In late November, 1922, newspapers around the nation announced a startling decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. The mysterious Tommy Atkins, Creek boy whose land was worth millions, was not a myth.

The Attorney General and even President Woodrow Wilson had seen this kid as a fraudulent creation born from fever dreams of oil wealth. Tommy was a fake boy created by oilman Charles Page, Minnie Atkins, and several other paid witnesses who committed perjury.

The ruling itself was a stunner: Minnie Atkins was the heir of Tommy’s land, and he was a real child born to Minnie in a barn behind a brothel in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Newspapers like the Buffalo Times wrote that this Minnie was now a millionaire—something like pre-TV Beverly Hillbilly, but set in Indian Country. Next thing you know, old Minnie’s a millionaire!

There was one important fact almost every newspaper printing this A.P. report left out: Minnie Atkins was dead. She was a “rich Indian heiress” because she had died in 1919. The cause of death? There were conflicting reports—a nervous breakdown, a heart condition. The Tulsa World hinted at foul play.

I think Minnie was indeed murdered. But like with many MMIWG cases, Minnie’s would never be solved.