Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-30
PAGE HIT HARD AS
TRIAL NEARS END
Minnie Atkins Practically Ad-
mits Under Cross Fire That
Tommy" Was Myth.
CHIEF DEFENDANT GRILLED
Page Put Thru Stiff Examina-
tion by German; Denies
Charges of Fraud.

Special to The World
MUSKOGEE. May EFF any adj
ditlonal evidence were needed TO
prove that Tommy Atkins never ex-
listed and that Charles Page. Frank
Long and T.. G. lIanford had ample
notice Of that fact before they took
hold of the property. the government
believes it brought out today IN the
Cross-oNpmiuation Of Minnie Atkins,
alleged mother of Tommy The cx-
animation was conducted 10y u. Hay
den LnHbaugh. special assistant to
the Cnitad states attorney general
Mlnnie's testimony satisfied the
government that the boy intended to
represent Tommy Atkins was Robert
Lee PotCrkin child born In tho
summer of 1851 but which lived only
three weeks. He was not entitled 70
the allotment because OF not being
alive In April. 1899
Informs Page Crowd.
Her admissions also indicate that
she had Informed the PAGE crowd Of
this at the outset, but that they per-
sisted in establishing Tommy At
l;ins. They FIX the date of his birth
as June |, 1855. His early life -
somewhat of a mystery. but he had
10 die shortly after receiving the al
lo'mcrt to III into the PAGE scheme.
Harsh tactics were not used In
cross-questioning Standing close to
the witness stand. Limbaugh put tho
intcrrogatlons In kindly tone and
frequently assisted Minnie In refresh
ing her memory. This the witness
seemed to appreciate. She was asked
about n trip which Hanford her at
torney made TO Boston I'm July, 1914,
to see one Charles Pcterkin. a former
amor of Mlnnie's
Minnic's Admission.
What did Hanford say to you when
he roturned?" Linebaugh asked.
lie asked me what | meant by tell
Ing him that lie about Peterkin being
| the father of Tommy" she replied
Then you had told him that Peter
kin was the father OF the boy"
Yes" said Minnie as she bowed
her head aud smiled sheeplshly.
For the sake OF the men who have
| drawn her into this affair, Minnie to-
| day publicly barred her life. and. so
the government believes. laid claim to
one sin which she never committed.
II had become generally known that
Minnie was TO testify and the court
ioom was packed when she took tho
| stand. However, AS she related the
story of young girl without guild
ance strnying from the path Of right
eousnoss, many women left the room.
Trouble Weighs on Her.
Minnie is SO years old, she testified
today She is large OF frame and al
though not possessing physical charm
there is look Of mute appeal in her
eyes that would command the SYM
pathy Of almost anyone.
The Tommy Atkins trouble has
! kept her In a high nervous state for
| the last three years. At several cru
cial points In the fight to retain the
land, Minnie has collapsed under the
fear that she was about to be ar
rested She then had to be put thru
course of preparation before she
was ready to testify. This was the
| fifth story regarding Tommy's birth
told by Minnie. All vary on impor-
tant details. But she insisted today
| that this one was the truth.
Changes Her Mind.
In n suit brought by Nancy Atkins
at Sapulpa to obtain the Tommy At
kins allotment. Minnie said that Tom
my was born in a hospital at Leaven-
worth. Today she said he was born
at Granny" LetCher's, negro house
OF prostitution.
She also testified at Sapulpa that
Tommy was born in the summer or
1856, while she was working for tho
family OF Lieutenant Stafford. This
fits In exactly with the date OF the
Peterkin child Minnie made the OUT
right statement on direct examination
that she had an illegitimate son which
CONTINUED on PAGE THREE