Inspector Wright
and Mr.. Murphy, attorne ey for the
Creek Indians, came to Washing
ton with an assortment of charges
and affidavits against a number OF
parties in the government employ
in the Indian territory, and laid
them before Secretary Hitchcock.
Their first FIRE was directed against
Clarence Douglas, employed at
the Union agency. As coon as
Secretary Hitchcock read the
charges he ordered Douglas sum.
marily dismissed, without giving
him a hearing or paying any at
tention to the protest of Chief
Pleasant Porter and other intuen-
tial Creek citizens. It is said that
they also presented sworn charges
against Agent Schoenfelt, and the
secretary had made up his mind
TO bounce him in the same inform
al manner as Douglas. He was
persuaded, however, to suspend
summary action In his case and to
order him to Washington to an.
swer charges. II Is now believed
that the secretary has reconsider
ed, the matter and that Mr..
SchoenieIt will not be investigat-
4 81. Moreover, it is stated that
the department regrets its haste in
the Douglas case, and department
officials think a mistake was made
IN discharging him. Before leav.
ing Washington, il Is said, Inspec.
tor Wright reversed himself COM
plelely. There was no suspicion
that the newspapers would gel
hold Of the matter and disclose the
identity OF the parties who were
making the charges. thus stirring
up the resentment Of the parties
incriminated. The secretary. il Is
said, was very angry on discover
ing that so much had been print.
ed In the face Of the secrecy Oh.
served by himself. 1t was report
ed that Mr.. Murpy FASTENED back
to the territory On finding that bis
mission here bad not been kept
confidential and on arriving home
is said to have teleRraphed to In.
spec.or Wright something TO ibis
effect: "There Is bad luck in the
interior department; tell the sec-|
rstary to stop H."
The secretary could only get
angry, but Of course, was power
less TO control the action Of the
newspaper men. Mr.. Wright
tried, il is said, to calm the troub-
led waters as much as was in his
power, and, instead OF urging
further action on the charges. as
be expected to do, told certain
officials that be would not believe
the parties under oGth who had
made the afiidavits.
Il now seems to be the policy to
make ;lignt Of the whole matter
and, as already stated 10 these
dispatches, to dismiss The scandal
as not worthy Of attention.
Murphy, i, is claimed. INDUCED
in heroics, until someone pointed
out the clause in The contract with
the Creeks providing that Chief
Porter had the power to discharge
him without explahation, when be
concluded TO 20 back to the ter.
ritory and explain tbings, leaving
Mr.. Wright here / 8 stop leaks. All
This is part OF the current talk.
Surprise lie expressed that Secre-
tary Hitchcock came round to the
view that there was nothing to in
vestigate, after making sweeping
arrangements 20 get to the bottom /
Of the reported corruption.
The secretarys personal bor or
is not impugned by this unexpeci.