Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-05
Senator Curtis of Kansas and
Congressman Bird, S, Me-
CURE Also Mentioned in Con-
nection With Case,
CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED
BRIBERY rr'T-nATED
Oklahoma Man Dec,dreo He.
Was Offered Small Fortune.
To Withdraw Opposition To-
McMurray Deal With Indians
Try Morning journal specIal LEASED wire.

Try Morning Journal sDecial Isasea wire.
Muskoeee. Okla, Aug. 4.-What
happened in the private office OF
United States Senator Thomas p.
Gore, at Washington, at noon on May
last, formed the basis of sensational
charges involving the names of Vice.
President sherman, Senator Charles
Curtis Of Kansas, Congressman b. ).
Mcguire of oklahoma and others, in
hearing before a special congress
sional investigating committee here
today.
In a conference held in that office.
senator Gore testified he had been
approached by Jake l.. Hamon, for
mer chairman of the Oklahoma terri
torial republican committee and also
former chairman of the Oklahoma
state republican committee with a
bribe of $4,000 or $500 to remove
his objection to certain legislation
pending in congress so that $4,000, ,000
might be paid to j. f McMurray. an
attorney of McAlester, Okla, and his
associates.
The money was to represent "attor-
ney fees of 10 per cent of $50, ,000,-
600 which was to be secured from a
New York syndicate for 100000 acres
Of coal and asphalt land now owned
by the Choctaw and Chickasaw In
dians.
Vice-President Shermans name
was mentioned by Mr.. Hamon, Sena-
tor Gore testified, as being Inter
ested" in the land deal to the extent
of favoring the approval by congress
of what are known as the McMurray
contracts with the Indians.
Congressman G. Il. Creager of the
third oklahoma district supplemented
the testimony of Senator Gore. He
said on last June l6 he had been in
Vited by Hamon TO meet him in n pri-
vate room at the Occidental hotel in
Washington.
Having gone there, Mr.. Creager tes-
tilted, he was informed he could have
substantial interest in the land
deal If he would withdraw mis- opposi-
tion to the approval of the McMurray
contracts by congress.
Asked the question:
Were any figures mentioned as to
how much you were to receiver" Mr..
Creager replied;
NO. | did not let It go so far as
that | made 1t plain | was not open
to influence in that way.
Il had already gone on record as
being firmly opposed to the granting
OF such an enormous fee to attor-
neys."
homa, who was said by Senator Gore
To be interested" in the McMurray
contract, was said by Mr.. Creager in
his testimony to have been at the
time of his visit an occupant of the
same suit Of rooms with Hamon and
McMurray at the hotel.
Clerks of Senator Gore testified to
having been invited by McMurray and
Hamon to frog Leg suppers at
lIu ltf .tal. "a n
traces were TO be talked over These
invitations it was declared, were all
turned down"
On one occasion, one of the clerks
testified Hamon said senator Gore
was "awfully hard on his friends.
Senator Gore, in his testimony, as
serted the offer of bribery went so far
that Hamon said the $25,000 or $780,
zoe would not be paid over in the
form of a check or marked money,
but that lit would be all clean hard
cash"
The committee that heard the
charges was appointed by resolutions
oi the house of representative TO in
Nestigate the McMurray contracts,
which are declared 10 have been made
Joy McMurray individually with TO-
Vuo indians. each of whom agreed 10
turn over 10 per cent Of the amount
-fttA AAtf cthif "a liltll iathNHf ~
the contracts were approved by con-
gress.
It's initial session was held today.
Congressman Creager's appearance
on the witness stand followed a series
OF sensational statements. Among
senator Cores assertions were the foi-
lowing
That Hamon told him Senator cur
higher up" in the government was
interested in the approval of the con-
tracts and that therefore there was
no reason why Senator Gore should
not be. that when asked who was the
man higher up. "Hamon had replied
Vice President Sherman"
That Hamon told his Senator cur
ts OF Kansas was Interested" IN the
deal
That Hamon told him Congressman
Mcclure Of Oklahoma was inter
esied' in the deal
That Hamon told him an employe
or the department Of justice at WASH
lngton was Interested in the deal;
mat he tSenator Gore) knew the
name Of the employe. but would not
elNalse his name or the name Of his