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Show i-o '*'••• UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVIC. -:-Uintahi and-Our ay - Agency, 7/h'ite Rocks, Utah. February 8th.., IU03. Hon. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, "a .Washington, B. C. '' '. oir. I have the honor to forward herewith affidavits in the cases of •' Edward Murdock and Prank Murdock applying to be enrolled as members of the Uintah Ute tribe. I have investigated these cases l_y enquiry among the older Indians, and the following is a summary of this investiga£-ioru_X 7\That Joseph 0. Murdock had an Indian wife is undisputed. Tliat she • '• was sold to hint-when a child by Chief Walker and ras a member of tho tribe is uncertain. Tabby, the Chief of the Uintahs, claims to be a half brother of Walker, 7/ho was chief of all the Utes, and remembers the woman who was Murdoch' s wife, but not the sale, states that Murdock told him she was auPiede Indian." TCanrodes, an old man, remembers the woman, and also stated that 7/alker sometimes made raids on other Indians, and sold his captives. All the Indians questioned deny that any Ute TOU!& sell his own children; and Tabby says he knows that talker did not - Enumerating to me talker's children.- Pick Murdoch, an Indian, who waa I br.lieve adopted into the tribe some years since, claims to have been sold to Murdock: at the same time as the woman in question, who was some years older than himself. He does not remember what tribe or band he came from but remembers his Indian name. All the Indians deny that LIurdock's wife was ever enrolled among the Ui-itahs, or:recognized by them as a member of the tribe. Go far asr'I can see the evidence does not go beyond proving that possibly Murdock's wife was a Ute, it does not prove that she was a Uintah, or entitled to a share of the lands and money of this tribe. The Indians here are bitterly opposed to the admission of the Murdochs, claiming that they are not good men, seeming to think there is a scheme on the part of the Murdocks to secure a.foothold on the reservation for ulterior motives. 7^ I think the idea is to secure a hold themselves and then go into partnership with their half brothers to graze cattle on the reservation claiming the cattle as their own. If this ia the serene of the Murdocks tt would be very difficult to prevent its being carried out, if once they 're admitted, as It would b»: hard to prove ownership of cattle. |