OCR Text |
Show 10. Document 154, replied that he was.not aware that the Indians were to have received any benefit by the lease; that he heard nothing stated at that council as to the amount of royalty the Indians were to receive. He stated that if there was to be a royalty for the Indians, he was in favor of the leaso, but that he dcid net understand it so when he made tho affidavit. Bull of the Woods stated to mo that Mr. Pack had come to him and made thS. statement which appears in his affidavit and asked him whether it was so; that he refused to reply to Mr. Pack and said no word to him at all; and that Mr. Pack told him that he would put his name down any way. Bull of the Woods further stated he never touched, a pen or signed the affidavit which appear, on pages 38-39, Senate Document 1S4. As a result of inquiries made, I am of the opinion that the lease and its conditions were not explained so as to be fully understood by the Indians in council of November 16th; that the said council was not attended by a sufficient number of head men and representative Indians as would constitute a council competent to act in so important a matter; that the signing of the lease by the Indians did not represent tho wishes of a majority of the male adult Indians at that time; and in view of the difficulty experienced in obtaining information from the Indians on the subject, I am also of the belief that undue influence was used in negotiating for the lease. |