Stella Mason (née Manuel; born c. 1901 – died April 30, 1918)[2][1] was a Muscogee/Creek freedman, whose guardians and lawyers plundered her oil rich estate in Oklahoma. Her court case was published in newspapers and later was the subject of a publication.[3][4] The exploitation was part of a pattern of abuse against freedmen among the Five Civilized Tribes. The plundering by lawyers and guardians continued after she died, through the estate of her 1-year-old son, Isaac Mason Jr. A grand jury was convened to investigate guardianship cases and recommended sanctions against various attorneys and a judge, including those involved in her case.[3]
Mason was orphaned in 1915. Her property was leased to Prairie Oil and Gas Company, a division of Standard Oil from 1900 to until 1911, when it was spun off after the Sherman Antitrust decision Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States.[5] C. Benjamin Jefferson, "colored", was appointed as her guardian.[6] She married Isaac Mason while still a minor at boarding school in Washington D.C. In 1916, she gave birth to their son.[1] She filed for divorce from her husband around May 1917, stating she felt he married her for the money.[7]
Mason came of age and became entitled to her inheritance on May 21, 1917. At this time, her estate was valued at about $130,000 USD.[citation needed] Family members visited her with attorney Coody Johnson. Attorney and community leader A. G. W. Sango went to Washington D.C. and returned to Muskogee with her and her husband to retrieve her estate from her guardian.[6][8] Lawyers Vilas K. Vernor and Ed K. Brooks arranged for her to sign a contract with them (after midnight) contracting them as her sole lawyer for $5,000 per year for five years paid in advance.[9] County judge, Enloe Vassallo Vernor (1879–1944) was involved in investigations of her lawyers. He was himself later prosecuted.[4]
Mason died on April 30, 1918, and she was buried at the Blackjack Cemetery (formally known as Taft Cemetery) in Muskogee, Oklahoma.[1]
Zitkala-Sa co-authored Oklahoma's Poor Rich Indians: An Orgy of Graft and Exploitation of the Five Civilized Tribes, Legalized Robbery (1923) about Stella's experiences and similar abuses.
References
^ abcd"Fight For Estate As Grave Waits". Newspapers.com. Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat. 3 May 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-11-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Isaac S. Mason Jr. in the Oklahoma, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-2008, Case Number: 2990". ancestry.com. Muskogee County, District and Probate Courts, State of Oklahoma. 2 May 1918.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ ab"Guardianship Probe Ends In Big Sensation". newspapers.com. Muskogee Times-Democrat. November 24, 1917. p. 1.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ ab"Vernon Hearing Tame ; Charges Not Standing Up". Newspapers.com. Muskogee Times-Democrat, XXIV, No. 41. 16 February 1918. p. 1, 10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Investment Trusts and Investment Companies: Report Pursuant to Section 30 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935". 1939.
^ abCourt, Oklahoma Supreme; Green, Edward Bell; Dale, Frank; Burford, John Henry; Williams, Robert Lee; Kane, Matthew John; Parker, Howard; Eaton, Charles Winfield Van; Morgan, Nell C. (May 4, 1921). "Oklahoma Reports: Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma". Harlow publishing Company – via Google Books.
^"Stella Is Fairly 'Well Heeled'". Newspapers.com. Muskogee Times-Democrat. 26 May 1917. p. 11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Oklahoma reports". May 4, 1921 – via Google Books.
^"The Pacific Reporter". West Publishing Company. May 4, 1920 – via Google Books.
March 04, 2023
stella, mason, née, manuel, born, 1901, died, april, 1918, muscogee, creek, freedman, whose, guardians, lawyers, plundered, rich, estate, oklahoma, court, case, published, newspapers, later, subject, publication, exploitation, part, pattern, abuse, against, fr. Stella Mason nee Manuel born c 1901 died April 30 1918 2 1 was a Muscogee Creek freedman whose guardians and lawyers plundered her oil rich estate in Oklahoma Her court case was published in newspapers and later was the subject of a publication 3 4 The exploitation was part of a pattern of abuse against freedmen among the Five Civilized Tribes The plundering by lawyers and guardians continued after she died through the estate of her 1 year old son Isaac Mason Jr A grand jury was convened to investigate guardianship cases and recommended sanctions against various attorneys and a judge including those involved in her case 3 Stella MasonBornStella Manuelc 1901DiedApril 30 1918 1 Resting placeBlackjack Cemetery Muskogee Oklahoma U S NationalityMuscogee CreekKnown forlawsuit related to Five Civilized Tribes abusesSpouseIsaac MasonChildren1History EditMason was orphaned in 1915 Her property was leased to Prairie Oil and Gas Company a division of Standard Oil from 1900 to until 1911 when it was spun off after the Sherman Antitrust decision Standard Oil Co of New Jersey v United States 5 C Benjamin Jefferson colored was appointed as her guardian 6 She married Isaac Mason while still a minor at boarding school in Washington D C In 1916 she gave birth to their son 1 She filed for divorce from her husband around May 1917 stating she felt he married her for the money 7 Mason came of age and became entitled to her inheritance on May 21 1917 At this time her estate was valued at about 130 000 USD citation needed Family members visited her with attorney Coody Johnson Attorney and community leader A G W Sango went to Washington D C and returned to Muskogee with her and her husband to retrieve her estate from her guardian 6 8 Lawyers Vilas K Vernor and Ed K Brooks arranged for her to sign a contract with them after midnight contracting them as her sole lawyer for 5 000 per year for five years paid in advance 9 County judge Enloe Vassallo Vernor 1879 1944 was involved in investigations of her lawyers He was himself later prosecuted 4 Mason died on April 30 1918 and she was buried at the Blackjack Cemetery formally known as Taft Cemetery in Muskogee Oklahoma 1 Zitkala Sa co authored Oklahoma s Poor Rich Indians An Orgy of Graft and Exploitation of the Five Civilized Tribes Legalized Robbery 1923 about Stella s experiences and similar abuses References Edit a b c d Fight For Estate As Grave Waits Newspapers com Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times Democrat 3 May 1918 p 3 Retrieved 2021 11 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Isaac S Mason Jr in the Oklahoma U S Wills and Probate Records 1801 2008 Case Number 2990 ancestry com Muskogee County District and Probate Courts State of Oklahoma 2 May 1918 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Guardianship Probe Ends In Big Sensation newspapers com Muskogee Times Democrat November 24 1917 p 1 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Vernon Hearing Tame Charges Not Standing Up Newspapers com Muskogee Times Democrat XXIV No 41 16 February 1918 p 1 10 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Investment Trusts and Investment Companies Report Pursuant to Section 30 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 1939 a b Court Oklahoma Supreme Green Edward Bell Dale Frank Burford John Henry Williams Robert Lee Kane Matthew John Parker Howard Eaton Charles Winfield Van Morgan Nell C May 4 1921 Oklahoma Reports Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma Harlow publishing Company via Google Books Stella Is Fairly Well Heeled Newspapers com Muskogee Times Democrat 26 May 1917 p 11 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Oklahoma reports May 4 1921 via Google Books The Pacific Reporter West Publishing Company May 4 1920 via Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stella Mason amp oldid 1131471462, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
