Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-11

for nght1ng the taXatlOH Oi TIC 1huidHs
WAS Robbers Roost the headquarters
Of McMurray's agent?" asked Congress
man c. B. Miller.
II don't know" replied Godfrey. 1T
was where a man named Bates lived
Bates arranged with me to go to the In.
dams meeting and get the contracts
signed
McAlester, Okla, Aug. 10.-Six hundred
Indians assembled at war council a,
Sulphur Okla, and, using up almost ar
entire bottle Of ink, wrote their sigma
lures individually to the McMurray land
contracts.
Although Informed that ]. F. McMur.
ray, holder of the contracts, would net
a profit of from $2OOO.00O to 100000 In
attorneys fees, the Indians were advised
that the contracts afforded the quickest
way to realize on their land, estimated
to be 100000 acres in extent and valued
at from $sO.OOO,OOO to $4O.0OO,0OO In add,
ton to the land contracts, McMurray's
agents had the Indians sign contracts
for tax cases against the government al
a stated fee for each case. The land fee
was 10 per cent, contingent upon the
sale of the land.
James H. Godfrey. Chickasaw by in
termarriage, gave this testimony before
the congressional investigating commit
tee today:
Godfrey said he induced the Indians
to assemble at Sulphu to persuade
them to sign the contracts, almost TO-.
900 of which McMurray previously had
secured.
McMurray, he said, had been success
full in previous litigation for the In
iians and the Indians believed that il
they paid him 10 per cent. attorneys
fees. he would be able to urge the au-
thorities at Washington to expedite the
sale
do you mean to say that you told
the Indians it would be bargain to
pay McMurray several million dollars
to 10 something which the government
already has promised to do?" asked
Senator Gore
Eyes. we thought it would be a bar
gain for the government had not done
anything"
The witness said in securing the tax
contracts McMurray allowed himself 81
head He said also part of his eX-
penses were paid.
Who paid your expenses to GO to
the meeting at Sulphur"
"A man named Bates gave me S.. He
lives in Robbers Roost, Okla
WAS Robbers Roost the headquar
ters Of McMurray's agents."
II cont know"
Congressman Mcguire has previous
ly figured in the investigation. Senator
Gore said Hamon had mentioned him
as being interested" in the contracts.
On the stand Mr.. MCGUIRE denied
there was any ground for the charge.
Congressman C. E. Creager testified
again today He answered lannon's as
sertion that he solicited sums OF
money from McMurray. On one occa-
sion he said he asked McMurray to
lend him $1,000. but McMurray had
questioned the propriety of the loan
and the. subject was dropped.
John H. Shepherd, formerly a special
assistant in the department of the in
terror. testified that Senator Charles
Curtis of Kansas and Vice President
Sherman opposed the 10 per cent. fee.
Hamon testified again today and as
serted IIlaC at Une time senator bOTt
accused him of working for McMur
ray he was in Washington in the in
terest of c. n. Haskell, governor OF
Oklahoma. He said Gov. Haskell had
paid his expenses and was to pay him
a fee for services connected with the
governors Indictment in the Muskogee
town lot cases.
Governor Haskell several days ago
denied he had employed Hamon. DR..
E. n. Wright tonight made the fol-
lowing statement:
1.-THE only conversation l ever had
with Mr.. Adams was in company with
Peter Hudson, my fellow delegate.
These conversations related to the
question of the re-opening of the rolls,
which we opposed. We had no relation
Whatever with Mr.. Adams in regard to
the McMurray contracts.
I can't believe that Mr.. Adams made
any such statement as attributed by
Mr.. Carter. We have consistently OPP
posed these contracts AS delegates we
were instructed by our counsel to OPP
pose them and our opposition is well
known to the authorities at Washing
ton"
The committee will go to Sulphur,
Okla. tomorrow.