Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-09
HAM0N MAKES
SERIOUS CHARGE
han Accused by Senator Gore Says
Congressman c. E. Creager
Solicited Bribe.
ASKS MMURRAY FOR BIG LOANS
Request Comes After He Introduces
Bill to Validate Claims.
INDIAN TELLS OF CONTRACTS
Choctaw Says McMurray Paid Him
Dollar for Each Signature.
HE SECURED TEN THOUSAND
AIcMurray WIN be Called to Wit
ness stand 60 Tell OF His Rela-
tions with Congressman
and senators.
HE SECURED TEN THOUSAND

MALnsTnR, OIL. Aug. s.-A charge
that Congressman c. L. creager OF the
Third olSlahoma district had solicited
sums" Of money from j. f. McMurray,
holder OF the Indian land contracts that
are being subjected to a congressional In
vestlgation. was made by Jake l.. Hamon
before the special committee appointed by
The house Of representatives today.
The charge developed in connection with
the inquiry into Senator t. p. Cores
declaration that he had been offered
s25,OO0 or $4,000 brbe TO help put through
congress the McMurray deal, by which,
he asserted. MoMurray and HIS associates
would be able to secure SS,0OO,0OO. or 10 per
cent, as attorneys fees In the sale of 49,
900 acres Of coal, asphalt and timber land
now belonging TO the Indians in this state.
Senator Gore said Hamon had offered the
bribe in McMurray's behalf, and Congress-
Anan Creager also had testified that Hamon
had Suggested" that he (Creager) might
secure an interest In the contracts IL he
helped to remove all opposition to their
approval by congress and President Taft
Appearing before the committee today,
Hamon made the counter charge against
Creager. He said the congressman had
solicited money from McMurray during
the pendency In congress of a bill which
had been drawn up by McMurray and
which Creager introduced. This bill pro-
vided for the sale of the surface lands to
private individuals and for the sale of the
mineral wealth to the government AL
though the McMurray contracts were not
referred to in it, the bill. Hamon said. was
so termed that MoMurray might have been
enabled TO put In claim for the attor-
ney's fees. The measure, however, was
not passed.
II want Mr.. Creager recalled to the stand
to answer these charges" said Hamon. ~
want him to explain why gust after ne IN
troduced that bill he went to McMurray
and under the guise of loans demanded
from McMurray large sums of money. 1
think 1t viii throw considerable light on
the Indian land situation at washington
II Creager is recalled and asked about mis-
repeated demands of money from McMur-
ray"
On being informed by Congressman
Charles II. Burke, chairman of the com
mittee, that 1t was doubtful II Creager
would be recalled, Hamon asked to be al
lowed to introduce witnesses to testify as to
his charges His request wRs taken under
advisement.
It was Indian day" at the hearing.
Many Indians testified they had signed the
McMurray contracts allowing 10 per cent
attorneys fees because they had been inn
patient at the government AS the gov
ernment's wards, they said, they had con-
cluded they had to employ attorneys to
fight the government in order TO secure
what money had been promised them.
1t was pointed out that IS per cent of the
Choctaws and Chickasaws had signed the
10 per cent agreement. This represented a
large portion OF the l10,ooe Indians in this
state which contains mcie than one-third
OF all the Indians In the United Estates
That McMurray's agents had gone among
I, the indians and asked them to sign the
contracts and to send kilograms to Presi-
dent Taft urging him to approve the sale
OF the land on 10 per cent attorneys
fee" basis was the burden OF most of tn,
Indians testimony.
I'VE have become used TO the 10 per cen
idea." declared Parke Anderson, Choctaw
most OF the Indians in ehis state have Il
pay 10 per cent on all debts and borrowed
money. We have become so dependent OF
attorneys that they have hand In almos
everything we do"
do you mean to say that to sell YOU
land you are willing to give McMurra,
Ss,0oO,Ooo or enough to hire all the lawyers
IA Oklahoma?' asked Congressman c. b
Miller.
''Yes. We have waited 50 long for tn
government 20 act that we would give
per cent II that would cause quick sale
We need the money to develop the lan'
on which we live."
n was estimated by c. C. Choate, anothe
Shoctaw, that IL this land was sold through
the MeAIurray contracts, his share wou
be 5000, with a reduction Of $500 In fees
Now he said, II would rather have Si5O
while / am living TIM walt until the gov
ernment acts and get 5000 when l an
dead" A
nWhy is il that while you have attorney
paia on a regular salary and approved o
by the government, that you employ spe
clal attorneys?"
.,Because our regular attorneys get pai
whether they work or not, while the spe
clai attorneys. on contingent fee wor
because they expect to be paid
A singular appearance was presented D.
Charles LAHORE, a Chootaw, who as cap
tain OF police had figured in many battl
OF the plains He had only one eye, thre
OF his fingers were shot Off, and his bod
was covered with bullet wounds. Aske
about tho activity OF McMurray's agents
he related that he had been approached b
George vi Scott acting for McMurray an
had been Induced 10 sign a telegram, tn
wording OF which he ! lsof had not die
tated, this being a telegram addressed /
Richard c. Adams Of Washington, an a.
torney and a Delegare Indian. The sui
stance OF the telegram was that the II
dians approved OF the contracts and aske
Adams to call on President Taft and urt
him TO sell the land without delay.
WHO dld you think Adams was?'
why, / thought he was somebody viii
powerful influence, who could so to q
president and 20 congress and tell thei
what We wanted. We were not so anxloI
10 give up 10 per cent, but we thought
would be better TO sell ON that basis ths