The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-08-19

I
of the governments alleged delay in
selling the land was due to the failure
of the Indians TO take their shares OF
the allotted land
Douglas H Johnson. chief Of the
Chickasaw nation testified that he sign.
ed the McMurray contracts He said
he had urged the others to sign. but
he never had been induced to do so
by McMurray
Details of scheme by which eland
grabbers" organized systematically TO
enrich themselves at the expense of
minor Indians were related az the con.
gresslonal investigation into Indian
land affairs Monday In one Instance,
It was asserted, the cost OF disposing
Of the property of an 1s-year-oId Indian
was S2.075 more than the property
brought, and the condition which per-
mitted this and similar deals was de.
clared to be disgrace to Oklahoma "
Hearing that the scheme prevailed
generally, Representative Phillip p.
Campbell Of Kansas, member of the
Investigating committee, had put upon
the stand James Marlborough, a Chick
asaw Indian by intermarriage.
DO you call this sort Of thing
grating or Just plain stealing?" asked
Mr., Campbell. after the witness had re-
lated the circumstances.
well, the people down our way
think it is a scandal that the laws per
NIT such a thing and we think it is
time that congress take notice of It.
The probate court Of Durant allowed
the guardian to sell for $1,000 one
hundred and forty acres of what is
known as allotted land owned b. an
is-year-old child. The guardian then
put in a claim on the proceeds. The
claim included $3.50 for acting as
guardian, Si.G5O for improving the
land, $500 for barn SEQ for posts,
$3.50 for fences. SOS for witness fees,
and more money for other purposes. It
was found when the deed was closed
that the child owed his former guar
dian s2.075 and now the guardian is
Threatening to have the property OF
the child sold in order 20 get the
s2,O75
Il know Of another case in which
s25 acres were sold for an Indian
child and when all the claims were
paid the child got sS5e In another
instance $1,000 was obtained for 200
acres but the child got only Sl20. In
other words the children Of deceased
Indians Of this state. where are ioeat.
ed one-thlrd Of all the Indians IN the
United States. are systematically being
robbed OF their estates allotted them
by the government. The property is
sold At prices dictated by the land rob
bers The children are robbed at both
ends-at one end by their guardians
and at the other end by the purehas.
ers."
do you mean 70 say that such
things are countenaneed by the pro
bate eourts?"
Yes, they go on with the full knowl-
edge Of the judges"
Thousands Of acres Of property are
thus taken from the Indians and
thrown into the hands Of white peo-
pie. The Indians are getting poorer
and the land grabbers richer"
Most Of Mondays testimony was Civ
en- BY witnesses for the defense. ..
F. McMurray. whose 10000 contracts
allowing him 10 per cent Of the moneys
fee for the sale Of s30.000.0OO worth
of Indian land caused the present In
yestigation. sought to show that a
large percentage Of the signers we're
still in favor of his terms A dozen
Chickasaw Indians testified they were
willing 90 Increase the fee # It would
result in the prompt sale Of allotted
land held IN trust BY the government
Thomas 3. Crews, an attorney Of
St Louis. testified he had contracts
with 700 freedmen or negroes who
elaim Indian bloc or claim 70 be de.
pendants Of former slaves Of Indians,
These freedmen assert they are
wrongfully kept of the citizenship