The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-22
CLEAN SWEEP FOR GRAFTERS.
HITCHCOCK TO TURN OUT A LOT
or THEN.
Large Tracts OF Land Belonging % the
Creek Nation. Including Valuable
TOwnsltes. Procured by Fraud Some
Civilized Indians Among the Grnfters.

Large Tracts OF Lanu belonging 10 inc
Creek Nation. Including Valuable
TOwnsltes. Procured by Fraud Some
Civilized" Indians Among the Grnfters.
WASHINGTON, Dec. also incensed have
the Government authorities become over
the malodorous condition OF affairs in Indian
Territory, resulting from scandal after
scandal involving graft" and plenty
Of IL, that there is a probability that Secre-
tary Of the Interior Hitchcock will make
a clean sweep in reorganizing the Govern
ment personnel in the Territory. The
statement il made on the authority OF a
high officer OF the Department that Indian
Territory harbors, in addition to many
honest people, the most ingenious band OF
grafters ever organized.
Loot is the w~atchword Of these brigands, :
said the official. They consider it per-
fectly proper to rob the Indians Of their
lands and their money and have conceived
the idea that the Indian tribes were made
TO prey upon. Inscriptions palefaces
are not the only offenders. Certain civilized
Indians have violated the moral laws as
well az the laws of the land
The latest scandal TO he disclosed In
Indian Territory is that involving valuabl
tracts of land belonging TO the Creek Nation.
To-day William Dudley Foulke, special
investigator sent TO the Territory by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to investigate charges
made, submitted his report to Secretary
Hitchcock. II discloses that a little coterie
in Muskogee and other towns of the Terri
tory have come into possession through
fraud of valuable town sites and town
lots. Whether Government officials are
involved cannot be learned for a certainty.
This significant statement was made by
an Official at the Interior Department:
Unfortunately the statute OF limitations
will apply in these cases. The offences
were committed more than three years
ago
The charge was made, and il is substan-
tiated in the report of Mr.. Foulke, hat the
frauds committed in connection with the
Creek lands were planned and executed
about as follows:
Under the law governing the disposal
Of the Creek lands, town sites covering
an area Of four acres may be procured by
individuals Z they desire to erect a home
and business houses on such tracts. The
law prohibits an individual from acquiring
more than one site or lot: Through "a
method of fraudulent scheduling a number
of persons, among them whites and civil
lized" Indians, secured town lots aggre-
eating in value something like IS 600, 900
or g. 1000. 900. A better idea of values in
the Territory il given in the assertion.
made upon the authority of a Department
officer, that certain tracts in Muskogee
are worth $500 a front foot. The grafters,
il il asserted, were enabled 10 get lam
to which they were not entitled under the
law by employing dummy purchasers,
who transferred title after the deal was
closed. IL is asserted that certain officials
in the Territory, or at least corporations
with which they are connected, are in
possession of Creek lands that were secured
through fraud.
II Is the purpose of the Department
officers to continue the investigation that
was started by Mr.. Foulke. Marshall ia.
Mott, attorney for the Creeks, WIS in con-
ference with Secretary Hitchcock, Indkau
Commissioned Leupp and Mr.. Foulke to-
day. In the extended investigation Mr..
Mott will be in charge OF the interests both
OF the Government and the Creek Nation.
III it il found upon further inquiry that the
statutes Of limitation do not apply criminal
proceedings will he instituted.
A few days ago Tams Bixby. commits
sioner in charge OF the Five Civilized Tribes,
was summoned to Washington TO tell what
he knew OF the townsite scandal. Mr.. Bixby
put in an appearance this afternoon. de
win nave an opportunity to ex0lain certain
OF the transactions in the Territory that
were brought 70 the attention OF Secretary
Hitchcock by Mr.. Foulke aud Mr.. Mott,
There ia reason 10 believe that Mr.. Bixby
will soon resign his office.
Special Investigator FOulke to-day re-
fused 10 discuss his work in the Territory
in its relation TO the scandal or to tell what
his report to Secretary Hitchcock con-
tanned, but he was perfectly willing 10 talk
about some Of his experiences in the Indian
TERRITORY.
investigators got a warm reception
down there" he said. -On my arrival in
the Territory a number of narrowing tales
were related in my presence for my special
benefit. One story was told OF how a
Government Investigator after a few
weeks in Muscogee had gone crazy from
overwork and worry. Another was slugged
and mysteriously disappeared. Still
another was threatened and he also dis
appeared
when they see an investigator coming
continued Mr.. Foulke, they just laugh.
Down there il IL called the horse laugh
/ got It,. All investigators who go there
get it,"
Mr.. Foulke minated that all sorts OF
obstacles are placed in the way OF those
who are sent TO the Territory TO find out
facts concerning charges of fraud in Indian
matters, charges that come to Washington
nearly every day in the week.
Heroic measures will undoubtedly be
taken by Secretary Hitchcock TO bring TO
an end the canda that have developed
in connection with the affairs OF the Five
Civilized Tribes.