The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-03
ROMANTIC TALES
. Of indian TRIBES
END FAMOUS SUIT
Tales of How Thousands
Died Resisting Removal
to Old Territory Heard
in McMurray Case.

MUSkOGEE.-The end of that ro-
mantle chapter Of Oklahoma history
which deals with the bringing of the
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians from
their warm tropical hunting grounds
in Mississippi and Alabama to the
then wild Indian Territory is being
written.
The actual facts dealing with the
thousands who died resisting the re-
moyal and the thousands more who
fell by the wayside along the line of
march have already been forgotten by
everyone except the historians.
But the legal entanglements which
followed the removal Of the nations to
the Indian Territory and the United
States governments relations with
them long kept these facts before the
public Now This epoch will soon be
ended.
Expect 'Finis' Soon
The suit of j. F. McMurray, McAles-
ter attorney, 10 recover approximately
$3.50 900 for legal services rendered the
nations, which is now pending in the
United States court of claims at Wash
ington is about to be wound up ii is
believed, and with it 'finis" will be
written on this early history Of the
nations.
McMurray was a member of the
firm of Mansfield. McMurray and Cor
nish Of McAlester, which in the early
years of the century represented the
nations. This was before the days of
the tribal attorneys as we have them
now. Then attorneys defended the In
dams rights-sometimes-b as the
Indians had no money to pay for
these services the attorneys had to
take out their -ees in promises.
II is on the basis of these promises
that McMurray's suit was brought.
The services were rendered so long
ago that the interest due on the fees
exceeds the amount Of the fees.
Many Notable Cases
victories for the Choctaws and Chick
asaws in the early days. antiquarians
tell us. They succeeded in collecting
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
| taxes from mercantile, timber, stone
quarry and asphalt firms who operated
in the nations territory in the early
day. which many thought would never
be collected.
| The firm succeeded in obtaining
what IS known as the Bonaparte
decision which meant the striking of
about $500 names off the tribal rolls.
and thus increasing the per capita al.
lotment.
One item in the bill is for defeat
ing a half million dollar claim against
the two nations preferred by ]. Hale
Sypher, also one of the nations early
attorneys.
! The McMurray's claim has been
pending in the claims court since 1918,
and it was thought that a decision
was imminent, when counsel for the
Indians succeeded in. getting permits.
sion to introduce more testimony. Ac'
cordinsly a party which included Gov
ernor Semple and tribal Attorney
Clark OF the Choctaws and Governor
Johnson and Tribal Attorney McVay
Of the Chickasaws has visited dozen
places within the two nations in the
last several weeks taking testimony.
Last Session Mt Washington
Most OF the witnesses were members
of the council Of one of the nations
at the time the McMurray firm was
alleged TO have rendered its services
The testimony was wound up with a
setting here which lasted all last week
and included the induction Of many
records from the old Dawes Commis
sion and the Union Agency records.
The McMurray firm has already col
lected over million dollars from thC
two nations. il is said. The Indian.
thought that the account was settled
until McMurray. acting individually
later filed a second suit for his huge
fee.
The first fee was granted after {
comittee of three judges from widely
separated states had been sent herr
shortly after statehood 10 hold hear
ing on the claims and after a no
fight in the United States senate.