The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-04-29
IN REGARD TO coNvEYANcEs OF
DEAD INDIAN LANDS.
FRANK LEWIS CASE APPROVED
Handled BY Richard Lester Practically
settled and Lewis viii Receive
Deeds Under certain Con.
diticns.

News has been received In this city
by Richard VI. Lester an attorney an.
nouncing the fact that the deeds made
by Houston and Ida Tccum sch. Choc.
taw Indians. as heirs at law Of the
deceased Choctaw Indian Baker Te.
cumseh, 10 a white man. Frank Lewis.
would be upon certain conditions ap-
proved. The first opinion relating to
this matter was against establishing
the validity of the deeds and at the
time created considerable interest iu
this section Of the country. The mat
ter was carried to the Secretary Of
the Interior on the sole ground Of
equity and equity has been establish.
ed. The point involved was the con
struction Of the Curtis act Of 1896 re-
garding the deciding Of the allotments
Of dead Indian The point was
novel one and also important
Houston Tecum seh and Ida Tecum.
sch are two Choctaw Indians OF the
full blood and heirs OF Baker Tecum-
sch The administrator Of the estate
OF Baker Tecumseh filed on certain
lands as tho allotment Of the dead
Indian Baker Tecumseh. all the heirs
sold their claim to one Frank Lewis, a
white man and merchant Of Shady
PoiGt. |. r. Lewis in payment for the
allotment Of the dead Indian paid the
um Of $3.50 but did not receive a
deed therefor at the time the money
was paid, which was prior TO the en-.
actment of the Curtis act of 1906.
Subsequent to the enactment OF the
last Curtis bill the attorney for Lewis
took the matter up with the Indian
inspector. who held that the matter
came within the provisions cf the act
of April 26, 1906. Mr. Lester, then
took the matter up with the Secre
tary Of the Interior who referred 1t
back 10 the Indian Inspector. Sunday
morning Mr.. Lester received letter
from J. George Wright, In niian Inspec.
tor stating that II Mr.. Lewis would
pay an additional sum Of 5000 true
value of the land as appraised by the
inspectors office. the deeds would be
approved. The two Indians. Ida Te.
cumsoh and Houston Tecumseh acted
in good faith and have always been
willing to carry out their part Of the
contract as entered into between them
and Lewis and when the first ruling
Of the Indian Inspectors office was
made were to certain extent sur
prised, as they desired that right ard
equity prevail
The question decided .and involved
was that the heirs being full blood In
dians. and having been paid in full
for the allotment of said deceased
person prior 70 the act OF April 26
1906, il their deed ma le subsequent 10
the passage OF said act TO rein burse
the purchaser would have TO be ap-
proved by the Secretary OF the Inter T.
ior in conformity with section % OF I
said act Of congress approved April |
26, 1906. which provides: THAT the |
adult heirs Of any deceased Indian OF |
either OF the five civilized tribes whose
allotment has been made. or TO whom
a deed or patent has been issued for
his or her share OF land Of the tribe
TO which he or she belongs or belong.
ed, may sell or convey the lands in.
lerited from such deceased. All con.
'eyances made under this provision
jy the heirs who are full blood In.
liahs are TO be subject TO the approy
Il OF the Secretary OF Interior"