Evening star., 1912-09-19
ON SERIOUS CHARGE
Mrs. Helen Pierce Gray Taken
Into Custody.
OUTCOME OF INDIAN LAWS
Government Accuses Her of Retain.
ing Papers and Documents.
REFUSES TO FURNISH BAIL
Amount Fixed at 91 900 by Commits
sioner Taylor, But Prisoner
Goes to Jail.

Mrs Helen Pierce Gray. who appeared
before Congress in the last session in
connection with Indian affairs, was ar
rested today on warrant issued by
united states Commissioner Anson s.
Taylor on a charge Of wilifully con-
cealing public records of the office Of
the commissioner of Indian affairs.
MRS. Gray became Well known through
her activities in connection with Indian
land legislation and proposed legislation
before Representative Graham's commit
tee.
She was storm center around which
ragged controversy between Minority
Leader Mann and Representative Ora
ham. Mr.. Graham was charged by Rep
resentative Mann with underhanded meth
oos of investigation: Mr.. Mann also
claimed that Mre. Gray was in the en-
ploy OF the Indian affairs committee for
the sole purpose of blackening the char
acterS of men now in office.
Refuses to Give Bond.
Mrs. Gray was taken before the com
missioner. who set the case for hearing
next Tuesday, and fixed the amount OF
bond at $1,000. which Mrs. Gray de-
clined to give.
When presented before the commits
sioner Mrs. Gray entered a plea OF not
guilty to the allegations. and declared
that the docements in her possession
were given to her by former Comms-
siOner Of Indian Affairs Valentine. She
refused to employ an attorney. and
also declared she would make no eff
fort to secure bond, but would go to
Jail pending the hearing next Tues
day.
Mrs. Gray, it is understood. obtained
certain books and documents belonging
| to the Office records on authority OF for
| mer Commissioner Valentine. Since the
retirement of Mr.. Valentine requests have
| been made by the Secretary Of the In
terror for the return OF the papers and
books. but. it is stated, Mrs. Gray has de-
| clined to accede to the requests, and re-
tanned the desired documents.
After several attempts to have the pa
pers returned, Secretary Fisher directed
| the law Office OF the Interior Department
\ to take up the matter. Accordingly At
torney Wright Of the department consult
tor as to the advisability of beginning
criminal proceedings to procure the re-
| turn of the documents Mr.. Proctor waA
Of the opinion that the alleged refusal Of
Mrs. Gray to return the papers consti-
tuted a violation Of section 12S Of the Fed
eral Penal Code.
| He then presented the matter to United
States Commissioner Taylor. who issued
L
| hands Of Deputy Marshal Cusick for serv-
| ice.
Charge Against Mrs. Gray.
The warrant sets forth the charge IN
the following language: That she did
feloniously and willfully conceal certain
records. books. papers and documents
filed and deposited with the commissioner
Of Indian affairs. and in the Of
fee Of the commissioner OF Indian
affairs. which said office was then
public office Of the said United
States. and which said officer was then a
| public officer of the said United States,
the said records books, papers and docu-
| ments then and there containing. among
| other things, original entries Of said Office
| pertaining to the allotment by said Com
missioner of certain lands situate in the
state of Montana to individual members
| Of the Grow tribe of Indians. which said
allotments had heretofore. in accordance
with the statutes of the said United States
| in such case made and provided been
made by the said commissioner Of Indian
affairs, and approved by the Secretary OF
the Interior. said allotments being desig-
| mated and numbered in said records and
books as one to two thousand three hum
dred and sixty-four, and which said rec
ords, books, papers and documents were
in the form of bound volume designated
and numbered thirty-nine. and did further
contain, among other things, entries
of the said office of the commits
sioner Of Indian affairs Of cer-
tain lands reserved In accordance
with law for agency, school and ceme-
terry purposes: among which said rec
ords. books. papers and documents SO
concealed aforesaid were two GER
tain other books. designated and num-
bered thirty-eight. part one, and thirty
eight, part two containing entries Of
said Office OF the commissioner OF In
dian affairs pertaining to allotments
made by the said commissioner in ao-
cordance with law, in the years 1885
and 1886, through special agents OF
said department, to wit, John G.
Walker, James r. Howard and George
r. Milburn, which said allotments have
not yet been approved by the Secretary
of the Interior, as provided by law: a
more particular description of said rec
| ords. books. papers and documents be-
ing to the complainant herein unknown.
and your complainant charges the fact
to be that the said Helen Pierce GRAY
now has possession Of and power over
the same and is still concealing them.''