Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-08-07
REFUSED ATTEMPTED
PURCHASE BY MMURRAY
Representative Of Tribe Declares
Contract Holder Wanted to Pay
Him $25, Zoo to Stop His Opposition
to Manufactured Congress
men Deny Charges Made.


Not only Jake L. HamoD, but J. +.
McMurrGy was named as would
be briber in the Investigation OF the
$50 .000, 600 Oklahoma Indian land
deal before the special congression-
Il committee today.
Mr.. McMurray is the holder OF
the contracts with the Choctaw and
Chickasaw Indians to promote. which,
N congress Senator Thomas y.
Gore charged he was offered a
bride.
c. McCurtain, a Choctaw Indian
and a delegate 20 Washington for his
territory, charged that McMurray.
in 1906, offered him bride OF
s25 900 to withdraw opposition 10
the Old Tribal McMurray contracts
which subsequently were disap-
proved by President Roosevelt.
Green McCurtain, chief of 5000
Choctaws and venerable Indian OF
CO years, then took the stand and
told the committee that one George
w. Scott, whom he believed acted in
the interest of McMurray, had offer
I'd him one-fourth Of the profits" 70
pe realized from the land deal, pro
vided he induced the tribe 10 with
draw all opposition to tt deal. This
offer referred to new contracts hei3
by McMurray, which are the cause
of the present investigation.
Offered Indian Same Amount.
The amount of the bribe mention
ed by McCurtain. who is a son OF
the chief. is the same as that which
Senator Gore alleges was offered him
OIL May s, last, by Jake Hamon to
put through the pending contracts,
which. according 10 Senator Corr
would result in the selling of 5000
acres OF coal, asphalt and timber
lands owned by the Indians to a
New York syndicate on basis tha,
would give McMurray and his assoc
iates an attorneys fee of ten per
cent. OF s3.O0o.000
The presentation OF the charges
against McMurray followed another
DAY of sensational testimony. during
which Senator Charles Curtis, of
Kansas, and Congressman b. 5. Nc
CURE. of Oklahoma, appeared on
Tie stand 20 refute statements that
they were interested in the deal
The name of Vice-President Sher-
man again was mentioned, and con-
ferences held by President Taft over
the McMurray contracts. we're re-
ferred to.
Both President Taft and Vice
President Sherman, according to
Senator Curtis. had declared that the
ten per cent attorneys fee asked for.
was excessive. The opinion was I'M
animous at the Presidents confer
ence. he said that In the sale OF the
land no attorneys assistance was
needed and the government. By
freay. already had stipulated to sell
the land on its own responsibility.
Made Him Offer.
"A long time ago." said Chief Nc
Curtain in his testimony, many OF
the Choctaws protested against the
Zig fees that would be allowed an
der the McMurrsy contracts ]. my
self. sent a protest 70 the secretary
Cf the interior-juss before the ad-
journmcnt Of the last CONGRESS
George W. Scott came to nay home
and asked me to sign a letter.
TcIuSeQ 10 90 So ItH ht tdutt
again and told me ne wanted 10
write a letter to the secretary OF the
interior Withdrawing my protest
against the McMurray contracts.
When I said I would not do that nc
said he was authorized to agree 10
give ne onc-fourih Of the profits II !
did. Yes he said. we are going 10
Let a ten per cent fee out OF II and
YOU viii get onc-fourth Of the tenth.
Now you sign the letter and Il would
be a great bargain absolutely re.
fused - do Il and he went away
a good many Of your tribe did
sieE the contracts with McMurray
didn't hey asked Congressman c.
y. Miller
Lost hath IN Government
YES. they did thst because they
are losing ali faith In the govern.
mcnt. They have lost all faith m
the government officials and In their
tribal officials. too. !; is because they
have been given 80 many promises
and the promises have no; been kepi
The government promised i
would sell the land and Distribute
he profits IN 1906. ], has not done
- vet. The Indians are hccomine
Cisheertencd over the government
promises snd that - Why they signed
the contracts. They thought II would