◆ SpookStack

a hee 4S a... Phe investigation of the brutal Osage Indian murde; “org Wehk occurred.in the early tWantieth” century was one of. bag’ a." most complicated. and difficult investigations ever conducted “L the FBI. Just prior to inittation of the FBI's investigation, ““" nearly two dozen Osage Indians died under suspictous circumstances. _. Phe entire’ Osage Indian tribe, as well as the white citizens. of: % ™“. Qgage County, Oklahoma, were florror-stricken and in fear for 20; - fhe tribal council passed a resolution requeating tha aA. 21 eF atd of the Federal Government in solving these murders, and $2 f422.. ~FBE's investigative machine went into action. . a me 23 . Ys re up. June, 1906, the Federal ‘Government enacted a jam’ * ‘under which the 2,229 members of the Osage tribe were to recetue an egual number of shores ‘known as head rights. The Osage Indida < “Reservattog; which is identical with Gsage County, Oklahoma, con® +: . etete of a@ million ond a half acres of:Indian allotted land.» An “geage Indian born after passage of this act would inherit only & proporttonate share of hie ancestor's head rights. Ot1 was later. discovered on the Osage reservation, and overnight the Osage tribe became the wealthiest people per capita in the world. os Among the many adventurous prospectors und other white “men who drifted into the Osage territory was a mon whose desire . for riches and power was devoid of scruple - William &. Hele, later 4 pe dubbed "King of the Osage," who was a cowpuncher from Terass: He ©! 38-2°' 44. became immensely, wealthy through his dealing with the Osage Indians “, ° ond eventually became a millionaire. Hale's nephews, Ernest and ** Bryan Burkhart, who either came with Hale to Osage or jotned. him: (; dater, were employed by Hale and completely dominated -y htm, ae ‘Ligzie Q, otherwise known as Lizzte Kile, was an Osege . : Bee equaw who in 1920 was already old and in poor health. Lizzie Q's - eia5° uhh. estate apprortmated $200,000, She had three daughters, Anna, Hodi- “,, and Rita. Anna was a notortous character who had had several ajfa. es “ with white men from tine to time, and she was formerly married te ene Odie Brown, In 1920 Anna's estate cpprorimated J100,000, —_ Anna had been somewhat intimate with at least one of the Burkhart i> beys but apparently she wags too notorious for even the Burkharts % atract a formal marriage; however, Anna had money and the @tcke. @ large. Rita married one Willtem £. Smith, a white mong $etth om she lived up to the time of her death. Mollie becane ¥ . fe of Ernest Burkhart, Hale*s nephew. Holiie appears to Ague ... fen the int nded means of drawing to Hale, through the Surkheris, @ assets of the entire family. — a re 4g - 2G 4 Df hs Qa An E IIE cpap aM a SCN a a, Ee Big 2 oe ee TORT ate