along the bank of Deep Fork River to the place of beginning. (c) Muskogee District.-All that portion of the Muskogee Nation situate within the following bounds: Beginning at a point known as Hopoethle Yahalari Cow-pen, on Deep Fork River; thence along the banks of Deep Fork River west to Cussetah Creek; thence up the Cussetah Creek to its source, and continuing by a straight line to the bald hills near Capt. F. B. Sever's ranch; thence along the east range of the Conchartee Hills to the Arkansas River; thence down the Arkansas River to the Cherokee line, and down said line south to the head waters of Elk Creek, and down said creek to the Soda Springs, and thence by a straight line to the place of beginning. (d) Eufaula District.-All that portion of the Muskogee Nation situate within the following bounds: Beginning at a point on the Canadian River at the mouth of Middle Creek; thence up said creek to the Eufaula road; thence up said road to the head waters of Cat-char Micco Creek; thence down said creek to the North Fork River; thence by a straight line to the head waters of Wolf Creek, and down said creek to the falls of the Deep Fork River; thence down said Deep Fork River to Hopoethle Yahalari Cow-pen; thence by a straight line to the Soda Springs on Elk Creek to the Cherokee line; thence along said line to the North Fork River near where it empties into the Canadian River to the place of beginning. (e) Deep Fork District.-All that portion of the Muskogee Nation situate within the following bounds: Beginning at a place on the Deep Fork River known as Deep Fork Falls, and running from thence up the Deep Fork River to the ceded tract; thence along the line of the ceded tract south to the North Fork River; thence down the North Fork River to the mouth of the Cat-char Micco Creek; thence by a straight line to the head waters of Wolf Creek; thence down said creek to the place of beginning. (f) Wewoka District.-All that portion of the Muskogee Nation situate within the following bounds: Beginning at a point where the line of the ceded tract crosses the North Fork River, and running from thence along said line south to the Canadian River; thence along said river easterly to Middle Creek; thence along said creek to Eufaula road; thence by a straight line to the head of Cat-char Micco Creek; thence down said creek to the North Fork River; thence along the North Fork River to the place of beginning. DISTRICT COURTS. SEC. 100. There shall be established in each district, at such point as the citizens of the district shall decide, a District Court; to each Court there shall be attached one Judge, one Prosecuting Attorney, and a company of Light Horsemen, consisting of one Captain and four privates. CIVIL COURT. SEC. 101. For the trial of such civil cases as may arise, each District Court shall hold two sessions annually, to commence as follows: OKMULGEE DISTRICT. First Session: First Monday in March. DEEP FORK DISTRICT. First Session: Third Monday in March. WEWOKA DISTRICT. EUFAULA DISTRICT. First Session: Third Monday in April. MUSKOGEE DISTRICT. First Session: First Monday in May. COWETA DISTRICT. First Session: Third Monday in May. Second Session: Third Monday in August. SEC. 102. Should any District Judge, by sickness or other hindrance, be prevented from holding Court, at any time specified by law, he shall call a session at as near that time as he may deem best, but no District Court shall sit at one session for a longer time than twelve days. SEC. 103. Any person wishing to enter suit before any of the District Courts of this Nation shall, in person or by attorney, appear before the District Judge and make known such wishes, stating the names of all persons whom he desires to have summoned as witnesses in his behalf, and the name or names of the person or persons against whom he wishes to institute suit; and it shall be the duty of the Captain of the Light Horse to summon such witness or witnesses to appear at the next session of the Court. SEC. 104. When the defendant is a citizen of a different district from that of the person suing, the person suing shall appear before the Judge of the district wherein the defendant resides and there enter suit. SEC. 105. In order that the parties against whom suit is instituted may prepare for trial, it shall be the duty of the Judge to give them due notice, informing them of the nature of the suit and by whom instituted. Both the defendant or defendants and all witnesses shall be summoned at least ten days before the meeting of the Court. SEC. 106. After all parties have been duly notified by the proper authority, and a decision has been reached, such decision shall be final, whether all parties were present or absent, unless the parties who have been absent during trial appear before the Judge within twenty days after the decision and render proper reasons for non-attendance, in which event another trial shall be allowed. SEC. 107. Any person or persons, instituting a suit before any of the Courts of this Nation, when obtaining a summons for that purpose, shall file a bond, with sufficient security satisfactory to the presiding Judge, for the payment of such witnesses as he or she shall summon; and the defend ant shall be required to file a bond of the same nature for the payment of such witnesses as he or she shall cause to be summoned. SEC. 108. After the decision in a civil suit has been reached, should either party refuse to settle with the witnesses in accordance with the bond given, the Judge shall order his Light Horsemen to seize and sell any property belonging to such party until the amount of cost is collected. SEC. 109. Whenever judgment is rendered in any case by the Court, the Judge shall, within five days after the rendering of such judgment, issue an execution, directed to the Light Horsemen, to proceed forthwith and make collection from such party to the amount of the judgment, and such execution shall be returnable at the next session of the Court, with a certificate of proceedings had thereon, which shall be recorded by the Clerk of said Court. SEC. 110. No person shall be competent to sit on any case as juryman until he has taken an oath, administered by the proper officer, to decide according to law and evidence, without favor or partiality. SEC. 111. No person shall be allowed to testify in any of the Courts of this Nation, without first taking an oath, administered by the proper authority, to testify according to the whole truth and nothing but the truth. SEC. 112. Each witness who attends Court in obedience to his summons by the proper authority, shall be allowed one ($1.00) dollar per day while in service. SEC. 113. Should any officer in any district require assistance to execute any law of the Muskogee Nation, the District Judge shall call upon any other District Judge or all other District Judges in the Nation for assistance, which assistance such Judge or Judges are authorized and required to render. 48 Criminal Court - District Officers Judge. CRIMINAL COURT. SEC. 114. Each District Court shall convene at nine o'clock A. M., and at the exact time set for the hearing of a criminal case the Judge shall proceed to trial. If delay be prayed by the defendant on account of absence of an important witness, the party praying such delay shall be examined under oath, as to whether or not he has used proper means to have such witness present; and if it be found that proper means have not been taken, then the trial shall be proceeded with the same as if such delay had not been prayed. But if it be found that proper means to have such witness present have been taken, then, without an adjournment, the Judge shall send his Light Horsemen to arrest and compel the attendance of such absent witness, and any person guilty of resisting or evading such arrest shall be guilty of misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall receive fifty lashes upon the bare back. If such absent witness cannot be found, and the Judge has reason to believe that he is residing within the limits of the Muskogee Nation, and that his presence may had, then he may adjourn the Court for five days, excluding Sundays, after which the Court shall again convene and proceed as before; but no Judge shall, on account of absence of witnesses, adjourn his Court more than twice, nor delay a trial for a longer time than ten days, excluding Sundays. DISTRICT OFFICERS. JUDGE. be SEC. 115. The Judge of each District shall be elected by the National Council at its regular session, for the period of two years, and shall be installed in the same manner as the national officers. He shall have charge of the Court and of the officers thereof. He shall be allowed one Clerk, who shall be allowed three ($3.00) dollars per day during actual service. He shall have the issuance of writs, summons and court scrip. He shall have the power to order his Light |