The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-15
SERIOUS CHARGES
More Indian Land Affairs Are
Unearthed
On the POttaWatomie and Ne
maha Reservations.
A DEAD WOMAN ALIVE.
Administrator Appointed in
Shady Manner.
Investigations Involve PrOmi.
nent kansans.


statement from S. M. Brosius, secretary
of the Indian Rights association of
Philadelphia under Parsons date line.
Mr.. Brosius has been in Parsons sew
eral days compiling the results of an
investigation recently made of the af-
fairs of the Pottawatomie and Great
Nemaha reservation in Brown and
Jackson counties. Mr.. Brosius says:
Prom review of the whole situation
it seems clear that no particular effort
was made by the recent government
inspection to show that the charges
were true in substance.
ITO show how the Indians are har-
assed by congressman, by Indian
agents, by politicians and conniving
land sharks, L cite the case of Mrs.
Elizabeth Samuels, widow, a Kickapoo
allottee under the act of 1862. Widow
| SamuelS owns one hundred and sixty
acres in her own right and has success
fully managed the land for several
years, showing ability to cope with the
responsibilities attending holders of
property. This woman in addition holds
a trust deed from Uncle Sam for
forty acre tract which she has been
managing.
"A lease of this 40 acres made by Mrs.
| SamuelS to NJ A. Low. expired March
1, 1902. and she refused to renew the
contract of lease. and with her work.
| the land. Ten days afterward Lows
agents cut down the gates and took
! possession, it is presumed, under color
of right lessee has to possession until
/ legal notice has been served TO quit the
premises, under state laws. In the
meanGDne, Agent Honnen exhausted
every effort to secure lease from the
widow, for Low. without success. Low
then sought to buy the property, but o.
G. Duff entered into a contract of pur-
chase raising Lows offer $3.50. Duff's
contract is now awaiting the approval
of the secretary of the interior.
| Congressman Curtis in Lows behalf,
/ it is alleged and not denied, has entered
| the arena and asks the Indian depart
ment to delay approval of the deed to
Duff. Mrs. Samuels states positively
| that she has never recognized Agent
Honnell in any way in leasing the land,
although he importuned and harassed
1 her continuously. The land being held
in trust by the government it would
seem that Low committed trespass in
! cutting down the gates and taking pos
session, as the property is not subject
4 to state laws. The browning act of this
oppression remains to be told Mrs
/ Samuels was stricken down with dis
ease and while belfast. and proba-
bility that she might not recover, E. I.
Letson bent upon being first at the
/ feast and upon securing possession OF
her property, applied for and was grant
ed letters of administration upon her es-
!
sas, representing that she had died in
testate.
'Letson gave bond in the sum of ST.
! 500 to administer her estate of So. 400, for
which a requisite bond at double the
appraised value would amount to $751;
Mrs. Samuels was never very sick
at any time, but relying on her lgnor-
ance of law Letson used her slight ILL
ness to secure letters of administration.
hoping to use them to get possession or
the land. But when the woman finally
/ recovered and the deed of LetsOn dis
covered he lost his nerve and asked the
probate judge of the county to nullify
the papers. At the investigation Agent
Honnell was asked why he had made
affidavit that the woman was dead, and
| he said he had done so on the represen-
/ tations of I.stson.
while Mrs Samuels rather enjoys
| the notoriety of being raised from the
dead, decent people will wonder what
devilment these cOrmOrantS will con-
coct next
Altogether much good has resulted
1 from the exposure at Pottawatomie and
Great Nemaha agency, and under the
care of Supt. Edwards it is believed
that an honest administration will re-
suit at the Kickapoo reservation.
| EDITOR ANTHONY'S COMMENT.
THE Times has said that the investi-
cation of the charges brought against
Agent w. r. Honnel Of the Pottawa-
tonne and Great Nemaha reservation,
in Brown and Jackson counties was
white wash affair: that it was made in
the interest of the agent; that every
| thing pointed to the fact that the in
! spector had done more to protect the
agent and the band of political land
1 pirates than he did toward looking up
the crimes which they had committed.
THE Times has also said that an in
vestigation would show that big men,
who stand high in the party in Kansas,
business men as well as politicians,
were interested in the efforts to get the
land of the Indians from them for little
or nothing.
In another column will be found an
| interview with S. NJ. BrOSiuS, secretary
of the Indian Rights association, prov
ing the truth of the assertions which
have been made upon numerous occa-
| sions
MIR. Brosius plainly says that the So
called investigation was really a farce.
so far an inquiry into the direct
| charges made against Honnell was con-
cerned. He was whitewashed on the
specific charges but was so guilty of
ether misdeeds that even the Inspector
did not dare to cover them uD, and he
was accordingly let out as agent.
Thus is the Times statement backed
up by one who has carefully investi-
gated the conditions on this reservation
within the past month.
( Secretary Brosius proves the other
statement by showing that railroad at
torneys are not above getting something
for nothing when they can. They are
after Indian land along with the other
big guns.
"Brosius shows to what extremes
these land-grabbers Will 60 The owner
of the land wanted by the attorney. a
Mrs Samuels, was sick So sure were
these men that she would die whether
or 10 that they had an administrator
appointed for her estate The probate
! Judge allowed this administrator. E. T.
| Lesion, to give a bond of $500 on an
estate which was shown be worth
IS. 400.
But the worst of it was that the
woman did not die. She was never
verv sick. and thus the spectacle was
presented of the probate court of Atch-