The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-08
INDIAN POISONING TO THE PRESIDENT
Sensational Developments Expected From Investigations of Land Sharks in Oklahoma - Under
 taker and Physician Suspected

Muskogee, Ok, May l.-The all legged wholesale poisoning of In- dians in the Choctaw nation by per-
 sons desiring to get possession of
 their lands will be called to the at
 tention of President Wilson by Dana
 Il. Kelsey, Indian superintendent,
 who left for Washington this aft
 ernoon. County Attorney Warren
 of Hugo was told today that govern
 ment officials who are working on
 the case have received anonymous communications containing threats.
 Hugo, Ok, May l.-That several sensational exposures are expected
 in connection with the alleged dis covery of government officials that Indians in Eastern Oklahoma have been poisoned by land sharks who later inherited the property of the victims became known today when it was learned that the coils are tightening about an undertaken and a physician, residents of the Choc- Jaw nation, and their arrest is mo- mentarily expected, according to statements made in this city.
 It is alleged that the officials who have been Investigating a dozen or more mysterious deaths of Indian land owners in the Choctaw and Chickasha nations have discovered that the undertaken and physician have been called in their respective capacities to supply their services in at least six cases where Indians died suddenly. Federal officers aver that they were employed to make bogus oaths as to the cause of the deaths, being in collision with the land grafters.
 Hearing Is Postponed.
 The city is in the throes of in- tense excitement over' the arrest of Y. Bronaugh and Ed l.. Reed, prominent real estate dealers off this city, who are charged with conspiracy to poison Ellis Wood and numerous threats are in the air. While the friends of Bro naugh and Reed are claiming that they are the victims of a conspira- acy the best people of Choctaw county are backing both federal and state authorities in their efforts to unearth the numerous frauds that have been perpetrated here, and to explain the mysterious death of h. dians in Choctaw and McCurtain counties.
 It is claimed that land grafters operated in these two counties al- most exclusively.
 The government has been at work on the case for nearly two years after it became known that Indians were dying suddenly, and that they had made wills with land grafters in nearly ever instance the beneficiaries of their estates.
 The preliminary hearing of Bro naugh and Reed was set for hear ing before Justice Winchester, but the defendants demanded a change of venue, and Justice Oakes will preside at the hearing, which is to take place Friday.
 Advise Washington.
 Realizing that the case is one of | national importance, County Attor- ney Warren today requested fed aral assistance and Frank Lee, whot is assistant district attorney i'll the office, has been detailed to come here and assist in the In addition to this, Indian Superintendent Kelsey will lay the whole matter before Sec retary Lane on his arrival in Wash ngton and President Wilson will be requested to give the matter his | personal attention. The claim that | ! score or more of Indians have | been secretly poisoned by land | grafters is one that cannot go un- needed by the government.
 It is known to a certainty that the | state and government authorities were satisfied one year ago that In Hans were being put out of the way in Choctaw county by men who were made beneficiaries of their wills, and that an expose would | nave been made months ago were | not for the fact that legislation md a change in administration in- ervened and interfered. Dr. J. H. Stopler- had discovered evidence hat Indians had been poisoned in NcCurtain county and the county md federal authorities made simi- ar discoveries in Choctaw county md it was expected that both sides would make a concerted movement. lust when the game was to have been exploded smallpox was discov- ,red in Choctaw county and Dr. Stopler was forced to resign.
 Governor Locke of the Choctaw nation is taking a personal hand in he investigation, and he has as- ,ured both the state and federal of lcers that he will guarantee them protection. The charge is made hat certain full bloods were given m allowance of $i0 or more a month with the understanding that hey were to make out wills with certain parties as the beneficiaries. After the wills were made the In- iians died and then the estates passed into the hands of certain ypa ffapS Tn cOnnn inefanpac fhn |