In the early 20th century, the Osage Nation of Oklahoma became some of the wealthiest people on earth. Beneath the rolling hills of their reservation lay one of the most valuable oil deposits in North America. Every tribal member held what was called a “headright” — a share of the royalties from that oil. The money flowed freely. Osage families rode in chauffeured automobiles, built large homes, and hired domestic staff. But that wealth quickly made them targets. What followed was a sustained, calculated campaign of murder that lasted years and took dozens of lives before anyone was held to account.
The Osage had not always lived in Oklahoma. Originally from the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys, they were forcibly relocated multiple times before eventually settling in the northeastern corner of Indian Territory in the 1870s. When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the Osage negotiated to retain the mineral rights to their reservation land — a decision that would prove both life-changing and life-threatening. By the early 1920s, the tribe’s oil wealth had drawn the attention of white settlers, businessmen, and outright criminals who wanted a piece of it.
The Osage leadership had tried to protect the tribe’s wealth. Chief James Bigheart was among those who worked to ensure oil royalties stayed within the tribe. The headright system was designed with that in mind — rights could be inherited by family members, keeping the money among the Osage. But white men who married Osage women stood to inherit those rights if their wives died without other heirs. That legal loophole became the motive for murder.
The killing spree began in May 1921. The first confirmed victim was 25-year-old Anna Brown. Hunters discovered her decomposing body at the bottom of a ravine. She had been shot directly between the eyes. The same day, Anna’s cousin Charles Whitehorn was also found dead. Two months later, Anna’s mother, Lizzie Kyle, was murdered as well. These were not isolated incidents — they were the opening of a systematic extermination campaign targeting one of the wealthiest families in the Osage Nation.
Despite their enormous oil wealth, the Osage lived under growing terror. The killings spread beyond any single family. One woman was found dead on her own front lawn. A local lawyer who had shown sympathy to the Osage cause was thrown from a moving train. The murders were often disguised as accidents or illness, and local authorities — many of whom had ties to the same white ranching and business communities — showed little urgency in investigating them.
At the center of one of the most targeted families was Mollie Burkhart, one of four sisters from the prominent Kyle family. Mollie’s relatives were being killed one by one. Her sister Anna was murdered in 1921. Her sister Minnie died under suspicious circumstances. Her sister Rita and Rita’s husband were killed when their home was blown apart by a bomb in 1923. The systematic elimination of Mollie’s family was deliberate — each death brought more headrights closer to a single beneficiary.
The Osage people had long been recognized as among the wealthiest Native Americans in the country, yet the U.S. government had imposed “guardianship” laws that required many Osage to get approval from white-appointed guardians before spending their own money. These guardians were frequently corrupt and skimmed money from the accounts they controlled. The same system that was supposed to protect the Osage from exploitation was, in many cases, one of the tools being used to exploit them.
The ravine where Anna Brown’s body was found became one of the most chilling symbols of the entire reign of terror. The site was remote, and her body had been left to decay. The fact that it took hunters stumbling upon the location to discover her death spoke to how little effort was made to look for missing Osage women. Her murder, and the murders surrounding her family, would eventually form the core of what federal investigators called the “Reign of Terror” in Osage County.
Law enforcement at the time was fractured and largely unreliable. Local gangs operated openly throughout Osage County, and suspicion fell widely. The Al Spencer Gang was among those who came under scrutiny, as criminal networks throughout the region were known to take on contract work. Lawlessness was rampant — even federal agents attempting to police the county faced an environment where bootlegging, corruption, and violence were commonplace.
By 1923, the death toll had grown to the point where the case could no longer be ignored at the federal level. More than two dozen Osage had been murdered, and the Bureau of Investigation — which would later become the FBI — was brought in to investigate. For the agency, it was one of the first major homicide investigations in its history. The total number of Osage who died violent or suspicious deaths during this period was estimated by the FBI at around 60, though some historians put the true figure well above 100, as many deaths were never reported or were actively covered up.
At the heart of the conspiracy was a man named William Hale, known throughout Osage County as the “King of the Osage Hills.” Hale was a cattle rancher and a figure of local authority — well-connected, charming to outsiders, and deeply trusted by many. Beneath that facade, he had orchestrated a murder campaign designed to funnel Osage oil wealth to himself and his family. His nephew, Ernest Burkhart, had married Mollie — one of the last surviving heirs to a substantial headright estate. Hale’s plan was to eliminate every one of Mollie’s relatives, and ultimately Mollie herself, so that Ernest would inherit everything.
The Osage Nation formally appealed to Washington for help. A delegation traveled to Washington D.C. to push for a real federal investigation. The tribe’s leaders made it clear that local law enforcement was not investigating the murders with any seriousness — and in some cases, local officials were implicated in the cover-ups. The appeal to the federal government was a last resort after years of watching their people die and receiving no justice.
The death of Rita Smith — Mollie’s sister — and her husband in the 1923 house bombing was a turning point. The bomb that destroyed their home killed Rita, her husband, and a servant staying in the house. The brutal and obvious nature of the attack made it impossible to classify as an accident. It directly triggered a serious federal investigation and marked the moment the Bureau of Investigation committed significant resources to solving the murders.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover assigned a seasoned agent named Tom White to lead the undercover investigation. White was a former Texas lawman — tall, experienced, and known for his composure under pressure. Hoover chose him specifically because he was suited, in the agency’s own words, for “any element of danger.” White assembled a team of undercover agents who entered Osage County posing as cattlemen, insurance salesmen, and Native American medicine men to gather evidence without alerting Hale’s network.
William Hale was eventually arrested, tried, and convicted for his role in the murders. The evidence gathered by Tom White’s team traced the conspiracy directly back to Hale and his nephew Ernest Burkhart. Burkhart ultimately confessed and cooperated with investigators, confirming the scale and deliberateness of the killing campaign. Hale was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
In 1925, Congress passed a law prohibiting non-Osage individuals from inheriting headrights from Osage members who had half or more Native American ancestry. The law was a direct response to the murders and was meant to close the legal loophole that Hale and others had exploited. Decades later, in 2011, the U.S. government reached a settlement with the Osage Nation for $380 million — at the time, the largest settlement with a single tribe in American history. The settlement addressed mismanagement of Osage funds and resources over more than a century. A photograph taken in 1924 captured a large gathering of the Osage tribe — and when investigators later examined it closely, William Hale himself appeared in the image, standing among the very people whose deaths he had arranged.
You won’t learn about the finer details of American history there.
Then people complain about the poor native Americans on reservations. Yeah, all the valuable land was seized and the less farmable, less resource-rich land was turned into reservations. By the way, it is still ongoing. There is no doubt that the DAPL pipeline was an example of that. An oil-tied judge rules in favor of the oil companies, who just take the land. Coal companies proposed building a coal export terminal (basically a port for coal) on Lummi nation land in the PNW. Some anti-indian lobbyists showed up to argue against decertifying the Lummi nation as a tribe. That wasn’t their plan, but it fits with the process: remove tribe status, and suddenly the land is available. This little project comes at the perfect time. The coal industry and anti-indian lobby lost that fight, but it was interesting to see how it occurs today. This is also how the Oneida tribe in upstate New York lost their land. The anti-indian lobby advocates decertifying the tribe. The court rules in favor of the plaintiff. the tribe loses its land – and then timber barons buy the land for logging. Several decades ago, that happened.
It’s almost as if people who have wealth shouldn’t be allowed to run the government or something.
Since Native Americans had lived on that land for 14 million years, it is literally impossible that they would murder someone else for it. Is that right?
Is this supposed to be a justification? Is your logic really “murdering people is fine because they may have been murdered before”?
No, absolutely not. However, it is perfectly reasonable not to feel the intense guilt this post was intended to evoke.
If you defend murderers to spare your own feelings, you probably should feel guilty. What are the alternatives? Do you want to erase all the bad memories from your past?
That wasn’t its purpose. Your reaction to actual history is your own fault if you react so defensively. It’s not necessary to reflexively defend your long-dead ancestors with whataboutisms. My ancestor hunted native scalps for bounty. Recognizing that history does not harm me.
The sad thing is you don’t even know how stupid you are.
After being removed from their own land, that tribe bought that land fair and square. Those aren’t the original lands of this tribe.
As early as 14,000 years ago, the earliest known north American settlers were Japanese; then the land bridge people wiped them out.
They were never compared to Japanese, only that they likely had a common ancestor with the Ainu who settled Japan before the Japanese we know today. Native Siberians share a common ancestry. Although they came in different waves, there was enough land for them all. In history, wiping out an entire people and replacing them has not been the norm. America was the exception, not the rule, when it came to what happened 500 years ago. The majority of populations just assimilate into one another. Only one pre-colonial exception is the Dorset culture, which is still a mystery (because none of their genes survived within the Thule/Inuit which replaced them).
When people reject the concept of money once and for all, every single money problem could be solved.
Even if you remove all the money, the concept of value remains…
That’s fine, we can value other things instead. We have a short time here on this rock, just like life.
Absolutely, but whenever there is a constrained resource (food, space, water, the fancy house at the end of the street, etc) there will be a question of how to divide it, via money, trade, violence, or equal kindness among all parties…
In order to end scarcity of resources, you build infrastructure. It’s already feasible.
There is no need for the word to appear. There were legal guardians for all Osage Indians deemed incompetent by courts. These were prominent white men in the area who then killed their charges in order to inherit the land titles. As a result of Hoover’s leadership, it was one of the FBI’s first big cases.
Exasperating example of European aliens’ insatiable greed and corrupt morals.
Americans. Killing people for oil since 1918.
Prior to that, their land was taken and converted into slave plantations.
Remember after 9/11 when the oil barons used the government to destroy two oil-rich countries and turn them into puppet states?
I highly recommend Killers of the Flower Moon.
Great book, and about to be a Martin Scorcese movie
The production was halted during COVID, but they are now here in OK, preparing to shoot down the road from my father’s house. Originally, the story took place in Gray Horse and Fairfax, where my grandfather used to play dominoes where the guys who orchestrated the killings hung out. This place was the subject of an undercover investigation by an agent, according to the story passed down through the family. They pretended to have an intellectual disability and could only assist with sweeping, picking up empties, etc., and everyone thought he was too stupid to understand what they said, so they talked freely about their involvement in these crimes. The agent came in one day in a suit, speaking normally, to tell the guys who he was and thanked them for making his job easier, then walked out.
Additionally, white guardians were appointed to “help” them manage their wealth. Occasionally, settlers would marry into Native American families, then kill them systematically. According to a recent Supreme Court case, large parts of the territory of Native Americans in Oklahoma were never abolished by Congress, and therefore could be restored to reservation status.
Oklahoma stuff has been debated for years, hasn’t it? In other words, no one with power to change it talks about it at all
In Oklahoma, how low do people have to go to fight over land.
It’s all RED in Oklahoma. Compared to the many, my voice is small. It hurts me that so many people still view Trump positively. Looking at all the struggle, it’s hard not to get frustrated that people care more about being a republican than anything else.
Taking native Americans to boarding schools to introduce them to white culture is reminiscent of the start of American football.
In that case, what would be the outcome? Forcibly evict the people living there now? There is no way that will happen, whether it is legal or not.
No. They have been presented to the Supreme Court. In essence, every Native American citizen convicted under Oklahoma would have to be retried by the federal government. The case began when the state sentenced one Native American to death for killing another native man. There would be no difference in life for everyone living there.
The once rich area is now a desolate ghost town.
It probably still made billions for some terrible people. Those who have produced entitled offspring who have never worked a day in their lives.
Work a little… The law makers have to be paid to continue tipping the scales against us.
There are accountants for that, which are instructed to issue a payment by your lobbyists, who are hired by your hiring agent, who are managed by your managers, who speak to your secretaries, and who are constantly blowing your dick. That can be quite exhausting, to be honest.
How does a desolate ghost town look like? What do they do? You’ve got me on the edge of my seat here.
50,000 people used to live there
Before those meddling kids came along, a desolate ghost town became the nexus of a mastermind criminal.
People I know who have made money say they end up attracting the wrong kind of attention. There is always a demand for what you have.
Why I’d rather win $1 million than $100 million
Either way the lesson is never let down your guard.
It is horrifying, yes. Is that surprising? I don’t think so. It is a microcosm of US relations with NAs.
Greed and jealousy are microcosms of humanity.
It was less than 100 years ago. The US ended segregation 65 years ago. When it comes to issues like this, the US is different from the rest of the developed world.
Slavery existed in the US for about 85 years. To end the Civil War, thousands of American men gave their lives. There has been a booming African solace trade in the Middle East for over 1400 years. There is a sex slavery of African men, Yazidi girls are traded for pistols as sex slaves, and foreign workers are held captive as domestic workers in booming ME cities.
Getting rich requires killing and stealing. It’s the American way.
They wanted to secede in order to nullify existing treaties with natives. Our first act was to conquer everything West of us, killing the indigenous and converting much of their land into slave plantations as soon as we could. In the end, liberty was reserved for the landed gentry.
America was built by and for the cruel. To this day, the same families that landed and pillaged natives continue their bloodline, fooling the poor and dividing the people through their corporate backing.
It was a tactic that our leaders learned from the British Empire. If you can convince poor whites that minorities are the real cause of their suffering, the elite will remain protected. I can’t believe how effective it is.
In the late 1800s, there weren’t that many minorities in England, and the ones that were there were mostly eastern European whites. Racism was more prevalent against whites than against darker Mediterranean. Rather than anything else, they were more welcoming to moors because of their incursions into France.
I’m referring to the US learning from the British Empire about how to divide populations so that colonization can be successful. Minorities are more of a US concern. I’m talking more about the English conquest of Britain and their colonies (such as dividing Indians against each other, or between Muslims and Hindus, or exploiting the caste system). Like a sleight of hand, it redirects rage away from the aristocracy. As it has been some time since I read about early propaganda such as this, I am not able to provide any specifics, but I recall reading about it when Irish indentured servants and African slaves and freemen became too close for comfort, including mixed families becoming more common than ever before. The ability to persuade whites on the bottom to target their frustration at the poor and even enslaved blacks rather than the elite became a key tool in preventing a revolution.
By the time the US was founded, it already had a pretty good understanding of how to control the masses, which evolved over time.
The US government wouldn’t do that, it’s the land of the free
That’s a very pessimistic and two-dimensional view of history. The Cherokees won their case against Removal at the Supreme Court. Did you know that? Did you know that 97 representatives voted against the Removal Act? Did white neighbors shelter and provide medicines and provisions to the people who would later become the Eastern Band of Cherokee during the hideout? Through buybacks and trusts, did white people help the tribe regain land? Georgia’s governor and Andrew Jackson were jerks who acted almost unilaterally. As always, there were bad people. But to portray all white Americans as cartoonishly villainous is inaccurate and doesn’t give credit to the people who fought back against evil, or to the tribe’s ability to use the legal system effectively. It is worth noting that Native tribes are still here and continue to be resilient. For representation and advancement, Cherokees continue to work within the boundaries of the legal system.
Martin Scorsese is developing a film on this subject.
There was a bit about this in the old movie The FBI Story with Jimmy Stewart. It’s a great old movie, even though I’m sure a lot of it was hokum because J. Edgar wouldn’t ever reveal the truth about anything.
PrincessToot I am glad that this issue is finally getting the attention it deserves as a member of the Osage tribe. History isn’t widely known for a lot of reasons. There has always been horrific racial violence and injustice at the core of the USA, yet it pats itself on the back for being free and fair.
The public schools are whitewashing history. This is all information I’ve acquired outside of school.
Great information. My great grandfather secured their mineral rights, and to this day I own a small share, which he received as a thank you. I’ll have to buy this book, I have almost no information on how/why he got it.
I read the book, and yes, it’s a horrible tale. However, this could have happened to ANY group that somehow stumbled upon a fortune. My understanding is that most lottery winners were destroyed by the hundredfold wealth they were not prepared to handle.
It’s one of those historic moments that I’ve heard about and remember vividly, without knowing any details. It’s even more bizarre how I know about it – The Pioneer Woman on Food Network! Several years ago, I googled her, and found out that her husband’s family is one of the wealthiest and largest landowners in Oklahoma, and there is some credit given to them for their agricultural work. I decided to Google Osage County since they seem to have lived there for generations. Wikipedia has a short entry about Osage County (what I remember as “massacre”). Honestly, I’ve been wondering where the Drummond family was during this and how they may have been involved since this has stuck with me ever since. It would be intriguing if the time periods overlapped. I believe I have the book on my shelf, but I won’t get to it for some time.
Another chapter in the long history of murder and genocide. There is still a rule that any act, to any end, at any externalized cost, is justified. Don’t be a part of the problem.
My final paper for a law class last semester focused on the Osage Nation’s historical and current ownership of mineral rights in Oklahoma! As a tribe in Oklahoma, the Osage are unique because they had (comparatively) significant bargaining power when making their original allotment treaty. They held out on negotiating with the US government, retaining all their subsurface mineral rights for 25 years, even as the surface land was allotted to individuals. The murders occurred during that period, so the federal government extended those rights in perpetuity. Since then, they have had the exclusive right to develop and lease the minerals and oil on reservation land, despite current legal conflicts between surface and subsurface rights.
In my opinion, this is one of the best examples of how racism in America differs from classism. They weren’t just rich – they were high society members as well. They weren’t murdered because they were poor, uneducated, savage, banal, antisocial, or any of the other excuses that racists like to posit. They were murdered purely because they were not white.
Yet, the murderers were caught by following who profited from their deaths. Be as racist as you like, but if you aren’t green and made of fiberpaper, you’re not the correct color to matter.
It seems that both perspectives could hold some validity, as there may be instances where affluent individuals of the white race have become victims of violent crimes perpetrated by individuals seeking to exploit their wealth. However, throughout history, groups outside of the accepted majority have often been more vulnerable to predatory behavior. While the perpetrators in this particular case were ultimately apprehended, it may be argued that their actions only drew federal attention due to the severity of their crimes.
The Osage were not the only rich people in Oklahoma.
It’s likely that the Osage were more vulnerable targets than wealthy white individuals due to several factors, including the guardianship system that left many Osage people dependent on non-Native Americans, a lack of powerful connections, and limited familiarity with white society’s workings. Additionally, anti-Indian prejudice likely contributed to a lack of public concern for the Osage murders, although the perpetrators’ actions exceeded even the dismal standards of the time. It’s reasonable to assume that law enforcement would have been more diligent if dozens of wealthy white Texans had been similarly killed.
Indeed, it’s possible that multiple factors contributed to the tragedy that befell the Osage people. Factors such as the guardianship system, lack of powerful connections, and anti-Indian prejudice may have made them more vulnerable targets, while a lack of public concern and institutional biases may have hindered efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the murders.
It is possible that the Osage people were more vulnerable to the crimes committed against them due to a variety of factors, such as the guardianship system that left many Osage individuals at the mercy of non-Native American guardians who may have taken advantage of their position. Additionally, the lack of powerful connections and lesser familiarity with the workings of white society may have made the Osage people easier targets for those seeking to exploit their wealth. Moreover, anti-Indian prejudice may have contributed to a lack of public concern for the Osage murders, although the severity of the crimes committed may have exceeded even the low standards of the time. It is likely that law enforcement would have been more thorough in their investigations if wealthy white Texans had been similarly targeted.
The Osage people’s inability to act as guardians of their own wealth was a consequence of racist policies.
That’s why the Rosamund Pike movie felt uncomfortable – why were we expected to root for her?
This type of racism is not limited to any particular region or ethnic group; it can be found worldwide. It is present in different forms, such as colorism within African and Indian communities, or discrimination against minority groups by the dominant ethnic group in regions such as China or Japan.
To further illustrate the discriminatory policies that the Osage people faced, it’s worth noting that in 1921, Congress passed a law mandating that any Osage individual under 18 or of half-blood ancestry or more be assigned a financial guardian to manage their wealth until they could “demonstrate competence.” This policy was clearly based on racism and not classism, as it affected wealthy Osage individuals and would not have been imposed on wealthy white individuals. This fact is evidenced by the absence of such policies for wealthy white individuals.
The book “Killers of the Flower Moon” delves deeply into the Osage murders and the historical context surrounding them, shedding light on the disturbing realities of the guardianship system and the racism that underpinned it. It’s worth noting that a film adaptation of the book is currently in production, directed by Martin Scorsese. The atrocities committed against the Osage people are truly horrific and serve as a reminder of the ongoing legacy of discrimination and violence faced by marginalized communities in the United States.
I can imagine how difficult it must be to read about the tragic events that occurred during the Osage murders. The fact that this piece of history is not more widely known is unfortunate, as it is important to acknowledge and learn from past injustices in order to build a more just society for all. It is my hope that books like “Killers of the Flower Moon” can help to bring greater awareness and understanding of the past, and inspire positive change in the present and future.
This horror story is still fresh in my mind. People should remember it more often.
There is a new movie coming out, Killers of the Flower Moon, that is based on this story. Also, it’s a book that’s well worth reading.
I’m reading about this right now. It is argued that they were getting rich by doing nothing and spending the money on travel, jewelry, and expensive cars. Are the super rich all incompetent?
Charlie Muenger gave an interview. He argues that envy is what drives people to act like this, not greed. It sure sounds like envious behavior from those who stole it.
My ex-wife is of Osage descent. Her grandmother was brought over from France in an arranged marriage to an Osage chief at the turn of the century. Hearing how they lived at that time was interesting. Her daughter received royalty checks from the oil, which were passed down to her. I’m not sure how often or how much they happened, but I believe they were substantial. Now that they are both gone, the x gets some money from the tribe, but I’m not sure if it comes from oil.
Due to the amount of oil produced and the multiple generations of dilution of head rights, Osages still receive money from oil, although it is much less now.
Anyone living in Osage county Oklahoma knows who the Drummond family is… Have you ever wondered how they own so much land in that county?
Currently, I’m listening to a podcast about this.
That’s right. Tracing it shouldn’t be too difficult. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve outside Pawhuska has been a pleasant stop for me. Sitting quietly in your car at the right place, you can smell them walking to their bedding ground. Watching the sunset among the juvenile herd as they drift home with a beer is a wonderful experience.
I learned about this a few weeks ago. This needs to be all kinds of films, movies, documentaries, plays, musicals, operas, ballets, songs, childrens books, novels etc.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann is a great book that tells this story.
An actual Osage tribal member, Charles Redcorn, wrote a book called ‘A Pipe for February’ that provides a less FBI-centric perspective. Also, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is being adapted into a movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Martin Scorsese is making a movie of this
Killers of the Flower Moon (2021), no wonder keep seeing the osage murders lately, these are probably correlated with a movie promo,
David Grann’s book, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,’ garnered positive reviews and caught Martin Scorsese’s attention, leading to its adaptation into a movie. Although it is unsettling and sorrowful, the book is quite good. Its release a few years ago is likely what generated the current momentum and interest in the Osage murders.
book popularity + movie promo
There isn’t even a movie trailer yet so I dunno how there could be movie promo at this point
movie promotion begin well before trailers are made.
Even though Martin Scorsese has a stellar reputation, he still needs to attract investors to fund his projects. The budget for his adaptation of ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is reportedly his highest yet. Although production has been delayed, and it has moved from Paramount to Apple, it’s unclear how much impact this has had on the final picture. While promotion for the movie has not yet begun, Scorsese’s fans are already showing interest in it. Once the movie’s marketing campaign starts, it is likely to generate more buzz and attract even more attention to the Osage murders. I do not have any promotional links to share at this time.
bro I’m not reading all that you win what ever mate
What do you mean? What do I win?
what ever you wrote that wall of text for.
Shit son next time I’ll make smoke signals, I didn’t know you have a hard time reading.
northeast woodlands indigenous descent i dont think we used smoke signals
Martin Scorsese’s reputation precedes him, and he is likely to attract funding for his movies regardless of any pre-production promotion. Despite the lack of pre-production effort, videos related to ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ have generated around 50k views because the topic is worth discussing on its own. Once the trailer is released, which is the actual promotional effort from the production team, these videos are likely to see more views.
A bit long but he simply long winded a response that I already said I don’t agree with.
What don’t you agree with?
Another hideous tragedy brought to you by the fine folks at Unethical White People!
Honestly, I’m surprised all minorities haven’t risen up to murder all of us in our beds.
Please stop with your white guilt venting. Find another place to deal with your emotional baggage. You aren’t going to get any validation here.