United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Goat v. United States, 224 U.S. 458 (1912)

Goat v. United States

No. 405

Argued October 12, 13, 1911

Decided April 29, 1912

224 U.S. 458

Syllabus

Heckman v. United States, ante, p. 224 U. S. 413, followed to effect that the United States has capacity to maintain a suit in equity to set aside conveyances of allotted lands made by allottee Indians in violation of statutory restrictions.

The question in this case is: what are the restrictions In the case of allotments to Seminole freedmen?

Page 224 U. S. 459

The relations of the United States to Seminole freedmen by treaties and statutes reviewed, and held that the United States is entitled to maintain an action to set aside all conveyances made by Seminole freedmen of homestead lands, of surplus lands made by minor allottees, and by adult allottees if made prior to April 21, 1904, but that such an action cannot be maintained as to conveyances made by adult allottees after April 21, 1904.

179 F. 13 modified and affirmed as to this point.

The facts, which involve the validity of certain conveyances of allotted lands made by Seminole Indians and also the right of the United States to have such conveyances set aside, are stated in the opinion.