Here’s one the federal courts don’t hear every day: The relatives of Geronimo, the famed Apache warrior who challenged U.S. forces in the 1800s, are suing Skull and Bones, Yale’s notorious secret society that counts George W. Bush and John Kerry as members, alleging that its members stole the military leader’s remains decades ago and have been hiding them ever since.
The suit was filed this past Tuesday, which not-so-coincidentally happens to be the 100th anniversary of Geronimo’s death (who says litigation can’t be done with a little dramatic flair?). According to the AP:
Geronimo’s great-grandson Harlyn Geronimo said his family believes Skull and Bones members took some of the remains in 1918 from a burial plot in Fort Sill, Okla., to keep in its New Haven clubhouse, a crypt. The alleged graverobbing is a longstanding legend that gained some validity in recent years with the discovery of a letter from a club member that described the theft.
Harlyn, who has stated that he “believe[s] strongly from my heart that [Geronimo's] spirit was never released,” and wants the allegedly filched remains, as well as any held by the federal government, turned over so they can be reburied near the Indian leader’s birthplace in southern New Mexico. And to drive home just how serious he is about recovering his famous ancestor’s bones, Harlyn has also named President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Army Secretary Pete Geren as defendants. Since Lord knows unlawfully harboring skeletons of Native American heroes is at the top of their policy agenda.
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Image: Wikipedia Commons
