The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-20


should Intervene in Defence OF the
Country's Helpless Wards.
SUlpur, Okla, Aug. 15.-Details of a
scheme. by which land grabbers or
sanized Systematically to enrich them
selves at the expense Of minor In
dians, were related at the Congress
slonal investigation into Indian land
affairs today.
In one instance it was asserted the
cost of disposing of the property of
an lS-year-old Indian was $2,O75 more
than the property brought, and the
condition which permitted this ani
similar deals was declared to be a
disgrace to Oklahoma.
Hearing that the scheme prevailed
Representative Philip p. Campbell. of
Kansas, member Of the investigat-
ing committee, had put on the stand
James Marlborough, a Chickasaw In
dian by intermarriage.
do you call this sort of thing
grating or just plain stealing?" ask
ed Mr. Campbell after the witness
had related the circumstances.
We'll, the people down our way
think it is a scandal that the laws
permit such a thing, and we think it
is time that Congress took notice of
it,"
Several Deals Detailed.
The Probate Court at Durant allow
ed the guardian to sell for s2,SO0 a
tract Of 140 acres, Of what is known
as allotted land, owned by an 49,
year-oll child. The guardian then
put in a claim on the proceedings.
The claim included $3.50 for acting
as guardian, $3.50 for improving
the land, $500 for barn. $50 for
posts. $3.50 for fences, $6S for witness
fees and more money for other pur-
poses. 1t was found when the deal
was closed that the child owed his
former guardian $2,O75, and now the
guardian is threatening TO have. the
property Of the china sold In order to
get the $2.075.
Il know of another case in which
$50 acres were sold for an Indian
child, and when all the claims were
paid the child got $3.50. In another
instance, $500 was obtained for 200
acres, but the child only got S12O. In
other words, the children of deceas-
ed Indians in this State, where are
located One-third of all the Indians
IN the United States, are systematical-
~ being robbed of the estates aIlot-
ted them by the Government. The
property is sold at prices dictated bv
the land robbers. The children are
robbed at both ends. At one end
by their guardians and at the other
by the purchasers"
Probate Courts Acauiescent
do you mean to say that such
things are countenanced by the Pro-
bate Courts?"
Yes, they go on with full know
ledge of the Judges. Thousands of
acres of property are thus aiken from
the Indians and thrown into the
hands Of white people. the Indians
getting poorer and the land grabbers
richer"
Most of today's testimony was Civ
en- by witnesses for the defence. ].
T. McNurray, whose ten thousand
contracts allowing him a ten per cent
attorneys fee for the sale for the
thirty million dollars worth of In
dian land caused the present investi-
cation, sought to show that a large
percentage of the signers were still
in favor of his terms A dozen Chick
asaw Indians testified they were will
ling to increase the fee if it would
result in the prompt sale of allotted
lands held in trust by the Govern
ment.
Another "ContTactOr" Appears.
Thomas B. Crews. an attorney Of
st. Louis, testified he had contracts
with 700 freed men or negroes. who
claim Indian blood. or claim to be
descendants of former slaves Of In
dians. These freed men assert they
were wrongfully kept off the citizen
ship rolls. On the basis of his con-
tracts, Mr.. Crews said ne would be
allowed at 81 per cent attorneys fee.
\ citizenship right s estimated to he
worth $4,000. Tho 90 claimants. if
successful in litigation. it was said.
would acquire a claim on the Gov
ernment Of about s3,5OO.OOO. The at