The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-12
IT GROWS BIGGER.
McMurray Stood to Make Nearly
$5, 100000
If His Indian Contracts Had
Gone Through.
SCOTT SHEDS LIGHT.
Says the Indians Have the Ut.
most Confidence
In Vice President Sherman and
Senator Curtis.

Sulphur, Ok, Aug. 12.-That J. F. Nc
Murray had contracts with the Indians,
Whloh in the sale of their lands he
would receive not only $1,000. 900 as at
torneys' fees, but agreements calling
Tor $l,500O 600 in other fees, was testified
by George w. Scott, before the special
congressional investigation committee
today. Scott acted as agent for Nc
Murray.
Scott was regarded as one of the
most important witnesses in the in
vestlgatlon growing cut of Senator
cores charges that he had been offer
ed brjbe to promote the approval of
the contracts in congress.
Ii 2l tEe contracts McMurray held
with the Indians were successfully ex-
ecuted, Scott testified, McMrrray would
secure almost five million in fees. These
were for the sale on 10 per cent fee
basis OF segregated coal and asphalt
land valued at 500. .000, 900, unaIlotted land
valued at $10,0O0000 and what is known
as leased district land valued at So co.,
600. All these lands Senator Gore con-
tends could be sold by the government
without the employment of paid attor-
neys.
Telling of his relations with McMur-
ray, Scott said he had visited many
OF the Indians in 1909, and had urged
them to sign the contracts, Scott him
self, Choctaw, said he had signed
the contracts because he believed Nc
Murray would have more influence at
Washington than did the Oklahoma del
egatfon to congress.
Did you ever have any official po-
sition from which you Were released
because of your relations with McMur-
ray?" esked Chairman Burke.
Yes, I had been secretary to Green
McCurtain, chief of the ChoctaWs and
/ was asked to resign
Scott testified a TELEGRAM had baay,
sent last May to Richard Adams, at
torney at Washington, in which Vice
President Sherman and Senator Curtis
of Kansas were referred to as under
standing more than any one else what
the Indians wanted.
Both Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Curtis
said Scott, long were identified with
Indian affairs and we believed they
know more about us than did one of
our congressman"
WAS that the only reason for your
referring to Mr.. Sherman and Mr..
Curtis?" Scott was asked
"Yes, we had absolute confidence in
their ability to deal with Indian af-
fairs.''
Scott denied he ever had received
any financial aid from McMurray. He
insisted that his interest in the con-
| tracts was based only on his anxiety
to get the land sold.
He told of inducing the Indians to
ing the prompt sale of the land in
May last.
McMurray was in Washington, urg-
ing the approval of his contracts and
on May 8, three days before Senator
Gore says the bribe was offered, Nc
Murray telegraphed to Scott in Okla
homa:
Looks better we will win, know
Now what did you take that 10
| mean?" Scott was asked. Did you
| think McMurray was going to get his
contracts approved soon?''
well, it appeared he felt encour-
aged over the situation at Washing
! tom
Referring to the contracts. Scott
said: "Out of these segregated coal
and asphalt lands, the Indians thought
they ought to get $50, 100000. but we
didn't ask more than $40, ,000,0 600. The
surplus unallotted land was worth
about SIS, 100000 and the leased dis
| trict land perhaps as much. McMur-
I ray was to get 10 per cent of what