The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-03-07
JACK SULLY'S WIDOW
AWARDED SMALL EMPIRE

AWARDED SMALL EMPIRE
Sioux Falls, s.. D., March Mrs.
Mary Sully, widow of Jack Sully. the
socalled king of the cattle rustlers,"
who was shot and killed some years
ago during a running fight with feder-
al officers, and her children and other
descendants, by a decision handed
dowS bere by Judge James d. Elliott,
Of the United States court. are awarded
more than so quarter sections of land,
aggregating more than 5000 acres,
situated in the ceded portion of the
Rosebud Indian reservation In Gregory
county.
At a conservative estimate the and
is worth at least $250,0O0. Sc far as the
value Of the property involved is con
cerned the case is the most important
ever tried in the federal court for
South Dakota.
Numerous residents Of Chicago.
Omaha and other cities had rendered
homestead entries on the lands in
volved in the case, these being held
In allegiance pending the decision OF
Judge Elliott. Unless the decision OF
Judge Elliott is overturned by higher
courts the intending homesteaders will
not be permitted to max entry of the
farms sought by them.
Although Mrs. Sully and her descend
ants on the Indian side are Yankton
Sioux Indians, they neglected their al
lotment rights on their reservation and
moved to the Rosebud reservation and
sought to be allotted the lands in
volved in the action decided today.
Their applications were rejected on the
ground that they could not %rightfully
take their allotments elsewhere than
on the Yankton reservation. Mrs. Sully
and her children and descendants
claimed the right to the allotted lands
on the Rosebud reservation through the
mother of Mrs. Sully, by reason Of her
having been adopted into the Brule
Sioux tribe of Indians, who occupy the
Rosebud reservation.
Mrs. Sully, although a mixed blood
Indian, has accumulated considerable
wealth in addition to her portion Of the
lands now awarded to herself and de-
s~cendants, she being the owner of
horses valued at between s25, 900 and
$4,000.
MARTIN WRITES SETTLERS
NOT TO COUNT ON CONGRESS
White Owl, S. D., March 1.-The fol-
lowing letter Is a copy of a reply writ
ten by Hon. Eben Martin. OF Dead
wood, In regard TO the petitions being
sent to him appealing for an appro-
priation from the government to aid
settlers in obtaining free seed:
Washington, d. c., Feb. 23, 1872
My Dear Sir: I fully appreciate the
serious conditions experienced by our
homesteaders In the drought region Of
western South Dakota, n shall do all
in my power Of their behalf. l will
make an earnest effort for a national
appropriation to purchase seed. The at
titude In congress, however, SO far as /
have been able to ascertain is not en-
couraging. and it would not be at all
safe to rely upon the success Of efforts
in this direction. My opinion is that
the county commissioners of each coun-
ty affected should make immediate pro-
vision to meet this situation under the
state law, and suggest that all possible
influence be brought to bear upon the
county commissioners by petition and
otherwise, to bring about action Of this
kind. The prospect for moisture the
coming season appears to be good. and
one good ear would entirely justify
favorable action by the commissioners.
I am able to furnish a good supply Of
garden seeds to all who may wish them.
Sincerely yours, Eben Martin.
EE0ERkI RllREAu VAIL