The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-06
Tells Investigators He Never
Talked With Gore
OF McMURRAY LAND DEAL
Saw Him Once in secret--Says II Was
Senator Who Closed the Doors,
Though He Doesn't Know
Why.

Muskogee, OKLA, AnR Twin Shlte'
States Senator Thomas T. Gore, reas
serting his charge that he was oifereC
bride Of $4,000 or $4,000 to inau
ence his action in Congress and will
Jake L. Hamon, accused by the senator
Of having offered the bride, denying
that he had ever done such thing
the investigation Of the Oklahoma In
dian land deals by the committee o.
national House Of Representatives sim,
mered down mass Of denials yester,
day
For four hours, former chairman Of
the Oklahoma Republican state commit
tee, entered continuous series Of de-
mails relative TO his alleged relations
10 what are known as the McAIurray
contracts, by which, according to Sem
ator Gore, ss,0oOoOo, or 10 per cent,
Of ssOOOO.0oo.. was to BE- realized from
the sale OF Indian lands to New York
syndicate to be diverted from the In
dams in the shape Of attorneys fees.s
Hamon also denied Congressman G.
f. Creager's charge thata he tHamonl
had suggested that an interest in the
contracts might be available to the Con-
gresham II the latter helped remove op.
position to the eongressionl approval.
Among lannon's denials were the fol-
lowing.
That he at any time had been clos
eted with Senator Gore, in the senator's
Office At Washington 10 urge the approx
al Of the contracts.
That he bad ever mentioned Vice.
President Sherman, Senator Charles Cur
It's al Kansas, or Congressman b. S,
Mcclure Of Oklahoma. as being in
terested in the contracts, as charged
by Senator Gore.
That he had ever spoken Of bride
70 anybody about any legislation or that
he ever was interested in the McAiur-
roy contracts.
That at the time the contracts were
being discussed he had called upon Con-
gresham Creager on the telephone At
Washington asking for an appointment,
but he said Mr.. Creagar had called him
up. Mr.. Creager previously had testi-
fed that HamoR asked an appointment,
at which the interest in the contracts
was spoken Of.
Interrogating the witness Congress
man +. w. Saunders, a member Of the
commission, saidi Now, Mr.. Hamon,
you have denied the testimony Of all
Of the witnesses who have preceded you.
You have branded the assertions Of the
senator, his brother, his clerk, ana the
congressman, as being absolutely false.
II would appear from your denials that
a conspiracy had been entered Into
grossly to misFepresent you. How dol
you account for that?"
That's beyond my power Of conjec.
twe" replied Hamon. Il have never
had one penny's interest in the Nc
Murray contracts and never offered
bride to anyone.
1T is barely possible that / did see
Senator Gore on May 6, last, when he
rays the offer Of a bride was made. ]
saw him frequently, but at this time
| believe, he took me up into the III
brary Of the Senate and closed the doors.
He wanted to talk over with me bis
coming campaign and see how could
help him out financially. Although
an 4 Republican and he Democrat, |
was in the habit Of helping him out.
Asked to explain some Of his bus,
mess dealings, Hamon said several years
lgo at Lawton, Oklahoma, when the
government decided to sell at public
auction some Indian lands, he, Senator
Gore, and Others, entered into COM
Dnation not to bid against each other
10 that the property might be obtained
lheaper All Of them secured some land,
le said