The Trinity times., 1855-02-17
Dartmouth on Law and Mining Claims
GULcH Feb. l3, 1855.


70 the Trinity Times;
Mr.. EDIToR:-I have been reading the
laws of this Gulch. You will observe from
the following extracts, which give yon rer
batim ct literatim, that they are not very ex-
plict:
"Resolye that no person or persons Can
hold or Jump Claim BY Working Rocker
unless THAR be q nufe of water Running
Thro ugh the Claim to work tom through
the day
Resolved that no Miner Can hold his Claim
after a suferenchey of water to enable others
to do so and that they shall forfit such Claims
unless they attend to the working OF them un
less prevented by Sickness And Also THAR
be five days allowed to parties sabsent from
THAR Claims and that notice be written and
put on the Claims by those who intend Jump
ing or taking them up also THAR are five days
allowed to the Oners of Claims on this gulch
who absent themselves from working duering
that period"
Owing to the great difficulty in finding
persons in this neighborhood possessed of
sufficient intelligence to understand the above
laws, all difficulties that occur between min
ers are taken to the County Seat for adjust
ment. There has been case of this kind
ltigated for several weeks, the facts of which
are these: Spriggins takes up claim on the
bank of the stream; digs ditch three or four
hundred yards in length; builds dam across
the creek; takes the water on his claim and
goes to work. Shortly after, Higgins, Wig
gins & Co. take up the ground near the
head of the ditch through which Spriggins
takes his water. There not being water suf-
fcient for both parties to work to advantage,
Higgins, Wiggins & Co. take the water from
the ditch belonging to Spriggins, and run it
into their own sluiccs. Sprggins, having
protested against such an unlawful proceed
ing, Higgins, Virgins Is Co. fire revolver
at his head, stick pick in his back and then
have him arrested for an assault and battery.
Justice says, Spriggins must pay fifteen dol
lars and costs of court-amounting in the ag
gregate to about eighty dollars. En-
boldened by success, Higgins, Virgins &
Co. tken claim the ditch through which
Spriggins takes his water. Jury decide that
the ditch belongs 10 Spriggins. Higgins,
Wiggins g. Co., having had enough of law,
sell out to Muggins & Co. Muggins & Co,
being men of more than ordinary intelligence,
then dig ditch from the dam OF Sprggins,
take the water therefrom and conduct it to
their own claim. Spriggins turns it into his
ditch; Muggins turns it back; Spriggins arms
himself with revolver; so does Muggns
Sprggins threatens to shoot Muggins and |
Muggns threatens to shoot Spriggins. Next
day Meggins s. Co. have Spriggns arrested |
for an assault with intent to kill. far-seeng |
J Justice binds both parties in the sum of one
hundred dollars to keep the peace for six
months. AIuggins & Co. again take the wa
ter; Spriggns then enters a suit for the re-
covery of one hundred dollars damages and
the restoration Of the water; intelligent jury
bring in verdict "in fapor Of the defendant."
Oily Cannon, Esq, counsel for plaintiff,
uses flowory language; verdict thrown out
of thc window, and new trial granted. Trial
comes off; large attendance; - Gulch
well represented; able argument by Oily
Cannon, Esq; jury say that party of Chi
namen are entitled to the first sluce- head Of
water, and that Spriggins shall have the sec
ond. Muggns & Co. differ from the opinion
of the jury as set forth in the verdict, and
appeal to the County Court
The case has already cost the parties and
their witnesses nearly two thousand dollars,
and the claims of both parties together with
all the rights and privileges belonging there
to, are not worth one hundred dollars. Mug
gins e. Go. being rich men, and Sprggins
not having dollar to his name, il is not a
dificalt matter to see how il will eventually
terminate. Yours truly,
DARTMOUTH.
The Know Nothing Doctrine.