New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-11
INDIANS LEARN Of
ROBBERS ROOST
Get Interesting Light. Also, on
Proposed Sale of
Their Lands.
MANY ATTEND HEARING
Witnesses Tell of Offers of
Shares in McMurray's Profits
-Ramon and "Old Man
Cores Fool Bill"

Cores Fool Bill
NcAlester. Okla. Aug. 1e.--Lo. the poor
Indian, learned few more things about
the proposed sale Of $Sa,99.eoo worth of his
land ;n the hearing before the invesiigat-
ing committee of Congress here to-day
Representative {. L. Carter, of the attn
Oklahoma District testified that at an in
,erViea at the home of Richard c Adams
an attorney IN Washington. Adams said
ne had an arrangement by which he was
TO get ; per cent Of the profits TO be de-
rfveo from the McMurray contracts
He also told me-" Mr.. Carter said that
Congressman Is. s. 1IcGuire was in on the
deal and would get his share. He also told
me that Dr.. Wright. q delegate for the
Choctaw Indians at Washington. with a
salary Of S6.eaa, in the deal. He
also said: We've got some Others but he
didn't mention other names
Did Adams say he was Glling to get 5
per cent OF all the money ]. T. NcNurray
was 10 realize on the deaI?'' asked Chair
man Burke.
Yes. he said lie was going 10 make sure
of il, as McNurray had double crossed
him at other times. but this time he was
going TO fix Il so he wouldn't lose out and
when McMurray got his 10 per cent, or
S3.04oeoo or whatever it amounted 10. he
proceeds.
4 also met JOKE l. Hamon at Wash
ington. He told me to go to that old man
Gore and get him TO withdraw that fool
bill of his against the McMurray con-
tracts"
Mr. Carter. who is part Cherokee and
Was for two wears g member of the House
Committee on Indian Affairs. was then
asked: DO you think q majority Of the
Indians are in favor of these contracts
giving 10 per cent 70 MCMurray2
There is no doubt that they are, ne re-
piled. But there is also no doubt that IN
signing the contracts many were Influenced
so do so by persons who had ar interest IN
them"
Adams was described as a Delaware, who
frequently has been mentioned as calling
on President Taft on Indian affairs III
was Adams to whom the Indians in this
state were asked II address kilograms
urging President Taft to approve the sale
Of the lands. McMurray is the holder OF
the contracts by which according to Sena-
tor Gore q 10 per cent attorneys fee of
about s. a-a.1ao would he allowed
Before Carter left the stand AcMurray's
attorneys obtained from him testimony
tending TO show that Mcclure in previous
Indian matters had supported measures in
congress opposed 10 the interests Of Nc
MURRAY.
s-arfer-s appearance on the stand followed
another dav of lively testimony.
A $4,000 present
Z r Latham. An attorney Of McAiester.
told Of meeting NcMurTay two years ago.
when KTcMurray he said. offered him
present Of $1,000 if the old tribal con-
tracts went through
ffa-S ard a H.
proved l,y President Roosevelt. What the
present was for Latham declared, he
,se,-er could make out for he was not asked
10 support the contracts.
Al another time. Latham testified. he re-
ceived an offer Of share in the sI9o""
..sr-orr7s,-s-- fe51' hfch NCNurray obtained
81 An indian land deal after the amount of
,be fee had caused much discussion in Con-
gross The last offer, the witness said,
vas contingent his aiding McMurraN
who was then irving 10 become delegate
to the Republican National Convention at
Chicago. NcMurray did not 90 as dele
gate and Latham said he never received
anything
Incidentally the Indians. many Of whom
Sere in the committee room, learned Of
47orhers' Roost. a town in the southern
-z-r Of Oklahoma From Robbers Roost
.here emerged one day an ernissary repre-
rer1ine McNurrav who went to war
s7o,Ircii-' Of Indians 10 get them 10 sign the
contracts About six hundred Of the Ind
isrs signed Al that time. James n. God
FREY testified They also, he said. signed
tax case contracts. By which McMurray
vas 20 get $40 "a head for fighting the
taxation Of the Indians.
Was Robbers BOOST the headquarters
ri 7TcAs,,rray's agents." asked Representa-
tive Miller.
Il don't know replied Godfrey. 1T
was where 4 man named Bates lived.
Rates arranged With me TO 90 to the Ind
Sans meeting and get the contracts signed
Godfrey. who IS a Chickasaw by inter
marriage. said he induced the Indians 20
assemble a. Sulphur 10 persuade them 10
sign the contracts, almost ten thousand NJ
which McMurray had previously secured.
-5cAIufsa1. he said. had been successful in
litigation for the Indians and the Indians
believed that if they paid him 10 per cent
fees he would be able 10 urge the authori-
ties at Washington To expedite the sale
no VOC mean to say that you told the
Indians II would be a bargain 10 pay Nc
Murray several million dollars to do some
thing which the government already had
promised to do?" asked Senator Gore.
YES. we thought it would be q bargain,
for the government nad nni done any
thing" Godfrey replied.
The witness said in securing the tax
contracts NcMuTay allowed him 81
head He Also said part of - expenses
were raid. Bates having given him So
Certer's Meeting with Hsmon.
on taking the stand Representative Car
ter told 81 meeting Hamon on May =
g4anaoa Is accused by Senator Gore of hav-
ine offered fim $4,000 or $4,000 in CON
reoticn with the McMurray contracts on
Nsy G.
1T Was the day after Senator Gore says
the bride was offered him. said Mr. car
ter i met Hamon in the Capitol and
We went and sat on the Capitol steps.
I4amon said. You go 10 that Old man
Gore and get him to withdraw that fool
bin Of his against the McMurray con-
tracts
Il replied. If / should mix up IN those
NcMuiTav contracts the people would
think J got part OF the fee. or they would
think ] did not have sense enough TO get
part Of it, which would be disastrous 20
ssre uOl5ficallv in either case ] asked