The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-06
He ALSO OFFERED
To BRIDE NO|AN
Testimony Shows Attorney
Would Pay $4,000 if OBJ
lection Were Withdrawn
ABSOLUTELY FALSE
SAYS SENATOR CURTIS
Blind Statesman's Wife is True
Blue and Has Already
Reported Her
Findings.

passage OF bill by Congress that
would have resulted in the sale of
1900 acres of land I'm the Choc-
taw nation, was the statements
made to-day by ID. c. McCurtain
before tho investigating commit
tee which IL probing the graft
charges.
The offer, McCurtain said. was
made by j. Il. McMurray.
McCurtain's statement follow
ed soon after Senator Charles
Curtis, of Kansas, had testified
that McMurray's dealings had
always been fair. and that he
did not seem to resort to impro-
per methods
McCurtain is an Indian by
blood, q practicfng attorney, and
the son OF Green McCurtain, for
many years principal chief Of the
Choctaws.
The OFFER" said McCurtain,
'swas made by McMurray I'm the
lobby OF the Raleigh Hotel ~
Washington. i was introduced
By Col. Cecil Lyon on the Occa-
sion, but he was not present when
McMurray made the offer. / WINS
TO get the SIS, 900 ON in the event
that the Secretary OF the Interior
should approve the bill as then
drawn.
Was Conditional.
IF the bill should be cut down tina
$4,000 Tiny Tee) was to be cut pro-
portionately. There were then about
two million acres OF nHaliatted land
in the Chocta wnation, which was.
worth probably $3.50 an acre. Me-
Murray was to OF 10 per cent. of the
sale price. which would have made
his fee in the neighborhood OF ST.
600, 900.
'.McMurray told me that he was
more powerful in Washington than
ever before. / feared that Ii I dis
played too much activity McMurray
would marshall his forces and bring
about the passage OF the bill. So +
told him would think the matter
over.
Later / told him would accept
his proposition.
'McMurray ceased his activities
about that time and did not take an
active part again until the Oklahoma
constitutional convention had begun
the discussion of ways and means
of bringing about the stoela he
Of bringing about the sale of the un-
allotted Indian lands in the State
Afterwards told McMurray Z
would not accept the OFFER"
Senator Scott Ferris. of the Fifth
Oklahoma district, also arrived here
To-Day.
Finally Refused.
MeMurray has not heretofore been
named as having taken any part In
the alleged bribing to get his con-
tracts approved in congress.
Both Gore and Representative
Greager named Harmon as the man
who had approached them. although
Gore asserted Hamon told him thai
Curtis. Bird, BcGuire and vice-Prest-
dent Sherman were interested in the
contracts. McMurray's name has been
used only in connection with his con~'
tracts.
CONGRESSMAN McGire in state.
ment today said that from his talk
with the president he believed that
McMurray's fee was considered too
large and would not be approved but
made no further reference to the at
torney.
MUSKOGEE, OKLA, August
6.-Scnator Charles Curtis. Of
Kansas, called to the stand to-day
before the committee Investigate
ing the charges OF senator GOrU
that he MAS Offered q hrihe II
$50, 1000 to withdraw his orSp0el.
ton to the McMurray Indian Land
contracts and naming senator
Curtis as one OF the men inter-
ested in these contracts. declared
that Cores statements are abso-
lutely without foundation 50 far
as he was concerned.
~ am not now and never have
been Interested In the McNiurray
contracts, or any other Indian
contracts.n Curtis testified. II am
member Of the committees on
Indian affairs and am acquainted
with j. #. McMurray and Senator
Gore. but so far as / remember / DE-
never met Jacob u. Hamon."
Saw President.
"In April / was informed that the
President desired to see the Vice
President and myself. I then went
to Mr. Sherman's room and we wenAi
to the White House together.
THE President asked what NO
knew about the proposed granting
Of the tribal rolls. and what 10
thought about it. told the Prest-S
dent thought it would he 4 grave;
mistake for him to take stand o.
the question. 49, 1900 Z q
'+rhe President then asked me- n
knew j. F., McMurray and told
him that he had been an attorney for
the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians
for years"
Curtis said that Gore told the Conf
mittee on Indian Affairs that there
was man interested In the land
deals who was to get two commissions
and named this man a. Richard
Adams. Washington attorney.
Congressman Bird Mcclure 49,
then questioned and said:
The impression got from my tAIks
with the President was that he c0IH~|
sidered the McMurray fee too iMrG4s
and that he would not approve suchl
contract" 81 M
Statement Read. sss
At Cores REQUEST his stateun4 81
heretofore published. was reAd ~ tA1l
point. In the statement Gore ANA
Hamon had told him aenateg C Y
was interestsd n Indin&l oontxa
Curtis than te9tiaed thax ~
ne could detsEmip9 tn Artnx