Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-09
MOTHER ADMITS
TOMMY" ATKINS
NEVER EXISTED
Probate Attorney Testifies
She Confessed to Fraud
in Seattle in 1914.
LATER SHE DENIES IT
Pages Lawyers Attempt
to Show Government
HOunded Woman.
MINNIE REAL PlTIFUL FIGURE
Faces Crowded Courtroom
Daily, but Will Gain Moth
ing by Either Decision.
MINNIE REAL PlTIFUL FIGURE
Special 10 The World.

Special TO The World
MUSKOGEE, May S.-Mnnie At
kins, whom Charles Page would like
TO prove Is the mother of Tommy At
kins, has confessed that she never had
son of that name, Frank l.. Mont
gOmery, United States probate attor-
ney for eastern oklahoma, testified
today in the famous Atkins case OH
trial here in federal court.
The admission occurred, he said. in
December, 1914 in Seattle, Wash,
whore Minnie was living at that time.
The probate attorney went there upon
instructions from the interior depart
ment at Washington, he said, to inter
roGate the alleged mother about the
existence of Tommy Atkins, who had
received an Indian allotment.
Got Signed Statement.
At the first three conferences Min
ME was noncommittal, but on the
fourth she confessed that she never
had q son named Tommy Atkins, and
that she had frauduleNtly caused that
name to be enrolled as her son on the
Creek rolls Montgomery declared,
The official said that he Immediately
put the statement in writing and that
Minnie signed it, The woman was told
repeatedly that only the truth was de-
sired according to Montgomery. Both
her attorney and a man who acted
as her business advisor were present
at the time the admission was made,
ne said.
Statement Held Up.
Her advisor asked about immunity
from criminal prosecution. MontgOm-
cry asserts, in the event Minnie told
the truth about Tommy Atkins. The
probate attorney said that he told
hat 1,A hnp n
promise immunity, but that he would
endeavor to procure 1t If she made a
complete statement.
After Minnie had signed the written
confession Montgomery testified, the
man acting as her advisor took it and
told him that when a written promise
of immunity was received that Min
MES confession would be forwarded to
Muskogee. If it did not come, the
statement was to be destroyed.
Minnie appeared to be greatly re-
lieved after that, Montgomery said.
Rcpudiatcs Confession.
IF ] have to go to Jail, I'll Just
have to CO." she declared, according
to him.
on the following day. however
Minnies attorney procured from her
another statement repudiating what
she had told Montgomery. In cross
examining the probate attorney to-
day, Pages lawyers endeaVored TO
show that he had bounded Minnie un-
til she was ready to say anything to
get rid of him.
The date of Tommy's alleged birth
has been changed at least twice. The
defense now contends that he was
born in a house of prostitution at
Leavenworth Kan, about May 30,
1885. The government insists that he
was never born and have introduced
several witnesses to prove that Min
ME was not living At the address given
on the foregoing date.
Fritchic Much Confused.
f C. Frltchie, a Leavenworth drug
eist was recalled to the stand today.
Fritchie is the witness WHO stated on
ross examination Monday that he
had been subjected to the third de-
gree" by the government attorneys.
ID. HAYDEN Linebaugh, special assist
ant to the attorney-general, asked
T'ritchie what he meant by the third
degree"
why, all those questions you
asked me-" he replied.
Fritchie appeared so confused and
contradicted himself on so many
points that 1t is doubtful IL his testi-
monv will be of material value to
either side.
Pages Dispositions.
The deposition of Page introduced
today showed that he said in March,
1915, that he had kept Minnie at
his home IN Tulsa in the previous
October for three or four days before
he could get her to tell the truth
CONTINUED on PAGE TWELVE