Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-10
600 indians Used Up Bottle of
Ink Writing Names.
WAR COUNCIL WAS HELD
Willing to Pay Big Fee to Get Lands
Sold.
HAD FAITH IN McMURRAY
]. II. Godfrey Says Former Success
Was Basis Of Confidence in Law
yer-Government Not Trusted.

MACALESTER. Okla, August 1O.-Six
hundred Indians assembled at a war
council at Sulphur. Okla. and. using up
almost an entire bottle Of ink, wrote their
signatures individually to the McMurray
land contracts.
Although informed that J. F. McMur-
ray, holder Of the contracts. would net
q profit of from s2,OO0,0oO to 100000 in
attorneys fees" the Indians were ad-
vised that the contracts afforded the
quickest way to realize on their land.
estimated to be 100000 acres in extent
and valued at from $3OOOo.OOO to $4O,-
100000.
Fees for Tax Cases.
In addition to the land contracts NC
Murray's agents had the Indians sign
contracts for tax cases against the gov
eminent at a stated fee for each case.
The land fee was 10 per cent. contin-
gent upon the sale OF the land.
James H. Godfrey. a Chickasaw In
dian by intermarriage. gave this testi-
mony before the congressional investigat-
ing committee today.
Godfrey said he induced the Indians 10
assemble at Sulphur TO pursuade thenl IL
sign the contracts, almost 1OoOO OF Which
McMurray previously had secured NC
Murray, he said, had been successful IN
previous litigation for the Indians, and
the Indians believed if they paid him 10
per cent attorneys fees, he would be able
to urge the authorities at Washington to
expedite the sale.
Indians Urged Approval.
While j. F. McMurray was in Wash
ington last May urging the approval OF
his contracts by which he and his asso-
ciates would be able to secure 10 per
cent attorneys fees on the sale OF
thirty million dollars worth of land
owned by the Indians. the Indians them
selves were being urged to send tele-
grams to Washington recommending the
SALE
A few days before May 6, on which
date Senator Gore charged he was offered
a $4,000 or $4,000 bride to induce Con-
gress 20 approve the contracts, McMur-
ray telegraphed to Oklahoma:
Send not less than fifty letters and
kilograms and keep up the work for a
week at different towns; looks better
here. We will win, l know
This evidence was brought out In the
investigation of the land deal before the
congressional committee yesterday. Sem
ator Gore said he introduced it to show
the activity at Washington at the time
the bribe is alleged to have been made.
Many Choctaw Indians went on the
stand to show that shortly after McMur-
ray sent his telegram they were visited
by George ". Scott, McMurray's agent
Scott asked the Indians to sign kilograms
approving the sale of the 100000 acres of
coal and asphalt land on the 10 per cent
attorneys fees" basis.
Letters Sent to r. c. Adams.
The Indians kilograms were addressed
TO Richard c. Adams, an attorney at
Washington. who was supposed by the
Indians to give the messages to President
Taft. The Indians readily sent the tele
grams. they testified, because they were
impatient at the delay of the government
In disposing of the land according to
treaty promises.
Much amusement was caused by the
testimony O. }. r. Logan.
"One day last November said Logan,
"a certain Tom Sanguin called on me
to have me sign the McMurray contracts.
/ asked him how McMurray was going
TO do anything.
He said: Well. Mac has got powerful
influence at Washington. He can afford
to spend lots of money. For instance, If
he makes S.0O0.G5n out of these contracts,
he can afford to spend $1.O93,OOO of it,
Out of his 10 per cent he can give l per
cent to one senator. 1 or to another, a
couple of per cent to some congressman
and still he will have a fortune left
That way he Will get the land sold. /
tell you somebody is going to get a lot
out of this, anyway, and we might as
we'll let McMurray nave it..