Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-04-18
A Mining Romance.

Spencer & HIner, of Fon Due Lac arr
the attorneys for The saloon keeper, Alex
ander McKane, who is one of the heirs tC
mines IN New Mexico valued at owe
| 81, 900, 600. The circumstances are q:
follows: About the year 1871 Frank Nc
Kane went from Indiana to New Mexico,
and, like nearly all men who go into 4
mining country, ne located number Of
claims. He was a bachelor, and lived thf
/ lie of thriftless vagapond for severa
years. when he opened saloon. He
maintained himself In the buslI ess. NO
keeping very elaborate place, until 1880
when he died of smallpox, poverty-strlck-
en- and deserted. lie had not even friend
left 70 communicate the intelligence of his
death 10 his Eastern relatives. If it was
known there he had any. dis family, con
sistlng of three brothers, did not learn oI
mis- death until a short time ago, gentle.
man appeared who was desIrous of pur-
chasing their rights in the mines alluded
TO above.
Mchane's family consists of Alexander
McKanc, Of this city; Jaues Mckane, OF
Clay county, Indiana, where he Is col
lier; and Samuel Mckane, now confined
in the Indiana pt nltentiary at Michigan
City. The last was incarc rated for bur-
glary, but prolonged his term of Imprison-
ment by attempting to hew leg eff one
of the prison guards. There was also an
other member of the family, who, II was
reported, died of yellow fever IN the South.
lie was fugitive IRON justice, aud there
$40, 900 reward on his head for murder
committed in Texas some years since.
Shortly after Nick ane's death 1t trans
pired that some Ct the mines which he 10
Gated were exceedingly valuable, and
Brown IL Young of 81. Louis. set about
getting possession OF them. The Brown
Of the firm Is B. GratZ Brown, who was Il
candidate for the Vice Presidency with
Greeley. They sent out Daniel Murphy to
hunt up the McKane heirs and buy them
off. Murphy obtained quit claim deed
from James McKane. In Indiana, for
$1,000. He made the same kind of a
trade also with Samuel, IN the penItentI-
airy at Michigan City. He was some time
accomplishing his object with Alexander
Mcka ane. of this city, on account OF the
pecullarlties of the person with whom he
had to deal. Murphy represented that the
mines were of little value, that they were
undeveloped and involved IN litigation,
that McKane's claim had been sold out,
and that he simply warted TO perfect his
title to the property. Alexander is some
what eccentric and rather superstitious.
He was, 1t seems, little suspicious, and
employed Spence & Hiner as his lawyers.
They wanted to look up the mines TO as
certain their real value, but Mckane was
unmanageable by lawyers and obstinate.
Murphy offered HIM $1,000, and, despite
the aavice of his counsel, he took II, Civ.
| ing a quit-claIm deed of his interest In his
| brothers mining claims Spence d Hiner,
however, had their suspicious aroused,
and made inquiries by telegraph, learning
enough 10 warrant beginning suit against
Murphy, before he left the city, to SCI
aside his conveyance on the grouI that i
wss obtained by false reprentatlons. Nc
Kane repented of his rashness in giving
/ the deed.
Mr.. Hiner afterward spent some time II
hunting up James McKane, taking Alex
sn0er along to assist hun. James retained
the firm to fight his case also. MIR. Spen
Ger has just returned from a two weeks
trip to Mexico, looking up the legal points
in the case. lie found that Mckane dice
possessed of clear title to a one-half in
terest IN no less ,han five mines viz thI
Viola. the Penelope, the Windward, th'
5 lver Bell, and the Webster. Murphy ha'
been Interested In securing titles 10 tn
first three are worth over 81 100000 ant
have been improved to some extent Muir
ply transferred his title by a trust dee
10 B. Gratz Brown, of St. LOUIS, and Johl
Z. Price, Of Grant county, New Mexico
Suits were therefore begun there 10 Sc
aside their title and the whole matter Il
nav in the courts.