New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-16
McMurray Indictment Dismissed.

W. 3. Johnson, former United States at
t0rney, testified to-day that certain indict-
ments against McMurray in 1906 we're or
dered dismissed by the Attorney General.
The indictments were returned against Nc
Murray and others in connection with a
$4,000 expense account which McMurrav' VS.
| firm had filed against the Indians in prose
cutting citizenship cases, 1t was alleged in
the indictments that the expense account
had been padded
At the time the indictments were being
investigated Cecil A. Lyon. Republican Ma
tionaI Committeeman fom Texas was in
Washington. Mr. Lyon previously had
testified he had urged the Attorney Cen
eral to investigate the indictments but he
declared he never asked that they be dis
missed. The indictments later were or
dered dismissed. Mr. Lyon then became
interested with McMurray in what are
known as the old tribal contracts and
talked with President Roosevelt in regard
TO them.
During your term of office how many
indictments We're returned?" Mr.. Johnson
was asked.
About five thousand"
How many of those indictments were
dismissed?''
Only one-that against McMurray."
After the McMurray indictment was re-
turned / was called to Washington l took
all the papers there. After nine days As
sistant Attorney General Russell told me
the indictments were 10 be investigated. I
also met Mr.. Lyon. He said he had been
summoned to Washington by telegraph
When I got back home [ was told that the
Indictment against McMurray had beer. dis
missed
Cub Ream. an Indian, testified that he
had been prevented from securing the no.
sition Of delegate to Washington for the
Chickasaw tribe because he was opposed
10 the McMurray contracts Ream de
Clared that he had protested to the Indians
that 10 per cent fee to McMurray would
be too high and that the government al
ready had promised to sell the lands with
out expense to the indians. For this. he
said, he was not allowed TO represent the
Indians at Washington.
Douglas q. Johnston, chief of the Chfcka-
saw tribe. was In favor of the contracts
Ream said.
". II. Paul. Il Chickasaw. told of having
received share of $4,aO0 for getting the
McMurray contracts signed.
Holmes Willis. a Chickasaw, testified that
he favored the McMurray contracts and
paying the 10 per cent fee because he be-
lieved McMurray could sell the property
for over 10 per cent more than the govern
nlent could get for it.
Every inch of land owned by Indians is
looked upon as the legitimate property or
the land grabbers." This statement was
made to-day by a member of the investi-
eating committee. Some of the land grab
bers schemes certainly VIII be called to
the attention of Congress. One man, We
have learned, has become rich He kept a
list OF Indians who owned allotted land
Whenever an Indian died he rushed into
court. had n guardian appointed. and with
the connivance OF the guardian demanded
that the land be sold under a ridiculousIy
low valuation for few hundred dollars
He has bought whole sections of land
This man, who is only ono of many start
ing with no capital, now owns ten thousand
acres, for which he paid the Indians no
adequate compensation As there are in
Oklahoma something like twenty million
acres of Indian lands II seems imperative
that Congress take prompt steps to prevent
further land grabbing -