The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-08-07
McMurray Is Alleged to Have attempted to Bdbe
the ChOCtaW Indians for the Past
-Four Years.
SENATOR CURTIS AND CONGRESSMAN M'GlNRE
DENY BEING INTERESTED" IN CONTRACTS
Chief OF ChoCtaWS Says MC6Nunay Offered Him
$4,000 TO Withdraw Opposition to
the Tribal Contracts.

MUSKOGEE, okla, Aug. G-No
cBly Jake L. HamOn by j. +. Nc
Murray was named as would-be
brlber IN the investigation OF the $50.
100000 Oklahoma Indian land deal be
icre the special cong essional com
lalttee today.
McMurray IS the holder of the con
tracts with the Choctaw and Chicka
saw Indians. 10 promote. which in con
gross Senator Thomas p Gore charged
he was offered a brlbe.
D. c. McCurtain, a Choctaw Indian
and a delegate to Washington for his
tribe. charged thar McMurray in 1896
offered him a brIbe Of $4,000 to with,
draw the opposition 10 the old tribal
UcMurray contracts which were sub.
seQusntly dlsapproyed by President
Roosevelt
Tried to Bribe Indians.
Green McCurtaln. chief OF $4,000
Choctaws, and a venerable Iadiau or
G2 years. then took the stand and
told the committee that one George
W Scott, whom he believed acted in
The interest OF McMurray. had offered
him oDc-fourth OF the profits to b.
realized from the land. the deal pro.
yding that he induced the tribe TO
withdraw all opposition. This offer
refer ed to new contracts held By Nc
Murray which are the cause OF the
present investigation.
The amount of the bribe mentioned
by d. C. McCurtain, who Is q son of
inc chief. Is the same as that which
senator Gore alleges WAS rendered
linn on May 6, by Hamon. to put
through the pending contracts which
according TO Senator Gore would re.
suit in The selling on 100000 acres
Cf coal. asphalt and timber lands
owned by the Indians to n New Yorl,
syDdicate on a basis THAI would give
McAluuay and his associates an "a.
torney's fec" OF ten per cent. or So,
5000
Curtis Denies Charqe.
The presentation of the charges
against McMuTray followed another
day OF sensational testimony. n
which Charles Curtis OF Krnsas
End Congressman 3. S. Mcclure nf
oklahoma, appeared on the stand 10
icTute statements that were "intor-
ested" ia the deal. The name ot
Vlce-President Sherman was again
mentioned and conferences held by
President Taft over the McMurrav
contracts was referred TO-
Both President Taft and Vice-Presi-
don't Sherman, according to Senator
Curtis, had declared that the ten per
cent attorneys fee asked for was OK.
cessiye The opinion was unanimous
az the presidents conference he
Cald, that in the sale of tho lnnd No
attorneys assistance was needed. as
The government. by treaty. already
lad stipulated TO sell the land on It's
onw responsibility
Spirit of Indian War Council.
Something OF spirit OF Indian war
council was presented when Chief
McCurtain, known as the governor"
squatted himself in a chair before tho
committee and. brushing the nics of
his head with a large handkerchief.
rave his testimony.
A long time ago" he said. many
OF the Choctaws protested against
'ne big fees that would be allowed
under the McMurray contracts
myself sent a protest 10 the secretary
OF The interior. Just before the nd
,onrnment OF the last congress. Geo
" Scott came 10 my house and asked
me to sign a letter. / refused To do
30. Then he came again and told
me 70 Write letter 10 the secretary
Q! the Interior, withdrawing nv pro
est agaiEt the McMurray con.
Testimony Of Indian Chief
when | said l would not do that.