The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-17
INDIAN LAND SCANDAL.
McMURRAY CONTRACTS COVER
PROPERTY WORTH $50 ZOO, 900.
He Got Big Fees and Expenses-One
Account Amounting to 100000
And One Fee OF s75O,OOO Mention
ed mt Inquiry.

Sulphur. Okla, Aug. 12.-Lawyer's
expense accounts, running as high as
$300.O00, single fee already paid
amounting to S750.OOO. and contin-
gent fees still pending that would ag-
gregate about $4,000. 900 figured in
the investigation in the Indian land
affairs by the special committee ap-
pointed by the house of representa-
tives today.
IL was pointed out that the Indians
never had secured large amounts of
money due them without having to
come across" in the shape Of fees
and, although they employed lawyers
on yearly salaries. extras were con-
stantly paid. The special fee Of $3.50,
600 was paid several years ago to ].
+. McMurray and his law partners,
after they had prosecuted what are
known as the citizenship causes"
which IL was stated kept off the reser-
vation $4,000 persons who wanted to
participate In the claims.
Still Fighting Case.
In this suit it' was explained that
the value OF the property to the In
dians who remained on the rolls was
enhanced s16.oOo.ooO. The sale of the
property and the division of proceeds
is still being fought for by the In
dians
This testimony developed in the ex-
animation OF George F. Scott, a Choc-
taw. Scott was active in securing
signatures for the McMurray con-
tracts to promote the approval Of
which by congress Senator Gore
charges that on May 6, last he was
offered a bribe OF $4,000 or $780,
900.
Would Cover $4,000, 900.
hcMurray's contracts. Scott testi-
fed. IL carried out In their entirety,
would dispose OF about $50, 900, 900
worth Of property. which on a 10 per
cent attorneys fee" basis would re-
suit In a net profit to McMurray and
his associates of almost 5000. 900.
This fee. according to Senator Gore
and members OF the committee who
interrogated the witness, would be
paid for services that the government
had already promised to give the In
dians without cost.
Previous to being connected with
McMurray Scott had been tree ylrer
OF the Choctaw nation.
on cross-eEamination tie witness
said the department. of the interior
had complained concerning his
method of cashing warrants for
money due against the nation. He said
he sometimes had favored friends In
making payments when his authority
Tor so doing was I'm dispute.
Didn't Mind Law.
Scott admitted that sometimes he
made payment after he had received
notice from the department that he
was not to do so until the act au-
thorizing him TO make such payments
had been approved by the president
He did this when the act itself was in
dispute. he said.
Did McMurray ever giev YOU
money for the work you were doing
for him?"
He gave me $4,000 once for ex-
penses and some money / had col
lected as fees. about 81 a head, I be-
heve. for each of the 1000 tax case
contracts which / had secured"
Paid Afterwards.
"McMurray would imburse me for
my time and trouble after he had got
his fee, but there was no agreement
as to that"
In the 5000 taxes cases which
formed suit to prevent the govern
ment from collecting taxes on allotted
lands Scott said McMurray was to get
$40 for winning each case.
Tho witness said he refused to turn
over his books TO the government
agents upon demand with view TO
protecting the governor himself and
the attorneys for the tribe.
The Chickasaw treasurer had
turned over his books and the officials
were Indicted