cluded in the above list shall be assessed by the Principal Chief, subject to the approval of the United States Indian Agent.

Approved March 23d, 1893.

L. C. PERRYMAN, Principal Chief, M. N.

Approved March 27th, 1893.

LEO E. BENNETT, U. S. Indian Agent.

SECTION 252. The personal property of any citizen of this Nation who is not married, or the head of a family, in specific articles to be selected by such citizen, not exceeding in value the sum of two hundred ($200.00) dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, shall be exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on execution, or other process from any court, issued for the collection of any debt. by contract; provided, that no property shall be exempt for debts contracted for the purchase money therefor, while in the hands of the vendee.

SEC. 253. The personal property of any citizen of this Nation who is married, or the head of a family, in specific articles to be selected by such citizen, not exceeding in value the sum of five hundred ($500.00) dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, and that of his or her family; and also all household or kitchen furniture or fixtures, and all agricultural, horticultural and general farming implements, shall be exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on execution, or other process from any court, on debt by contract.

SEC. 254. It shall not be lawful to levy upon and sell, under any execution or decree of any court, any improvement upon the public lands to satisfy any debt by contract.

SEC. 255. The defendant in any execution in the hands of an officer to be levied shall make out under oath a list of the property he shall claim to be exempted, and deliver the

same to such officer, who shall immediately release such property and return the same to the party defendant, or his lawful agent, and shall return such list of property of the party claimed as exempt with the execution.

SEC. 256. The officer having such execution shall have power to swear the party to said list, or the same may be sworn to before any officer authorized by law to administer oaths.

SECTION 257. The last will and testament of any deceased person shall be valid; and if any person shall die without having made a will, not having had the opportunity to do so, and it can be established by two respectable witnesses that the deceased did, prior to his death, express verbally the manner in which he desired his property to be disposed of, such nuncupative will shall be valid. No will shall be valid unless the testator shall have been in his or her proper mind and such fact testified to by two respectable witnesses; provided, that no will shall be valid when it is proven that it was made to avoid the payment of just debts.

SEC. 258. If any person claim to be the child of a deceased male person, and it should be proven that such person did not, during life, recognize the claimant as his offspring, then. such claimant shall not be entitled to any share. in the estate of the deceased.

SEC. 259. No person shall bring any claim against a deceased person without two respectable witnesses who shall

have been present at the time the debt was created, or unless such claimant shall hold a written obligation. In either case where the deceased has property, it shall be collected, otherwise the debt shall not be good.

ADMINISTRATION.

SEC. 260. If any male citizen die without having made a will, the Judge of the District wherein such deceased person resided shall grant letters of administration to any citizen of this Nation who may request it, and such person shall be required to give bond in double the value of such estate, with at least two good sureties, each of whom shall also own property equal to twice the value of such estate.

SEC. 261.

All estates of deceased persons shall be valued by the Judge and two disinterested persons.

SEC. 262. The administrator shall at all times be required to make and provide liberal means for the support and education of all heirs of the deceased, to make any trade that may be of advantage to such estate, and to advise and direct the affairs of such heirs until they shall have become of age, according to law, or until such heirs shall marry, in which event the administrator shall turn over to such heirs of his or her inheritance everything connected with the estate that may have been placed in his care, or its equivalent in money or other property.

SEC. 263. If an administrator, when required to do so, fails to turn over everything connected with an estate of which he shall have charge, or its equivalent in money or other property, the proper authority shall seize the goods or property of his sureties, and appropriate therefrom a sufficient amount to make up any deficiency that may occur in the value of the estate; and if any person shall sign a bond as surety, and afterwards die, the estate of such surety shall in all cases be held responsible.

SEC. 264. If no person shall ask letters of administration, the Judge shall appoint a suitable person who, upon