The San Francisco call., 1910-08-09
.HAMON ACCUSES
new CONGRESSMAN
Creager Of Oklahoma Charged
With Soliciting Money From
McMurray
Indians Signed 10 Per Cent Con-
tract Because United States
Was Slow

MALES Ohio., Aus. o. "a
charge that Congressman c. e. Creager,
of the third Oklahoma district had
solicited sums" of money from j. F.
McMurray, holder of the Indian land
contracts which are being subjected to
a congressional investigation. was made
by Jake L. Hamon. before the special
committee appointed by the national
house of representatives, today.
The charge developed in connection
with the inquiry into Senator Thomas
P Cores declaration that he had been
offered a $25, 900 or $4,000 bribe to help
put through" congress the McMurray
deal.
senator Gore said Hamon had offered
the bribe in McMurrays behalf and
Congressman Creager also had testi-
fed that Hamon had "suggested' that
he (Creager) might secure an interest"
in the contracts If he helped to remove
all opposition to- their approval by con-
gress and President Taft
HAMON AT HEARING
Appearing before the committee to-
day, Hamon made the counter charge
against Creager. He said the congress
man had solicited money from McMur-
ray during the tendency in congress of
bill that had been drawn up by Nc
This bill provided for the sale of the
surface lands to private individuals and
for the sale of mineral wealth to the
government. Although the McMurray
contracts were not referred to In it. the
bill. Hamon said, was, so termed that
McMurray might have been ena bled to
put in a claim for the attorneys fees.
The measure, however. was not passed.
Il want Mr.. Creager recalled to the
stand to answer these charges said
Hamon. Il want him to explain why.
just after he introduced that bill, he
went to McMurray and, under the guise
of loans, demanded from McMurray
large sums of money. I think 1t will
throw considerable light on the Indian
land situation at Washington IL Crea-
ger is recalled and is asked about his
repeated demands from McMurray."
WANTS NEW WITNESSES
On being informed by Congressman
Charles II. Burke. chairman of the
committee. that ii was doubtful If
Creager would be recalled. Hamon
asked to be allowed to introduce wit
nesses to testify to his charges. His
request was taken under advisement.
1t was Indian day" at the hearing
Many Indians testified they had signed
the McMurray contracts allowing 10
per cent attorneys fees because they
had become impatient at the govern
ment. They said they had concluded
they had to employ attorneys to fight
the government in order to secure
what money had been promised
1t was pointed out that S5 per cent
of the Choctaws and Chicka saws had
signed the 10 per cent agreement. That
McMurray's agents had gone among the
Indians and asked them to sign the
contracts and to send kilograms to
President Taft urging him to approve
the sale of the land on a 10 per cent
attorneys fee basis. was the bur-
den of most of the Indians testimony
we have become used to the 10 per
cent idea" declared Parke Anderson. a
Choctaw. Most of the Indians in this
state have to pay 10 per cent on all
debts and borrowed money. We have
become so dependent on attorneys that
they have hand in almost everything
we do.
INDIANS INPATIENT
DO you mean to, say that to sell
your land you are willing TO give Nc
Murray $3,oo0,O0o or enough to hire
all the lawyers In Oklahoma ?" asked
Congressman c. B. Miller
Yes, we have waited so long for the
government to act that we would give
% per cent if that would cause a quick
sale. We need the money to develop
the land on which we live"
W. T. Holman, a Choctaw Indian.
testified he had been employed by J. F.
McMurray, holder of the contracts. to
go out among the Oklahoma Indians
and induce them to sign the documents
At the same time. Holman related, he
was paid "a dollar a head" for secur-
ing contracts appointing McMurray to
act in tax cases. In this way McMur-
ray procured 10000 contracts to sell
land
fees, or $3,0o0,ooo profit for McMurray
and his associates. To promote this
deal in congress, Senator Gore con-
tends he was offered a $4,000 or $50, 900
bribe.
It was estimated by c. c.. Choate, a
Choctaw, that if his land was sold
through the McMurray contracts his
of $500 in fees Now" he said, IT
would rather have $4,000 while I am
living than to wait until the govern
ment acts and get $4,000 when / am
dead
why is it that while you have at
torneys on regular salary, and ap-
proved by the government, you employ
special attorneys"
Because our regular attorneys get
paid whether they work or not, while
the special attorneys. on a contingent
fee, work because they expect to be
paid"
Charles Lalafore related that he had
been appointed by George w. Scott,
acting for McMurray. and had been in
duced to sign a telegram, the wording
of. which he himself had not dictated,
this being telegram addressed to
Richard c. Adams of Washington, an
attorney and Delaware Indian
The substance of that telegram was
that the Indians approved of the con-,