The Evening critic., 1882-06-03
A SILVER CONTROVERSY.

pfauatiOn from Mr.. Darlington.
Tho Washington & Mexican Mining Com
pany, incorporated in this District and made
up Of prominent business mon, through their
attorneys, Messrs. Hine 4 Thomas, have fled
bill in equity against Mr.. Campbell Caring
ton, the well Unknown attorney, but who fer the
past year has bcen out Of practice, for discov-
cry and account. The bill declares that tho
company was interested In certain silver
mines, known as the Ropechio, the Oabello, the
San Antonio, tho Graguella and tho Delagua,
in tho mining district of Inde, State OF Du-
range, Republic OF Mexico, and desiring to test
their capacity and richness, and having con-
fidence In the experience, ability and integ-
rity OF Mr.. Darlington, the company In May,
1881, appointed him superintendent, at a sal
ary OF 800 per month.
He was to proceed to the mines and keep the
company's possession and title, In accordance
with the laws of Mexico, and as speedily as
possible free tho mines of water and debris
and open tho same, ascertain their value by
taking therefrom sunlcient ore. havo II
smelted and sent to THIS city, together with tho
silver bullion and specimen ore, for the In
spection Of the stockholders.
Mr.. Darlington accepted the appointment,
and was furnished with $4,000 in cash, TO he
chinery, teamstere, guides and other Incl
dental expenses to tho enterprise. He left
here May 81, 1881, for the mines via st. Louis
and San Antonio, and reached his destination
on July 4. month later he reported his
arrival at Inde, and that he had expended
S2,S05.2S Of the funds intrusted to him in
procuring an outfit, and had taken possession
OF all of the mines, commenced work on tho
Graguella and the Delagua mines, and desired
TO return to this city before the winter Of
1SS1IS2. He also stated that all Of tho prop
erty of the company was In bond for dutiable
taxes imposed by the Government OF MeXlco
that ho proposed to put between twenty and
forty men to work in the mines named above,
and would require an additional $4,000 placed
to his credit in the Central National Bank of
this city. This request was complied with in
September, 1881. The ensuing November Mr..
Darlington returned to this city, and ap-
peared before the board of directors and
verbally stated that he had shipped from
Eagle Pass, Tex, by Adams express 1.62o
ounces of silver bullion, worth S1,700, and
some valuable specimens of silver ore, aud
that the horses, wagons, &C., had been left at
Eagle Pass.
Accepting the statement as truc the COM
pany settled with their superintendent, paid
the balance Of his salary, took an order ON the
express company for the bullion and ore and
(Noyember) Mr.. Darlington submitted a sec
ond report, In which he stated that he left
Inde October IL, 1881, taking with him / ,625
ounces Of silver smelted from ore extracted
from the mines, besides a large quantity of
valuable specimens of silver ore, and was ar
rested at tho instance of the Collector OF Gus
toms of the Mexican Government at Predras
Negros, and his specimen ore, bullion, valued
at S1,7C0, with wagons, horses, ETC., the prop.
| erty OF the company, were seized and detained
| for an alleged violation of the rcveaue laws of
| Mexico.
| After waiting some Time, and the ore and
bullion alleged to have been shipped by Mr..
| Darlington ut Eagle Pass not arriving, the
| president of the company telegraphed to
| parties at Eagle Pass In reference to the ship
| inent, and was advised that the same had been
| seized by the Mexican officers for the non-pay-
ment ol duty, while Mr.. Darlington, by means
| of a false bottom in his wagon, was endeavor-
| ing TO smuggle II Into the United States.
Upon hearing this the directors of the COM
pany called upon Darlington for an explana-
| ton. He appeared before a meeting and
admitted that he constructed the false bottom
| to his ambulance for the purpose of conceal.
ing the ore and bullion, but asserted that II
was done to prevent its capture by tho robbers
who infested the route of travel, and not to
avoid paying the revenue. The company
further claims that Mr.. Darlington used the
opportunity to promote his own private inter
ests, and was employed by other mining com
panies and interested in them to the prejudice
of the company who sent him to the mines and
| while In their employ, and that he "de
nounced" the mines in the name Of Irving
Williamson, his law partner, and other per
| II is also charged that he failed to produce
vouchers for the greater portion OF the $4,000
| entrusted to him OF the company's money
Under these circumstances the company asks
that the settlement made with Mr.. CarringtoI
| be set aside; that he be charged with thu
| value OF the bullion and ore lost, and that HI
be compelled to give an account OF the expend
iture OF the money given to him TO be used t.
meet expenses.
Mr.. Carrington's Statement.
In connection with the above Mr. Carringtol
furnishes us with the following statement am
explanation:
An article appeared in one OF the morning
papers purporting to give synopsis OF a bill
| filed against me by the Washington and Mex
can Mining Company. 1t is true that bill
has been filed, signed by no one but counse
and sworn to by no one; This bill /, have nc nc
| way. In the meantime some explanation
due my friends. 1t is charged In the bill tina
and specimens into the United statos, col
trary 10 the laws Of Mexico. Thi
bullion was the property OF tn
hazardous duty to perform in obeying thei
, direction to transport 1t 10 Washington. TIL
mines are some COO miles In the Interior
Mexico. To reach the United States, my part.
three Americans beside myself and one Me-
ican, had to pass through rugged countr!
: | sparsely settled, many portions OF IL infeste
: by Indians and desperadoes. There had bee
many and recent instances of robbery an
murder OF people known to have money, tN
of my friends having been robbed and mu
dercd a short time before my departure With
100 miles OF the mines. Every precautio
had 10 be taken for concealmei
on the route. The question was, how was
= best 70 be done. By the advice OF experience
friends, / concealed It under the seats OF Il
ambulance, in which l rode during tho da
> and slept at night. Upon my arrival at peadri
Negras there was no evasion of the MeXtce
authorities; on the contrary, the place of co
: | ceament was shown to the custoH-house ms
+ and the money rendered for the duties M
:. wiihstanding this, upon n mere technicalit
y under recent law, unknown TO me
means Of ascertaining, II never having BET
promulgated at Indo, these goods were Wit
J. held. Before left consulted the best cou
sci that could be obtained, and left the matt
in their hands, with the assurance from the
: that the silver had been wrongfully seized tn
:, The matter would be adjusted in a few da.
o and the bullion forwarded TO Washingto
a Shortly after my arrival here, In compal
= with committee OF tho board OF directors
% had an interview with tho Mexican Mnistt
1t and at his suggestion, a petition, In writin
Is was filed. Subsequently, was Informed
d the directors that they had placed thematt
;. of the recovery of the silver from the Mexic
10 authorities in the hands of their own eouns
o IL Is also alleged that l failed to account
IS cetain money put into my hands. This is 3
7. | solutely false. l had n settlement with {
10 company, and my accounts were approved
s, a committee appointed for the purpose OF q
o. aminiDg them. Further, It is charged tina
q did not properly discharge my duties 10 I
ot company. This Is n most mitlgated and L
ii Just accusation; Il Is without foundation
fact ana false and malicious from beginnl
- 20 end. did all could for the company, n
'' my answer when nled Will convince any |
~ partial person that l deserve credit ratf
ic than blame,
w CAsIpBELL CARRINGTos
iy -
10 First Of the SensOn.