The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-08-13
ENORMOUS FEES AND EXPENSE
ACCOUNTS PAID TO LAW
YERS BY RED MEN.
MILLION ALREADY PAID
Agent for McMurray Among the Ok.
lahoma Tribes Testifics That Money
Was Forced Out Of Indians on
Every Possible Pretest--Estra At.
torneys in Emergencies.

Every Possible Pretest-Estra At.
torneys in Emergencies.
sulphur okla, Aug. 12.-T.hwyers'
expense accounts. running ny nigh Nv
S3OO,d0o. single fee alrchdy paid,
amounting 70. .s750.0o0 and contingent
fees still pan'ling that would aggrc-
gate $5.O00000 figured In the lnvesti-
cation Of the Indian land affairs by the
special committee appointed by the
house Of representatives today II was
pointed out that the Indians never
had secured large amounts OF money
due them without having to "comc
across in the shape Of fees. but al /.
though they employed regular lawyers
on yearly salaries. extra fees were con
stnntly paid for the employ Of special
counsel. The special fee Of $3.50. 900
was paid several years ago to j. r..
McMurray and his law partners after
they had prosecuted what are known
as citizenship cases. which, It IN
stated. kept off the rolls $4,000 claim
ants who wanted to participate In the
claims against the government
BY the winning Of the suit II was
explained that the value Of the prop
erty 10 the Indians who remained on
the rolls was enhanced $4,000, 900, on
a basis OF $4,000 for each of the $4,000
claimants kept off
The sale OF the property and the al
vision Of the proceeds Ii still being
fought for by the Indians. This testi-
mony developed In the examination Of
George i. Scott. Il Choctaw. Scott was
active In securing signatures for the
McMurraX contracts to promote the
approval OF which by congress Senator
7. L. Gore charges that on May hc
was offered IA bribe of s25.ODO ar
$4,000.
Enormous Profits.
McMurrays contracts, Scott testi-
fled. if carried out In their entirety.
would dispose of about $4,000. 900
worth of property, which. on a 10 per
cent attorneys fee" basis, would re-
suit In 91let profit to McMurray ana
his nSsocatcs Of almost $4,000. 900.
This. fee, according to Senator Gore
aud members of the committee who
jnterrogated the'witness. would be paid
Tor services that the government nl-
rendy had promised to give the In
dams without cost Scott also showed
In his testimony that the cost OF en-
ploylng Of McMurray would be in ad-
dition TO $4,000 now paid annually to
regular attorneys Scott's contention
was that the attorneys on the regular
salary were not as active as contingent.
fee attorneys.
Scott appeared after his name fire.
qnently had been mentioned by pre-
vious witnesses. He testified he had
sent kilograms TO Washington urging
the approval of the contracts. He had
been working for McMnfray without
any written or verbal agreement, he
said, as to sharing In the fee and had
Induced many Indians to sign. He
worked IN this respect among the In
tlans despite the opposition OF Green
Mccnrtain. chief Of $4,000 Choctaws.
IN one telegram to Richard A. Adams,
m attorney at Washington, he referred
% Vice President Sherman and Sen
itor Curtis OF Kansas as '.understand-
ng better than any one else what the
Indians wanted"
We're Opposed.
Questioned as 10 what he meant by
saying that. Scott said he understood
Nr. Sherman and Senator Curtis long
had been familiar with Indian affairs, |
and he thought they were the ones to
Do appealed to. Notwithstanding it had
)een shown that both Mr.. Sherman
ma Mr. Curtis had protested against
he 10 per cent fee, They thought II
90 high and unnecessary.
Before becoming connected with Nc
Murray, scott had been treasurer of
HE choctaW nation.
ON cross-examination the witness
said the department of the interior
sometimes had complained concerning
ais method Of cashlng warrants for
money due against the nation. He said
making payments when his authority
Tor SO doing was in dispute.
Did yon ever make any payments
lfter you had received notice from the
department that you were not to do 50
lntil the act authorizing yon to make
such payments had been approved by
he PRESIDENT" asked Representative
:. B. Miller.
Yes, believe | did. but 1t was
when the act itself was In dispute"
Then you admit that you deliberate
y violated the order from the depart
nent?'
i understand that it was the opin-
on OF some of the lawyers that had
he right to make the payments"
Did .you eyer consult a lawyer rs
10 your rights"
u may have"
What lawyer did you consult?"
i don't know"
1T Is probable that you consulted