The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-16
WERE HOvER|H6
LIKE VUITURES
Gore Committee Wants Is Find
Out Law Firms In
teresteG
INDIANS WERE ROBBED
Instance Shown Wherein Fees
Were Twice as Mucn as Total
Sum Brought by Land.
INDIANS WERE ROBBED

SULPHUR, OKLA, August 16.--The
Gore congressional investigating com
nittee. satisfied that the Indians were
willing to sacrifice millions in hopes
that they might realize something from
their lands, will spend the next few
days endeavoring to find how many
other law firms we're interested in
handling Poor Los" affairs for him,
That McMurray did not have a mo-
nopoly on the Indian land eases has
already been brought out. and reports
To-day say that before the committee
mas finished is hearing 1t will be shown
that law firm YET unnamed holds
contracts valued az $4,000.
Thomas b. Crews. Of Crewe 4 Can't
well. of st. Louis, representing a big
syndicate, testified yesterday that the
people he represents were interested
In securing aliotments for Oklahoma
for l.2o0 Mississippi Ehnetaws.- The
syndicate had arranged for a half In
terest In all lands secured for their Gil
ents, 80 that the syndicsfe's interest
in the deal would amount TO about
s2.03s.0 200.
Further investigation is expected to
be made into the charge chat Indian
children were practically robbed OF the
lands VIXEN disposed of by agents.
James Marlborough told of case
where guardian OF one papoose was
authorized TO sell $40 acres of land
for s2,soo. The probate court allowed
the guardian SSoo for exercising the
right to fiie the land for a minor.
allowed 81 500 for breaking and clean
ing the lands. $1,000 for house. $3.50
for posts. $500 for barn and well.
$3.50 for wire. ssS for witness fees and
20 for attorney fees. when the land
was finally sold the minor was 81, 100 In
debt. the land gone and they are talk =
ing of selling the homestead to pay the
guardian for his services.
Examine Chief.
Chief Johnson, of the Chiekasaws,
WAS called to the stand and said that
the act authorizing the employment OF
Manfied. Murray and Cornish az attor-
news for the Indians was passed while
he was governor OF the tribe. The
arst work was 10 purge the rolls of
those not entitled 10 allotments, he
said. Two thousand were kept from
the rolls In this way, and the law
firm received a Zee OF sTso,o00. and
at the same time were receiving S.
wv yearly from inc tnfCkasaWS urder
another contract and $4,000 from the
Choetaws,
johnson said. however. neither he
nor his people felt that they had vast
ed money on the firm. johnson could
not say how much the tribe had spent
on McMurray and his associates. but
thought the sum was large.
You were In favor OF the $3.50, 600
fee" asked Chairman Burke.
Yes. said johnson.
What was the value OF he estate
they received? g.
About sixteen millions"
Johnson then said In answer - .-s-
ton that Mansfield, McMurray and
Cornish had contributed To the ex-
pease OF a train which brought voter.
loo miles during the campaign for his
election IN 1894.
The firm did not. however, pay any
money To him personally for cam
paign purposes. or promise him any
share In their fees. the chief said
Johnsan said he knew nothing Of
the McMurray contracts being sent 10
the President for approval. as II was
the duty of the national secretary to
transact sech acts.