The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-04-09
She WEEpS OVER
INDIANS WRONGS
Mrs. Grey's Dramatic Recital Inter-
ests Senators.
A WOMAN NEWSPAPER WRITER,
Went Ont to Investigate Conditions
on the Grow Reservation, Tells n
Narrowing Story-Indians Compelled
TO Eat Diseased Cattle While Whites
Got Their Sheep.


Washington, d. c. Especially -
Mrs. Helen Pierce Grey. the news
paper writer, arrested last summer
because of her connection with the
protests of Crow Indians against the
manner in which the government
agents managed the Crow reserva-
tion in Montana, resumed her state
ment before the Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs. She charged that
to keep from starving the Indians
were compelled to eat the meat OF
diseased cattle and sheep; that they
were frequently thrown into Jail
without cause and kept at the mercy
of the agents; that the children of the
government reservation school we're
mistreated. She stated positively
that all of these things must have
been done with the knowledge OF
some of the officials at Washington.
Another interesting chapter was add
ed also to her account of her own
experiences as an investigator.
That some of the members of the
committee were impressed by the
character of the charges which Mrs.
Grey said we're susceptible of proof
was evident from the character OF
the cross-examination. 1t is not 'un-
likely that a general investigation
will be ordered
Mrs. Grey read from a prepared
statement. 1t developed that she
had made this at the suggestion of
Senator Owen and Senator Clapp,
and that she had conferred with SEN
ator Teller concerning the case.
During her testimony Secretary
Garfield, who was involved in her
sweeping charges, was present Mrs.
Grey was describing her experiences.
and In telling of the six times she
was arrested and of the attempt on
the part of the Indian Agent Rey-
nolds to trump" up a charge of lin
sanity against her." said that Mr..
Garfield, when in Billings, Mont,
told the chief of police that she was
a dangerous blackmailer and ad-
venturer,'
That statement is without any
foundation whatever" declared Mr..
Garfield.
Mrs. Grey responded that the chief
of police would testify to the con-
trary.
Mrs. Grey said that Mr.. Garfield
was in Billings, which place is near
the Crow Reservation, while many OF
the indignities against her had been
committed and could not have been
ignorant of what was goin on. She
said that Indians were constantly
rnistreated, and that when they we're
thrown into jail that act constituted
the whole legal procedure; that no
charges were brought and the time
of incarnation depended upon the will
of the Indian agent. In her own
case, she declared that charges were
brought against her on the sixth ar
rest
Previous to that proceeding she
was put in Jail. over night and that
ended the matter. On one occasion
she said that Agent Reynolds had
threatened to incarcerate her with
an Indian, but that the feeling was
such that he had not dared to carry
out his purpose.
Passing on to the alleged misman-
agement of Indian affairs, Mrs. Grey
said 1t was current report that SEN
ator Carter was part owner of
Charles Bears sheep. She had testi-
fed previously that Bear, through
influences with the agent, had pas
tured about 125, 900 sheep on the
reservation while paying for $4,000
head.
why do you not investigate this
matter before bringing such charges
against Senator Carter?" asked SEN
ator Dixon.
How far would you have me GOT"
demanded Mrs. Grey; II was arrest
ed six times for making investiga-
tions.'
Mrs. Grey said that while Mr.. Dali
by, former secretary to Mr.. Garfield,
was investigating the conditions ON
the reservation he had been told at
one of the Indian councils at Gordon
that the Indians knew they were eat
ing lumpy-jaw cattle and sheep that
had died of disease. but that it was
"either eat that or starve."
Mrs. Grey broke down in reciting
the alleged wrongs perpetrated upon
the Indians, and with a voice trem-
bling with emotion she almost sob
bed:
"Sheep that die by disease is what
the Indians get. The white man gets
their land and live sheep"