The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-08-18
STRONG PULL OF
INDIAN CRATER
SHOWN ON STAND
Name Of Texas Politician Is
Again Dragged Into the
Limelight by the
Testimony.

Sulphur, Okla. Aug. 17.-More details
Of j. r. McMurray's alleged activ-
ity at washington to promote his 10
per cent attorneys fees contracts in
the sale Of $50, 600, 900 worth of Indian
lands were related before the congress-
ional investigating committee today.
w. b. Johnson, former United States
attorney, testified that certain indict-
ments against McMurray in 1906 were
ordered dismissed by the attorney gem
eral. The Indictments were returned
against McMurray and others in on
nection with a $500, 900 expense account,
which McMurray's firm had filed
against the Indians in prosecuting cit
izenship cases. 1t was alleged In the
indictment that the expense account
had been padded"
Cecil Lyon Again.
At the time the indictments
were being investigated, Cecil A.
Lyon. national republican COM
Washington. Mr.. Lyon previously had
testified he had urged the attorney gen.
eral to investigate indictments, but he
declared he never asked that they be
dismissed. The Indictments later were
ordered dismissed. Mr.. Lyon then be-
came interested with McMurray in what
are known as the "old tribal contracts"
III llhcu Will IiC6luclIt
in regard to them. Roosevelt turned
them down.
During you term Of office how many
indictments were ~returned?" Mr.. John
son was asked.
About 5000"
How many of those indictments
were dismissed"
After the McMurray indictment was
returned I was called to Washington.
1 took all the papers there. After
nine days Assistant Attorney General
Russell told nj the indictments were
to be investigated. I also met Mr..
Lyon. He said he had been summoned
to Washington by telegraph. When I
got back home I was instructed the in
dictment against McMurray was dis
missed.
Cub" Ream. IN Indian, testified he
had been prevented from securing the
position of delegate to Washington for
the Chickasaw tribe because he was
opposed to the McMurray contracts.
Ream declared he had protested to the
Indians that a 10 per cent fee to Nc
Murray would be too high, and that
the government already had promised
to sell the land without expense to
them. For taking this view, he said,
he was not allowed to represent the
Indians at Washington.
Douglas II. Johnston, chief Of the
Chickasaw tribe, was in favor Of the
contracts, Ream said.
w. H. Paul, a Chickasaw, told of
having received a share Of $4,000 for
getting the McMurray contracts signed.
Attorneys for McMurray put on wit
nesses In favor of the contracts.
Holmes Willis, a Chickasaw, testified
he favored the McMurray contracts
and paying the 10 per cent fee because
he believed McMurray could sell the
property for more thar 10 per cent
more than the government could get
for it.
Regarded as Legitimate.
Every inch of land owned by In
dams is looked upon as the legitimate
prey Of the land grabbers."
This statement was made today by
a member of the committee appointed
by the House of Representatives to in
vestigate Indian land contracts. Be-
sides the charges Of Senator T. P.
Gore that he was offered a $4,000
bride to boost the McMurray con-
tracts in congress, the committee has
been inquiring into otner Indian land
conditions.
Some of the land ~grabbers' schemes
certainly will be called to the atten-
ton of congress-" said a committee
man. "One man, we have learned. has
become rich. He kept a list Of In
dams who owned allotted lands. When
ever an Indian died he rushed into
court, had a guardian appointed, and
with the connivance Of the guardian,
demanded that the land be sold at a
ridiculously low valuation. Fol- a few
dollars he secured whole sections Of
land. This man, who is only one OF
many starting with no capital, now
owns 10000 acres for which he paid
the Indians no adequate compensa-
tons. AS there are In Oklahoma
thing like 10000, 900 acres Of Indian
lands, it seems absolutely imperative
that congress take prompt steps to
prevent further land grabbing"