The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-10-28
INDIANS AND NEGROES
BEING RUTHLESSLY ROBBED

tie then made hustle to the United states
land once and filed The lease only
shor, time after the furmer had invos-
tigsted the records to satisfy himself
that there was no lease on the ground
The next day The farmer went 20 the
cour house and pu his deed on record,
not dcoming Il necessary to again in
vetsigslte 70 see if lease was staud-
ing against the land.
lie had his famHy at hotel at con-
siderable expense. and The day after bus
ing the land, started to move them upon
the farm when he was informed that
the ground was leased for ave years and
that he could not have possession until
the end of that time. The CRATER who
held the lease was ohduraie, and told
the fal1ucr that before he could move
upon his farm he must pay him $500
/ for the lease. IL was us 10 the pur-
chaser. not knowing the dark tricks OF
the professional land CRATER, 10 either
put up the money or to move his family
back to the sa,tes and remain out OF
possession Of his land for ive years 10
paid the sLsoo. 1t is understood that
certain hand sharks have men posted in
different localities TO look out for such
opport4nivies as this, and prospective
settl.r have been held up in sums
lIaugag nom siOo to the amount paid by
the farmer already mentioned
Instnnces come to light occasionally
where grafters fleece other grafters. A
young lawyer OF real estate man who is
engaged in shady practices, hears Of
some freedman who has been aeeced
hv Il land shark He goes to the negro
ana offers to assist MIN IN getting some
. OF the money BACK Ticking the negro
with him he goes 10 The once Of the
6 Iaud uiar who has originally grated the
negro. and tens him that II he does not
I pay back part OF the money 10 the me-
gro he win expose the fraud and have
hi marrested The land man, rather
, than tc face such "a charge. gives back
, part OF the money. and the lawyer pays
The negro a small amount and keeps the
Il major portion for his fee Reputable
d iland men say that the land grafters are
continually being bed in tins way 'na
IS that ihey pay rather than to snnN ex-
/. posure
d A favorlte means Of grating NEGROES
r. islto buy portion OF their land, say
e forty ncfes. and have ,he deed made out
y with a clause conveying the remaiidng
e eighty acres for the same consideration
" Tho freedmun signs the deed witl'ou
, looking at IT, under the impression thai
n he is merely selling forty acres. IL
,f receives pay for only that amount o.
s. land
in These are only few Of the tricks tha
are turned 10 separate the guilible no
Is groes aud Indians from their Land an'
s their money, and they are worked wiz
iii boldness shat startles honest people
a Heretofore the prosecuting officers Q
We the United States governments in the Ter
: fitory have been SO crowded with cri"
an lnal business Of the more common TYP
.is that they have had no time 10 go afte
ly the land sharks. However Distric, Az
d. torney MeIlette has started out aits
rs. this class Of criminals, and has So.
or precedent that may be followed up wit
he good results n other sections Of tn
ga territory.
.c- II IS encouraging TO note that som
90 Of the biggest land buyers in lne-'
ch TERRITORY and most Of ;he real estai
No firms OF financial standing, pursue s'rie
az ly honest methods inc buying and seilh
n- lands. There are, however, few hiA
mt firms and number Of curbstone oea
to ers IN me terri,ory who arc out 70 hee'
irs The indi1ns and negroes in any way TO
See sf1le. audi 10 IS this class of people tn
ld ;hc fsaeral government Is after.