Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-11-18
Christopher, Columbusl

Christopher. Columbusl
Is conceded to have been the man who
discovered America, but II has remained
for the stock holders Of the New Mexico
and Dakota Mica mining company to
discover that Columbus +. Griffing, late
secretary and treasurer of the company,
is trying to or has defrauded that insti-
tuition. AT least the following from tho
Chicago Times of the Sd would seem to
indicate that such is the state of affairs
A suit was commenced in the superior
court Saturday, and suppressed for serv-
ice, by Davis J. Whiting and other
shareholders In the New Mexico AMI
Dakota Mica company, to protect the
company against the action, alleged to
be fraudulent, Of its late secretary,
Columbus +. Grifiing. The main Office
of the company Is in Chicago, and its
business carried on in New Mexico and
Dakota 1t was incorporated in May,
1881, with capital stock Of $4,000 900,
in $4,000 shares Of S25 each, Of which
10000 were disposed Of The chief busi- i.
ness now done is mining mica in the
Lost Bonanza" mica lode. Griffing was
treasurer of the corporation from the
organization until the 15th Of June, 1882,
and secretary from November IA, 1881,
until the same date. In this dual
capacity he had full control Of the affairs
Of the company. The bill states that
the company possesses bond, issued
by Gritfing, for the transfer to the cor
poratlon, for 1900 shares, of two-thirds
interest in the Mica Queen mica mine
in Custer county, Dakota, and fifteen.
thirty-siXth interest in the Lost Bon
anza," in the SAME county. In the same
month he agreed, for consideration Of
$4,000 shares, to convey to the corpora
ton his interest in eight other mines In
Rio Arriba county, New Mexico. This
last bond was in the possession Of the
corporation when Grifling became it's
secretary, but now can not be found.
All the shares stipulated were delivered
to Griffing, but the corporation has only
received from him transfer Of the
Of the "Lost Bon
anza," though several demands have
been made upon him to live up to his
agreement. 1t is also alleged that Grif-
fling has also disposed of large number
of shares without pecuniary benefit to
the corporation-yiz., TO Clara M. Grif-
fling, his wife, 500 shares; Theodore w.
Grfling, his son, minor, 1000, and he
holds, as trustee for his son, 900 shares;
further issuing to himself, without the
consent Of the corporation, 800 shares in
excess Of the number of shares the cor
poration had voted to him. On Oct. 3.
1881, certificate, No. 1913, of 800
shares, part Of the 49,sOO, was voted to
Griffing, who caused to be issued an
other certificate, No. 249, Of 800 shares,
and delivered the same to w. Fl. Wat.
son, and the stub Of certificate No. 1913
bears the words: "No. of old certificate
cancelled, 1893" Yet Grifing has not re-
turned and cancelled No. 1913. On April
29, last, 1t is charged, he caused to be is
sued to himself certificate No. 256 for 20
shares, and on the same day to Ceylon
Il. Taylor certificate No. 25S for 20
writing on the stub of the latter,
NO. of old certificate cancelled, 256," yet
failing TO return No. 256. He is charged
with holding the promissory note Of the
company for $3.50, though the amount
was included in draft for 81, 1868 paid
to him Aug. Is, 1882, On the understand
ing that he should cancel the note.
Without the consen. Of the corporation
he is said to have accepted some worth
less mining claims from Messrs. Cragin
Bros. q Go. in exchange for promissory
note for $4,000, given as advance pay.
ment for mica consigned to Cragin Il
Co. Finally, it is stated that Griffing
has in his possession mica worth from
$1,000 to 81 500, the property ofthe COM
pany. The bill asks for a restitution of
the shares and other property fraudu-
lently taken from the corporation that
Columbus +. Griffing be required to ac-
count for all the money he collected
while an officer of the company, and
that he be restrained from selling shares
of the company, rs he advertised it was
his intention to do.