The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-05-22
ELI AYERS CASE.
ieksss~ Nation Wins in This Fam
3us Case Which Has Been Pend
ina Before Congress and the
Departments.

Messrs Mansfield. McMurray 4
Irnish have received advice thar
court ~ claims has rendered a Dc.
slon in The case " III Ayers W. the
llckasaw nation and the United
atos.
This 90 one % the most Interesting
a well known cases which this
m has handled for the tribes before
o. courts al Washington. The de-
sion 81 the court is sweeping ana
mplete and is 90 favor q the Chick.
aw nation and against the claimant.
Ayers
The claim arose before the birth oi
any people nua living and has been
nding before congress and tho Do
rtments a' Washington for tWo or
REQ generations
When the Cr.ckasaVs disposed Of
cir lands under tho treaty % 1855
rtain Of them we're given individual
seryatlons 2lfh the right of sale uu.
r certain resriotions After the 70
oval % 'he tribe 90 Indian Terri
yin 1887 .coriaI nerterprising land
eculators Including hi Ayers con
uded that there we're several hun.
cd ChlckasaVs vhp had previously
Migrated 10 this country with the
lociavs and who we're entitled 20
dlvldual reservations In Mississippi
lcse land spectators Induced Ger
IN chiefs and head men Of the Chick.
aw nation 10 make up a roll and az
rwaris Induced those In charge ~
land orice IN Mississippi 10 set
iart reservation upon these rolls
yers and others Immediately pur
,ased the right Of these alleged In
ans ~ these reservations and de-
anded possession
Rumor Of the frauds involved in
ese transactions reached Washing
and a special inspector was sent
to this country to Investigate them.
ais Inspector was Major Armstrong
ho was the father vi Col Frank &.
rmstrOng who wa. member OF the
iwes Commission from 1894 TO 1897
called the Indians together In
hat Is known as the "Boggy Depot
uncil which was held about fifteen
lies northwest of Atoka In lSil
ais council held that the persons.
hose names were placed on these
lis. were not Indians and that they
1re not entitled ~ reservations: and
at the setting apart Of lands for them
Mississippi was Illegal Thereupon
attempted enrolment and the at.
mpted reservations were cancelled
d the lands disposed OF as provided
the treaty.
Thereupon. Ell Ayers and others
soclated with him. claiming that
ey had paid out vast sums OF mon
to these alleged Indians. appealed
congress for relief and all who ara
miliar with Chickasaw affairs as
esented To congress- and the depart.
,nts at Washington are familiar
IN the claim known as the Eli Ay.
claim.
When Mansfield McMurray a Cor.
III were first employed In 1899.
~ found this claim still pending
fore congress and they have sue
,ded In defeating It from session to
'sion until two years ago congress
" III, In order that the whole mat.
might be ended for an time to
ne. TO direct the court OF claims
examine the claim and render fin
decision upon II.
rhe suit was Instituted In the win.
OF 1905. Early in April. 1905, the
'e was argued before the court Of
Inns by Mr. Cornish Of the firm
| submitted. Later on, the court
led for additional argument and It
again argued Jointly by Mr
-nish. representing the nation. and
Hon. John q Thompson. special
orney for the department OF JUS
p, on last 'uary.
he court has Just now reached
final decision. the concluding par.
aph Of which Is as follows:
That the claimant. Hi Ayers fail
to acquire a legal or equitable title
any OF the lands In question. and
re IL nothing In the proceedings
show that be- Is entitled TO REIN.
sement either IRON the United
ties or from the Choctaw nation
the ntInmni 10 nnrchnsn thn lnnhs |