The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1910-08-06
.HAMON TERS
GENERAL |: DENIAL
Says He Did { !. Not Attempt to
Bribe Senator l!l Gore.
ACCUSED ON THE STAND

the McMurray Contracts and Con.
tradicts Other Statements Made by
Oklahoma Senator - Congressman
creager Continues His Testimony
Before the Committee.
Muskogee, Okla, Aug. 6.-Jake L..
Hamon, accused by Senator T. P. Gore
with having offered him a $25,OOO
bribe to influence legislation in con-
gress for the sale of Oklahoma Indian
lands, took the stand before the con-
gressional investigating committee.
Hamon entered a general denial of
Senator Cores charges that he Of
fered the senator $25, 900 or any other
amount to put through" the $30,00O,-
900 land deal. He denied being him.
self interested in the McMurray con.
tracts and said he was in Washington
In the interest of Governor G. N. Has.
kell of Oklahoma.
He also denied ever Offering Con-
gressman c. 2. Creager an interest"
in the deal. -, - :..
Hamon described himself as an at
torney at law at Lawton, the home of
Senator Gore. He said he had known
Senator Gore for nine years and had
loaned him money in business transac-
tions. ~ -......
did you tell Senator Gore that you
were ready to pay him $25, 900 or $780,
600 and the money y would not be
marked and there would be no checks,
but that the money would be clean,
hard cash?" the witness was asked.
II made no such OFFER" replied Ha-
mon. g
"Did you ever mention to Senator
Gore that Vice President Sherman,
Senator, Curtis, former Senator Long
or former Senator Thurston were in
terested in the McMurray contracts 2"
Hamon was asked. 80
At Washington for Haskell.
Il never did. was at Washington
in the interest of some Indian trades
at fee of $50, day and expenses in
the interest of Governor Haskell in
the Muskogee town lot cases."
Chairman Burke of the investigat-
ing committee authorized statement
that Vice President Sherman will not
be summoned to appear before the
committee. It was stated that no evil
dence has been introduced to show
that Mr.. Sherman can throw any light
on the investigation. y.
Resuming the witness stand Con-
gressman c. p, $Creager of Oklahoma,
on cross-exami4ation, told further. of
details of his experiences in Washing
ton in connection with the attempted
$3,000,000 Indian land deal. -.
Congressman Creager again testi.
fed concerning his meeting with Jake
L.. Hamon, charged by Senator Gore
with being promoter for j. F. McMur-
ray, who held contracts for the sale of
the land on 10 per cent basis. : -.
What was the length of time of the
conversation which you said you had
with Hamon at the hotel at Washing
ton, and at which he said you might
obtain an interest in the contracts if
you helped put them through" asked
G. B. Ames, counsel for McMurray.
"About two minutes,". said Mr..
Creaser. .s~@ -
"Did you state to Senator Gore that
an attempt had been made to influence
you?" 5.sa %
II did not All said was that at
the proper time I would rise in the
house to question of privilege: Gs;s
Saw McMurray Frequently.
you were on friendly terms with;
McMurray?" .s.-,....... :. ! -. .,.,.
Yes, saw him frequently" )" j., ;. :.
Mr.. Creager then said he was the;
author of a bill providing for the sale
of the lands on a $3O,OOO,OOO basis.
did McMurray help you frame that
bill?" ~ -...~
eyes" s.t=--. ...-..... IN. F..
"Then that bill expressed the wishes
OF. McMurray?" -, 49,
"some of his wishes. We went over
the bill together" b.
Did McMurray ever make any i'm
proper propositions to you to influ-
ence you to obtain legislation for
him?"
"He never did"
did your bill meet the approval of
the Oklahoma delegation in con-
gress?"
"Not entirely. They approved Of it
as a whole, but disagreed as to some
details"
In previous testimony you said
that Congressman MCGUIRE of Okla
homa lived at the same hotel in Wash
ington with Hamon and McMurray.
Did you mean they actually occupied
the same rOOms?"
Congressman Mcclure frequently
was in their rooms, but l think his
rooms were one or two stories higher
up. The hotel was frequented by con.
gressmen generally