, 1875-12-27
LOCAL LETTERS,
TRUE HISTORY OF THE DIVES MtSE.

To tie Editor NJ Tho Chicago Tribune:
CulcAao, Doc. 25.-1E its Issue OF tho Goth
inst. tho Chicago Times pubshos an article nlr-
porting to be copied from tho New York Sun
dated Washington, Dec. Ii. headed, "Au Of
fetal ScaulAl." which soeus to n,e to be no Mill.
fully malicious III some OF the statements therein
contained aud in tho deductions 10 be luaao
therefrom, aud to bo 80 malignant toward tho
character. integrity. and good faith Of some Of
our fellow-ctizsnn, HhoBo character, SO far III
their connection with this matter Is con.
ccrued, at least should be and ia above
teproach, that I have folt it to 10 my
duty ION account of m intimate. knowledge
OF tho transactions betwean Con. John \. Logan,
II. II. 4ouoro, and john II. McAIurdy relative
to their respective interests 10 tho Dives niue,
to come forward unsolicited by my Of tho iuter-
csteA paEttos, and without thoir knowledge, and
make plain BtntemGut Ut such fects that tho
public may bo able to judge tterofron Of their
guilt or Innocence Of such yenhtity uni corrup-
ten as by that article tho wosid would he led to
bclicyo. mud, II inuocGnt, In whose interest and
were like to be published and circulated
in tue public prcsa. John II. 3Ieaurdy,
had heon for years An intimate personal frland
Of tho writer, one Intimacy dating back To the
tt1no when he liFoa in Cltcago, Aul bis copclu-
hlon to take up his rositsence in Colorado was
reached after many consultations anl much nd
vice with ms upon tue subject, and ho Inns beeu
heard to Ray mspy ttu'ea during tho lattor yaara
Of his lte, that bis residence IN tho Terrtory OF
coorado, COLORADO sn1 hs CONSEQUENT rrospof,ty (fet he
largely due 70 mo-. I have satd this much
rolatye to McAiurdy that my relations with aud
to hun might DO well uudesstood.
pnHa over tho ilsht two paragraphs Of tho lot
ter or tho Huh correspondent, fola!lng to the
motus-opsrsast OF appointing Territorial
Judges, their term Of oIllce, appoint
mont OF auccesYprs. otc., with only thia
ststemeut' that from my per1oual knowledge
obtained during several visits to Colorado there
was a very widu:spfcnd and growing dissatlsfac-
faction with Judge Belfordh judicial character
aud career. Of which foelints, It mood not DO 10
MED, Mr. McMurdy #as 3 noted and onthpoken
champion, Ut"er no circumstances did he At.
tempt TO conceal his hyorsion to Beiforl in his
official capacity, making NUMEROUS open nnt
public charges Of hia tncapaclty, venallty, and
corruption, alld IN this opinion i largo number
Of the people OF Colorado hnd come tu sl,afe. and
his auccesaot betore the expiration OF his COM
mission in June, 1871, and this loug before
Logan or Aonoro esher had paid tholr frat
visit TO colorado, or had ever met With Me-
sturdy, 30. that the charge that 1t was
OF tteHc gentlonion that Judge Hslford
| should be removed TAILS at once to tho BEouud
/ unsupported. Tho cha!longo In tho third paru-
Grn!'h o. sho letter Eofersed to, to any ons who
dsros to question the accuracy OF hts statomout
regarding the prot1acttd aud yirulont litigation
going OH for tue last three years Letwoou the
"Divca " And "felican" mines. IL not important
to my statement, but 1 dislike to pass IL Ly
without calling tho attention OF tho public to the
iRit tlae thste aro many inaccuracies hlid u,ta-
statements IN uls version OF tho case ~ given
by tho correspondent, and lnauy things therco
stated ~ fActs. 1t il enHy to 10 suen By any
ono uot conVcrsknt with tho case, arc tho mere
assumptions OF one Hlds Of contested rcsa, aud
which arc wholly unestnb'iAsd BY Auy tasli-
mOny, or by tho 1udiciA! dscBiun Of any court
1t NIL not DO hgrd for t!.e public
to determine whosa cass IL being plesJtd d
el1ro tho "lar OF public orncn," aud IN
whosU employ is thia volubln Correspondent. uf
iho Sav York SuiA Ut Washington. Il Is t,uA
As btatod iu tho fourth pAstgr.p!. that "ior
lns past three yelrs eNrited litigation l,as
been going on Ia tho courts Of Colortto between
essta!n mining properties" that Owned or
cla!u,ed by ono OF tho lttEants being called tho
.'peieau. or zillah !ods, aud that owuoA ur
claimed by tho contestants b0ing chlul lhe
'Diyes" lode. II is also true that hicslas.ly
WA the nalu party contestant on tho part IT
D.yes property And that he orgsnized d cofu-
rsny In Lafayette. ludianA, to uhici. ho con.
yssed BOO feet, wost aud adInlu.ug tho discovery
1utft Ut thu Dives lode, and not 7OU feet us
stated in the letter, but this Company was or
gani.ed tive yeasa apo, long before kny
Important litigation about The posseta,oa
OF ownership Of the property had be1u 1sitod,
and When McMusdy believed, ~ bo gt,ll believed