The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-03-03

RINS&uuEuuuu llOlS I'll JdCkSOu Dbl hCIl,
E5H6aSN wealthy Cherokee Indian,
PN<I4SA have now been straight
$3.50 ened out by the courts ard
he will continue indefinitely to live
with his bride of last May in their
vine-coSered cottage at Henryetta,
Okla. And why pick on them for
story? Well, because
Jackson Barnett is the John ID.
Rockefeller Of his race.
He is 72 years of age, lliterate and
an incompetent in the eye of the law.
His wife, white and about half his
age, was accused of kidnapping him
and forcing him into marriage.
He has defeated Uncle Sans court
action to have the marriage annulled
and to restore him to the care of his
guardian, after proceedings unique In
the history of the courts.
He has topped OF a long list OF
benefactions by establishing and en-
downing the Jackson Barnett Hospital
for Indians.
Barnett's original allotment Of land
was near Glen Pool Six years ago
oil was struck on his land and riches
began to pour in on him. The federal
government protected his rights, since
he is an incompetent in the eye OF
the law Later Uncle Sam further
safeguarded his wealth by appointing
as his personal guardian Carl J.
O'Hornett of Henryetta, Okla.
O'Hornett took his ward to Henry
eta. There he established him in
comfortable home on SO acres of farm
land. He provided him with house
keeper, body servant and cook. He
stocked up the farm with livestock
and poultry. He saw that the rich old
Indian lacked nothing within reason.
Then Anna Laura Lowe appeared
upon the scene-white, about half his
age and good looking. just how she
managed things nobody seems to know.
But last May she and Barnett left
Henryetta in ON automobile, sped over
the state line into Kansas and were
married In Arkansas City.
O'Hornett and Cato Sells, United
States commissioner of Indian affairs,
brought suit to have the marriage an
nulled and the old Indian restored to
the care of his guardian. It was
charged that the white woman was
an adventures, had kidnapped the aged
redskin and had forced him into mar
rage.
The Oklahoma supreme court ap-
pointed Judge A. M. Jackson commits
Sioner to hear evidence In the case.
On the report of the commissioner the
court dismissed the case. Comment
ing on the decision, the commissioner
said:
1.-THE Indian and his bride appear to
have stood the test Of matrimony. 1t
was agreed that Barnett and his wife
he permitted to &C on honeymoon
of a month. The honeymoon over.
thev still maintain they are satisfied,
so after conference with all parties
concerned, it was agreed to recon-
mend TO the supreme court that the
case be dropped
Presumably the Interior department
and Commissioner Sells know how
rich is Jackson Barnett. But outside
of certain known amounts any esti-
mate is guess-work. In the court pro-
ceedings to annul Barnett's marriage
O'Hornett alleged that his wealth was
in excess of ST 100000.
One estimate is that in the six years
since oil was struck on Barnetts land
the wells have yielded 100000 bar
rels, and that his royalty is one-eighth.
This would represent 1,750,000 barrels.
in addition to bonuses. This estimate
places Barnett's income at about $780,
600 a month.
Jackson Barnett is believed to be
the richest Indian alive. And that is