Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-08-18
LAWYER PLANNED
GIGANTIC LOOT OF
ANOTHER MILLION
Additional Agreement Brought
Out Which Would Have
Given Him Much Larg-
err Sum.

Sulphur, Okla, Aug. 15.-That ]. r.
McMurray had contracts with the In
dams by which, in the sale of their
lands, he would receive not only $3.-
900, 900 in attorneys fees, but also
agreements calling for 81 300, 900 in fees,
was testified to by George w. Scott,
in investigation of the land deal be-
fore the special congressional commit
tee today. Scott acted as an agent for
McMurray.
Scott was regarded as one of the
most important witnesses in the inves-
tigation growing out of Senator Gore's
charges that he had been offered a
$4,000 bride to promote the approval
of the contracts in congress.
Rich Harvest in Sight
If all the contracts McMurray held
with the Indians were successfully ex-
ecuted, Scott testified. McMurray would
obtain almost $1,000, 600 in fees for the
sale on 10 per cent fee basis of segre-
gated coal and asphalt land valued at
$20,000,000 and surplus unallotted land
valued at $4,000 900 and what is known
as leased districts lands valued at $16,-
100000. All these lands, Senator Gore
contends, could be sold by the govern
ment without the employment of paid
attorneys. Telling of his relations with
McMurray, Scott said he had seen
many of the Indians in 1909 and had
urged them to sign the contracts. Scott.
himself a Choctaw, said he had
signed the contracts because he be-
lfeved McMurray will have more in
fiuence at Washington than did the
Oklahoma delegation to congress.
did you ever have any official posi-
ton where you were released because
of your conversation with McMurray ?"
asked Chairman Burke.
Lost His Own Position.
Yes. / had been secretary to Green
McCurtain, chief of the Choctaws, and
! was asked to resign"
Scott identified telegram he had
sent last May to Richard Adams, at
torney at Washington, in which Vice
President Sherman and Senator Charles
Curtis, of Kansas, were referred to as
understanding more than any one else
what the Indians wanted
Both Mr.. Sherman and Mr. Curtis"
said Scott, long We're identified with
Indian affairs. We believed they knew
more about us than did our congress
men,"
WAS that the only reason for your
referring to Mr. Sherman and Mr.. Cur
tis?"
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 in
sisted his interest ir the contracts was
based only on his anxiety to get tbs
land sold He told of inducing the In
dams to send the kilograms to Wash
fngton, urging the prompt sale of the
land. Last May McMurray was in
Washington, he said, urging the ap-
prevail of his contracts and on May
3, three days before Senator Gore says
the bride was offered him, McMurray
telegraphed to Scott in Oklahoma:
Looks better here; we will win, I
know"
Interprets the Telegram.
Now, what did you take that to
mean?" Scott was asked.
did you think McMurray was going
to get his contracts approved soon?''
well, it appeared he felt encouraged
over the situation at Washington"
Referring to the promise of the con-
tracts Scott said: "Out of these segre-
gated coal and asphalt land the Indians
thought they ought to get $50. 900, 900,
but we did not ask more than $4,000
900. The surplus unallotted land was
worth about $4,000, 600 and the leased
district land perhaps as much.
"McMurray was to get 10 per cent of
whatever he got out of it. We be-
lieved McMurray was in a position to
expedite the sale of these lands and
induced others to sign"
"One reason why the Indians were
willing to pay a big fee" Scott said,
lis that they were afraid the govern
ment would reopen the rolls and take
In 10000 more Indians"
Money for Election.
Scott said he believed the Indians
would give 20 per cent attorneys fees
IL they could sell at once. He also de-
clared that the McMurray law firm
contributed $1,000 to the campaign
fund in a tribal election. AS treasurer
of the Choctaw nation. Scott said he
had charge of payment of warrants. He
said 1t was customary first to pay the
warrant of his friends and hold up
those who were not his friends.
do you think that is the proper
way to discharge the affairs of the
nation?"
yes, I thought it was all right; 1t
was frequently DONE"
Did you ever visit a town called
Robbers Roost"
The witness said he had not. A
previous witness declared Robbers
Roost was the center of operations for
a McMurray agent. Questioned fur
ther. Scott admitted he had received
from McMurray $500 for expenses, but
he had kept an account of what Nc
Murray still might owe him. Scott
admitted his management of the finan-
cial affairs of the Indians was a sub
ject of complaint at Washington, and
that the secretary of the interior fin
ally took the payment of warrants out
of his hands.
nnENEI RHAKEc MElM lINu