Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-11
ENL|GATEN|NG
BEN|GHTED
INDIANS
LIVELY TESTIMONY IN
CH0CTAW LAND INQUIRY
Witness Tells Committee How
Adams Planned to Make Me-
Murray Divide Up His Three
Million Dollar Attorney Fee,
icy Morning journal special L.asss wire,


he poor Indian" learned more things
about the proposed sale of 100000
000 worth OF his land in the hearing
before the congressional investigating
committee today. Congressman G.. ID.
Carter of the fourth Oklahoma dis
trict testified that at an interview at
the home of Richard c. Adams, an at
torney at Washington, Adams had
said he had an arrangement by which
he was to secure ) per cent of the
profits" to be derived from the Nc
Murray contracts.
'He also told me-" testified Mr..
Carter, that Congressman b. ID. Nc
CURE was in on the deal and would
set his share. He also told me that
DR.. Wright. delegate for the Choc-
taw indians at Washington, with a
salary of $4,000 was in on the deal; lea,
He also said. We've got some others,
hut he didn't mention any other
names"
Did Adams say he was going 10
get per cent of all the money J. F.
/ McMurray was to realize on the
deal?" asked Chairman Charles ~
/ Burke.
yes, lie said he was going TO make
sure of it, as McMurray had double
crossed him at other times, but this
time he was going to fix it so he
wouldn't lose out, and when McMur-
/ ray got his 10 per cent. or $3,OOo,OOo,
( or whatever 1t amounted to, he
(Adams) was going to get per cent
Of the proceeds
Il also met Jake L. Hamon at
Washington He told me to go to
that old man Gore and get him to
withdraw that fool bill Of his against
the McMurray contracts"
Congressman Carter. who is part
Cherokee indian, and who for two
years was a member of the house
committee on Indians affairs, was
then asked
aDo YOU think majority of the
Indians are in favor of these con-
tracts giving 10 p,r cent to McMur-
/ ray?"
There is no doubt that they are, y
he replied but there is also no
doubt that in signing the contracts
many were influenced to do so by
persons who had an interest in them.
Before Carter left the stand Nc
| Murrays attorneys obtained from him
testimony tending to show that Me-
CURE in previous indian matters had
supported measures in congress op-
posed to the interests of McMurray.
Carter's appearance on the stand
followed another day of lively tesu-
mony.
+. f. Latham, an attorney of Nc
I AlGStor, related a meeting WIN wv
Murray two years ago, when McMur-
raw ne said, offered him present OF
10000 II the old tribal contracts
would 'go through
These contracts were afterwards
disapproved by President Roosevelt
What the present" was for Latham
declared he never could make out for
he was not asked to support the con-
tracts.
At another time, Latham testified,
he was offered a share of the $3.50.
000 attorneys fec" that McMurrsy
subsequently, obtained i'm an Indian
land deal, after the amount Of the fee
had caused much discussion III con-
gress The last offer, the witness
said, was made contingent upon MS
aiding McMurray. who was then try
ing to become a delegate to the re-
publican convention at Chicago Nc
Murray did not go as a delegate, and
Latham said he never received any
thing.
Congressman Carter related meet
ing Jake l.. Hamon on May last
HamOn is accused by senator core
! of having offered him S25,OOO or
$50. 0O0 bribe in connection with the
| McMurray contracts on May 6 last.
1T was the day after senator Gore
SAYS the bribe was offered hiin, sald
/ Garter Il met Hamon in the capt.
tol and we went and sat ON the capt.
tol steps. Hamon said, You go 10
that old man Gore and get him to
withdraw that fool bill OF MS against
the McMGrray contracts.
"I replied, tIf | should mix up IN
thos4 McMurray contracts the people
would think | didn't have sense
I enough 10 get part of il, which would
be disastrous TO me politically In
either case. No.. -
to Gore himself He replied he WASH |
interested in the contracts
Seeing Senator Gore afterwards, the
witness said. he told him what
7 unnon had said about not having any
interest in the contracts. That was
not what he told me- said senator
Gore. according 80 Carter The sen
ator then told Carter ABOUT the at
tempted bribery
Adams invited me to his home in
] washington and I went 20 see him.
said Congressman Carter. During
ths conversation he spoke OF his 5
per cent arrangement with McMur-
ray. He said he would get per
I cent of whatever McMurray may land
in the deal. He then told me he had
lots Of people back of him. Who
have you got2' I asked. Well, he re-
I piled. we've got Congressman Me,
CURE for one. Is Mcclure in on II
| I asked
Yes he said. Mcclure IL In on
il and he will get his share. too.
Who else have YOU got
We've got Or. Wright, the Choc-
taw delegate. He's in on 1t, too. on,
we've got some more
Then he wanted me to go "a
senator Gore and get him to With
draw his opposition TO the contracts
He said n they could stop Cores op-
position there would not be any
trouble 70 get the thing through.
asked him II he was sure he would
get his share from McMurray- He
answered he was sure OF Il, or that
n. would make sure OF II. Tor Nc
Murray had dou bic crossed him be-
fore and he did not intend 10 allow
him 90 do u again
Is Adams man whose word YOU