Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-11
PACE nEEEkIcC To
Apv Ncloos lc'Ao'sli'
UPtN UP MONDAY
Government Almost Thru in
Presenting Prosecutions
Side in Atkins Case.
MRS. WlLDS IS NOT SHAKEN
Star Witness Holds Up Well
Under Stiff Cross-EXami-
nation by Judge Stuart.

Special to Tho World
MUSKOGEE. May 10.-Thc United
States practically rested its case
against Charles Page today. There arc
yet two witnesses to be examined for
the government. but their testimony
is understood to be only perlunctorN
and will be presented next Monday.
After that the defense viii begin the
production of it's evidence.
This afternoon the prosecution pro-
ceeded against Nancy Atkins and
Henry Carter, also claimants for the
Tommy Atkins allotment There are
four sides to the Tommy Atkins case.
The government contends that such
an individual never existed; Charles
Page, who obtained the land from
Minnie Atkins, claims that she had a
son of that name; Nancy Atkins (Min-
MES sister, says that Tommy is her
son, and Henry Carter insists that he
is the original Tommy Atkins
Quick Action Expected.
Attorneys for the government eX-
pect to dispose of the Nancy Atkins
and Henry Carter claims in two days.
The Creek rolls show that Tommy was
listed as son of Minnie. thus elm
mating Nancy's claim; the government
contends and the pretensions of car
ter are said to be so absurd that tney
can he quickly exposed.
The chief fight is against Page. SO
far his defense rests upon three prln-
cipal points First, his attorneys OBJ
jected with all their might to the pros
ecution being permitted to go back
of the Dawes commission records.
claiming that that body was infallible.
Judge Campbell decided that the gov
ernment had the right to go as far
as it desired to prove the non-eXist-
ence of Tommy Atkins. This was tho
first big blow to Page.
Secondly. Page still contends that
Tommy really existed and was son
of Minnie but the strong evidence
submitted to the contrary this week
by the government has to all indica-
tions shattered that theory. His third
and last line of defense Is that If
Tommy Atkins did not exist he did not
know it at the time he bought the
property from Minnie, but the govern
ment is prepared to show that he did.
Page Knew, Claim.
To prove that Page had ample no.
tice that Tommy Atkins never existed
the government relies partly upon tho
testimony of Mrs. Bette Mann, de-
tective. Mrs Mann said that she went
to Seattle in May. 1914. under an ar
rangement with Charles Pages agent,
Frank Long, to find Minnie Atkins.
When she had found her she notified
Long and he Joined her in Seattle.
After talk with Minnie, Long said
that she told him that she did not
have son named Thomas, according
to Mrs Mann. lie related. Mrs. Mann
says, that he warned Minnie not to
say that again. Long WAS unable to
get the deed and returned to Tulsa,
leaving Mrs. Mann in charge OF the
Seattle end.
In a few days Mrs. Mann persuaded
Minnie's business advisor to sell the
property to Page. She then returned
to Tulsa and went direct to Pages Of
flee Page asked her about Tommy
Atkins" Mrs. Mann says, but she
evaded an answer as she was positive
that he was myth.
Easy for Page.
We'll. it doesn't make any differ
ence," she declared Page said, I'VE
will have Tommy fixed up all right"
At the first trial in Sapulpa Minnie
testified that Tommy WAS born i'm
hospital at Leavenworth. An exami-
nation Of the hospital record showed
this to be false. The defense then
changed the place of birth to the
home of "Granny' Lctcher A negro
house of fame, but I'm this trial the
government has shown that Granny
CONTINUED on PAGE NINE