William Howard Taft

“ W. A. Kunkel, a citizen of Indiana, began this suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma to quiet title to 160 acres of land in that district, and made defendants Hannah C. Barnett, her husband, Tucker K. Barnett, and others, all citizens of Oklahoma residing in the district. In his amended bill the complainant averred that he deraigned his title from one Mehaley Watson, a Creek citizen, to whom was allotted the land in question ”

“ Had the bill of complaint in this case averred that the suit arose under the laws of the United States, because Hannah Barnett insisted that her deed to Sims was void under the statutes of the United States, and so had created a cloud upon complainant's title by her subsequent leases and contracts, the District Court could have taken jurisdiction on that ground alone. ”

“ Ct. 173, 32 L. Ed. 543; Colorado Central Mining Co. V. Turck, 150 U.S. 138, 14 Sup. Ct. 35, 37 L. Ed. 1030; Oregon Railway v. Skottowe, 162 U.S. 490, 16 Sup. Ct. 869, 40 L. Ed. 1048; Hanford v. Davies, 163 U.S. 273, 16 Sup. Ct. 1051, 41 L. Ed. 157; Press Publishing Co v. ”