Pierce Kelley

A Deadly Legacy Pierce Kelley

In 1870, after ceding millions of acres of land to the United States Government by treaties, the Osage Indians purchased a small parcel of ground as their "reservation," hoping toÿlive in peace with the white man forevermore. At the turn of the 20th century,ÿan enormous amount of petroleum was found on the land. As a result, all members of the Osage Nation became wealthy. Their descendants continue to reap financial benefits from oil companies to this day. However, in the 1920s, white men committed many murdersÿtoÿtake the oil money from the Osage. It took the FBI years to capture and convict the criminals.ÿNow, almost a hundred years later, the legacy of death is revived. . .