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Between
1921 and 1923, several members of the Osage Indian
Reservation died under suspicious circumstances.
The FBI became involved after the Department of
Interior wrote to Director William J. Burns requesting
assistance in investigating these deaths. William
"King of Osage" Hale was suspected of being involved
in the deaths. Posing as medicine men, cattlemen,
and salesmen, FBI agents infiltrated the reservation
and solved the murders. Hale and other members
of the Osage Indian Tribe were convicted and sentenced
to life in prison, It was determined that the
murders were committed in an attempt to collect
insurance money and gain control of valuable oil
properties owned by the deceased persons.