"The Osage Murders & The Birth Of The FBI"

[jtcarm]

I saw that as a kid and the Osage case left a real impression. As I recall it had an authentic look and feel and covered this case really well. Especially the surprise who the main mastermind was. When I saw the books cover in the used book store I thought of The FBI Story and instantly bought it.

I vaguely remember a movie from my youth that depicted OK Indians being murdered for their oil lands. Would that be it?

Something tells me J. Edgar wasn’t real motivated to catch the perps. Federal Indian policy in the 19th century opened the floodgates to corruption. The combination of political connections for the crooks and a population most people held in contempt spelled disaster for Indians.

If there was big money involved, there was likely political cover purchased, and Hoover wasn’t averse to exchanging favors.

One of the reasons you meet so many Oklahomans with Indian blood was getting hitched to an Indian was marrying up for a lot of the whites in those days. The Cherokee’s Jackson relocated were fairly prosperous compared to the whites living there at the time.

 

[jack the toad]

Haven't read the book (Osage murders) but being from the nearby area and having heard numerous stories, I think it was more about greed than race. I feel no shame since I had nothing to do with it. As for evil behavior and tragic events regarding the treatment of other people, I could you tell some tales of what some tribes did to other tribes that didn't involve race. Evil isn't racist and can exist anywhere.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I vaguely remember a movie from my youth that depicted OK Indians being murdered for their oil lands. Would that be it?

Something tells me J. Edgar wasn’t real motivated to catch the perps. Federal Indian policy in the 19th century opened the floodgates to corruption. The combination of political connections for the crooks and a population most people held in contempt spelled disaster for Indians.

Hoover was very gung ho trying to solve this and was a PIA of the investigators always bugging them and putting the pressure on. Because the FBI was brand new and he needed a high profile case to solve and this was it. According to this book, anyway.

 

[les.b]

My copy just came in the mail today, I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks again for the heads up, I'll post when I have finished it. Like new hard back with the dust jacket. I'm sure that it will join my library!

Best Regards, Les

 

[jessebogan]

I read "Bury my heart" as a teenager. A few years back I tried to read it again. I could not. Disgraceful.
I am not sure those attitudes are completely gone either. A few years ago I was travelling some back roads in NE Arizona, and at a fuel stop I held the door open for a young Native lad. He was astonished... looked at me like I had sprouted two heads...Man, I felt bad.

 

[jtcarm]

Hoover was very gung ho trying to solve this and was a PIA of the investigators always bugging them and putting the pressure on. Because the FBI was brand new and he needed a high profile case to solve and this was it. According to this book, anyway.

Yeah I just finished reading it.

It’s amazing the story isn’t better known. Like a lot of forum members, I’m a history nerd and had never heard of it.

Yes, Hoover was certainly after his headlines. That’s all the commentary I’ll offer so as not to be a spoiler.

 

[les.b]

Well, I just finished as well. Thanks again, Matt...for sharing this remarkable book. A dark story, well researched, and well written. As with jtcarm, I won't say much more, as I don't wish to spoil it for others.

Best Regards, Les

 

[jag312]

I have no doubt that Bobby Kennedy led the cover up as the last thing he would have wanted was for his brother's legacy to tarnished as a result of a needless accidental death. The irony of course is that the wound Oswald made in Kennedy's back and throat probably would have been fatal or at best would have left him quadriplegic. That cover up included the Secret service removing the body from TX before an autopsy could be done, then obstructing the autopsy that was done after returning to DC, and then suppressing, altering or out right losing much of the evidence after that inadequate and poorly done autopsy. /QUOTE]


Secret Service chose three Clinical Pathologists to perform the autopsy. Two of them had never seen a bullet wound in their careers. The lead Clinical Pathologist specialized in the analysis of urine. He was jokingly referred to as a Pissologist. Clinical Pathology and Forensic Pathology are two totally different professions. The doctors that checked me for a hernia before football season were just as qualified to perform an autopsy as these three Clinical Pathologists.

 

[walkinghorse]

Wyatt, thanks for the book alert! I have a copy on the way!
A short while ago I finished Crazy Horse, Strange Man of the Oglalas, by Mari Sandoz, 1896-1966, who lived in the Nebraska area where the Oglalas were during the time of Crazy Horse. The book is based upon living with and interacting with Crazy Horse relatives and others who knew him.
Not the easiest read, but gives a perspective that is evocation of a long ago world and time. Bought the book at the Ft. Meade military museum, which has military uniforms, some firearms, and other items of cavalry units at Ft. Meade during the Indian wars.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Well, I just finished as well. Thanks again, Matt...for sharing this remarkable book. A dark story, well researched, and well written. As with jtcarm, I won't say much more, as I don't wish to spoil it for others.

Best Regards, Les

Dam, Les. you must be a speed reader. That was quick. Nice chopped S&W, too, by the way.

 

[les.b]

Well...not a speed reader, the darn thing showed up in the mailbox at about 2 in the afternoon on Saturday, and, I started in on it, and couldn't put it down!! I finally crashed at about 4:00 in the morning.... Finished it up on Sunday!!

Hard to put down.

I'm still tinkering with the project gun...I have a thread on it: My Latest N Frame Project.. The beginning---Update: May 23rd, 2018!!

Thanks for the compliment, I'm really happy with it, and how it shoots. Been using .45 Auto Rim reloads, and it is pure pleasure to shoot!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Whitwabit]

I read it a few months ago also. Ashamed to be a white guy, and that doesn't happen often.

Charlie

I had read about it and other atrocities in the Oklahoma territories in the early 20"s and before .. many Indians were killed for their land and most time those in charge looked the other way because they were "Just Indians" !!!

The White Man should hang his head in shame for what we did to the Indians thru out the US !!

 

[Hawker800]

Reminds me of the old saying: “The American Indian is a good example of what happens when you don’t get immigration under control.” [emoji57]

 

[Wyatt Burp]

For years I’ve had this book laying around, “In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse”, about the FBI agents killed on the reservation in South Dakota and Leonard Peltier’s case. I tried getting into it a couple times, but it’s so biased against the FBI It’s hard to take seriously. I would just like a straight story on what happened even if the FBI were at fault. But it’s so tainted by the author’s opinions I gave up. If Peltier got a raw deal then let us decide based on the facts. It’s such an interesting case I think this author squandered the chance to write a balanced book about it.

 

[Kurusu]

Just got my copy. Starting to read it now.

 

[Russell Cottle]

If you want to read another 'Osage County murder mystery, read FOOTPRINTS IN THE DEW by Dale Lewis. It covers the E.C. Mullendore murder based on interviews with the main suspect, Damon 'Chub' Anderson.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Just ordered a copy.

Another true ,and sadly, all but forgotten series of murders occurred on a Georgia plantation committed by a slave owner is documented in a book titled "Lay This Body Down" by Gregory Freeman is a must read if this subject matter interests you.

The plantation owner had 11 of his slaves murdered by their own black foreman (under threat of death) when he feared "federal men" were going to get some of them to testify against him because he was engaging in "peonage" meaning that he would bail black men out of local jails and force them ,by whipping and chaining them, to work off their fine which ,of course, was never completed.

It was the one of the first if not the first time in Georgia history that an all white jury convicted a white man of killing a black man.

This happened in 1921.