§ 98. Illegal sales of timber and trees. Every sale or disposition without the consent of such chiefs, by any individual Indian or Indians, of any tree or timber on any of the tribal lands, or of any manufacture therefrom, shall be void. The chiefs may sell for the benefit of the nation any timber or trees on the wild lands of such nation, the proceeds of such sale to be paid to the chief whom the council shall appoint as treasurer. Such chiefs may bring an action against the person to whom such trees or timber are sold to recover the purchase price thereof, or against any person who shall have received any tree, timber or the manufacture therefrom, unlawfully sold, to recover the value thereof for the benefit of the nation. Any person who shall sell, take or carry from the lands of such nation any trees, lumber or articles manufactured therefrom, without the consent of such chiefs, in any other case than is provided for in this section, shall be liable to a penalty of twice the value of such trees, timber or manufactured articles, recoverable by such chiefs.
