Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1911-12-27

INA there were 800 full-oloods and
200 mixed bloods. and In 1884 tn
fullbloods had dwindled TO 900 and
the mixed bloods had increased to
practically the same number. The
full-bloods then realized that their
control OF tribal affairs was passing
away. The house OF Roy was the
greatest menace. II the Roys were
ousted from the tribe other mixed
blood families would be compelled
10 20 with them, and the full-bloods
would be left alone and the old or
der OF things restored.
Deliberation resulted in almost i'm
mediate action. The Indian council
issued a decree OF Punishment against
the house OF Roy. The Roys appeal
ed TO the departments at Washington
but the departments believed their
claims OF citizenship fraudulent and
Madame Roy being dead the house
decided to employ attorneys. A com
mission came to the agency and the
hearing began. The papers with
which Madame Roy had proved her
citizenship were lost. There were
witnesses In plenty who swore that
Julia Roy was not an Usage but n
kaw; others that she was not In
dian at all. but French; at any rate
was never an Usage.
Saucy Chief Again Saves Family.
Matters were looking blue for the
house OF Roy when a witness was
found who did know. Il was Sauce
Chief. a white haired old man OF so
wears. yet his memory ran back
through all the years and through
his testimony the house OF Roy was
re-established lie remembered the
letters OF proof from Kansas City.
He vouched for the Usage blood I'm
Madame Roy with distinct knowledge
of the family from which Il came.
The courts, the attorneys and the
departments believed Saucy Chief
and that was sufficient for the Roy
family.
Saucy Chief died ten years ago.
Through him the house OF Roy re-
tanned its rights. and today there
are over 800 mebers OF the tribe
who claim kinship with Madame Roy
What II means to Louis BENJAMIN
Lessart to be restored to his rights
Is best expressed in figures. for to
bd OF the house of Roy is to be veal
thy Outside OF what each Rov must
have accumulated for himself, each
has close to $4,000 drawing interest
In the United States treasury, and
title to 700 acres OF Usage land.
Each Roy draws in quarterly pay.
ments, annually about 5000, and the
family over $4,000 annually. This
family has title to about 100000
acres OF land, and il the tribal funds
should be distributed the Roy family
would obtain more than 81 ,OOO, 900.
II is but little wonder then that
Louis Benjamin I.essart would be
anxious to have his Usage citizenship
restored. II Is said he has but little
on this worlds goods. On the wit
ness stand. with the aid OF his at
torneys, he will tell this romantic
story OF his mothers career. his Al
satan father the trapper and inter-
prefer, and of Saucy Chief. head man
Tor many years of the Osages.
During the past week attorness
for the Usage tribe have filed a de-
murrer in the federal court here 10
the effect that the congressional act.
allotting the Usage Indians. repeals
the jurisdiction of the courts TO pass
upon Indian citizenship claims. The
demurrer is filed in the Louis BEN
jamin Lessart case and II asks also
that the petition be dismissed. II
Judge Cotteral should sustain the de-
murrer. Lessart will take his case
before the court OF claims at Wash
ington. ~
II has been suggested by descend
ants of Madame Roy that they set
aside a fund to erect a monument
10 the memory Of their mother. who,
Tor the sake OF her children, made
three lonesome. long. tiresome Jour
news over Indian trails to establish
the rights that today bring them
wealth and position