The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-07
KEPT
100000
LAND, IS
CLAIM
Department of Justice Did
Nothing in Usage Indian
Case, Witnesses Claim.
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
International News Service.

By WILLIAM K. HUTCHINSON,
International News Service.
The law partner of former At
torney General Harry M. Daugh-
erty was in the employ of "Okla-
homa land swindlers" while their
case was pending in the Federal
courts, Senator John w. Harreld
(Rep.) of Oklahoma charged to-
day before the Brookhart-Wheeler
committee.
Harreld said Hiram W. Todd,
Daugherty's partner, was hired by
George L. Miller, millionaire own
er Of "101" Ranch, while he and
several associates were under I'm
dictment for defrauding Usage In
dams out of 100000 worth of
oil lands. Although Miller and
his associates pleaded guilty to a
conspiracy charge, Harreld said,
they were allowed to keep the
lands.
A suit to recover the alleged
stolen Indian lands will be in
stituted within a week or ten
days, Edwin S. Booth, Assistant
Attorney General, later told the
committee. Booth said he would
leave Washington this week to
start the recovery suit in Okla
homa City.
Tried to Dust Prosecutor.
Harreld also told Of efforts made
by Miller to remove H. NJ. Peck, the
United States district attorney in
Oklahoma, who had prepared the
case against him. Harreld said he
protested to Daugherty against TAX
ing Peck off the case, and as d re-
suit the attorney was made q special
prosecutor.
''There were rumors that Peck
would be removed" said Harreld.
Friends of the Miller brothers said
he would be changed before the
reported the Miller brothers had re-
tanned Mr.. Todd, the law partner OF
Attorney General Daugherty, to de-
fend them
81 thought this was the seed Of a
scandal and went to see Daugherty.
He said he didn't know that Todd
was employed, but he agreed with
me that such a situation might lead
to scandal. He said he would see
Todd about it.
"Daugherty told me the next day
that Todd had been employed to
brief the case but not to conduct
the defense" Later Harreld said
Peck was named special prosecutor.
The associates Of Miller pleaded
guilty to fraud conspiracy charge
and were fined.
II was very mucn surprised to
learn later that no civil action was
ever brought to recover the lands
said Harreld.
WAS any attempt made to have
you intercede for the Miller's."
81 would rather. not state that"
said Harreld.
The Senator said he had no criti-
cism to make of Daugherty.
1.-THE Attorney General acted
promptly when 1 called the facts
to his attention." he added. "He
was reluctant to believe that Todd
was employed by the Miller crowd
and he agreed readily to continue
Peck on the case when pointed
out the situation to him."
Were there political influences
trying to get Peck out?"
Eyes"
1.-THE influences were chiefly from
the Miller brothers?"
Yes, and from their friends"
Department Did Nothing.
Edwin S. Booth, special assist.
ant attorney general, followed Har-
reid to the stand. He produced files
from the Department Of Justice re-
lating to the Miller brothers case.
The letters indicated the department
had done nothing to recover the
lands by civil suit.
In May, 1921, r. G. Bell. for
mer Assistants Attorney General,
wrote Daugherty that political in
fluence was being exerted" TO pre-
vent prosecution of the civil re.
covery suits. He declared that
further delay or failure to bring
these suits will arouse severe criti-
cism of the Department of Justice.
Bell said much influence to squash
the case was being exerted through
j. J. McGraw, Republican national
committeeman from Oklahoma.
A half dozen letters were Intro.
duced to show that Peck. while
handling the Governments interests.