The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-08-06
M'CURTA|N TELLS
OF BR|BE OFFERED
Son Of the Governor Of the Choctaws
Takes Stand in McMurray
investigation.
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
Muskogee, Okla, Aug. e.-Not only
Senator Curtis. of Kansas, but also
vice President sherman disaproved
of the contracts, whereby an attorney
feep of three million dollars was to
be in the sale of thirty million dollars
worth of Indian lands in Oklahoma
This assertion formed the substance
of the testimony given by Senator
Curtis today before the house commit
tee investig gating the McMurray con
tracts, so-called.
Taking the stand this morning Cur
It's related the details of a CONVERSE
ton which took place at the white
house between President Taft, Sher-
man and himself, last April. The
senator explained that Sherman and
himself were called into the confer
ence because of the fact that he was a
member Of the senate committee on
Indian affairs and Sherman had been
chairman of the house committee. The
president suggested the possibility Of
re-opening the question of Indian en-
rollment q told the president" said
Senator Curtis, "it would be a serious
mistake to reopen that question
"The president then asked about
McMurray. told him ! had known
McMurray for years and as counsel
for the Indians he had never lost a
case. The president then wanted to
know what we thought about the con-
tracts allowing the ten per cent attor-
neyss fee. The reply of both myself
and Sherman was that in this instance
we did not believe the Indians needed
an attorney, on a ten per cent basis or
any other basis.
1T was pointed out that to give the
attorneys fees in this instance would
be simply to deprive the Indians out
Of thar much profit guaranteed by the
government to them
4 "That formed the substance of our
talk. We further suggested acts until
he had referred the matter to an Off
cial who had thoroughly investigated
the subject"
More charges of attempted bribery
in connection with the sale of Okla
homa Indian lands, were made before
the congressional investigating com,
mittee today D. C. MeCurta;n, a
Choctaw Indian and son of the COVER
nor of the Choctaw nation, an attor-
ney for that tribe, testified that j. F..
McMurray had offered him twenty-five
thousand dollars not to oppose the
land deal
The contracts were those which
were disapproved in 1908 by President
Roosevelt
4 was called to the hotel by Nc
Murray testified McCurtain, while
there. was introduced to Cecil A.
Lyons, national republican committee
man for Texas. When Lyon left, Nc
Murray said, I will give you twenty
five thousand dollars if you will not
oppose these contracts, If the con-
tracts go through just as they are you
get the money. If our profits are cut
down, then your money viii be cut
down in proportion.
McCurtain said the offer took place
at the Raleigh Hotel at Washington
Terms were that MeCurtain was not
to oppose the approval of the.contracts
by the stcretary of the interior and
by the president, said the witness
The contracts were held by Mansfield
McMurray and Cornish law firm Of
McAlester and provided for the sale
of about forty thousand acres of Choc-
taw and Chickasaw lands, said to be
worth from thirty million to one hun
dred and sixty million dollars, the
witness declared.
Congressman B. S. Mcclure went on
the stand this afternoon and denied
that he had ever been interested di-