Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1885 — THE OKLAHOMA BOOMERS. [ARTICLE]

THE OKLAHOMA BOOMERS.

Capt. Conch and His Followers Indieted for Engaging in Rebellion and Insurrection. -» , [Kansas City special to Chicago Times.) The United States Grand Juigr, which has been in session at Topeka for over a week, considering • the Oklahoma question, has found separate indictments against sixtyeight of the colonists, who for several weeks were in camp at Arkansas City, and one sweeping indictment has been found against the remainder as a whole, changing them with inciting, assisting, and engaging in rebellion and insurrection againet the authority of the United Slates. Before these indictments were returned Gen. Hatch and several prominent citizens of Arkansas City were before the Grand Jury and gave their testimony. Prior to this time District Attorney Hallowell was in receipt of a letter from Attorney General Garland, at Washington, calling upon him to at oiice proceed against the colonists and prosecute them so far as possible under the law. The point by which it is hoped now to hold and convict the men is that, by remaining in camp at Arkansas City, they were “inciting and assisting in rebellion” in opposition to President Cleveland’s proclamation. It is a fact that the men did remain in camp as charged, and it is also a fact that some of them used harsh language in their denunciations of the interpretations of the law which, kept them from entering the Oklahoma lands when cattle barons' and stockmen were not only allowed to enter, but were protected after they got there. Dist. Atty. Hallowell, in conversation to-day. said that he had but one course to pursue, and that was to carry out the instructions of the Attorney General. He had written Atty. Gen. Gai-land that information had been received ’that the colonists had left Arkansas City, and inasmuch as it would entail upon the department heavy expense if the men were arrested and brought to Topeka he should wait for further instructions before having the indictments pushed. He believed, however, that the final result would be that Capt Couch and ton or a dozen of the leaders of the movement would be arrested, brought to Topeka, given a hearing, and placed under bonds, and that the remaining indictments would be held over. This to him seemed the best thing to do in the present situation of affairs.