Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-10-27


one might be led to infer that it intended
to intimate that the connection of Mr.
Clark with that case was in some way
disgraceful, or possibly dishonest. II
seems pity to dispel the illusion under
which the Record is very evidently labor
ing, viz: That it has at last rendered its
party some service, which will tend to
justify its existence, but under the cir
cumstances I trust I may be pardoned for
saying that Mr.. Clark's relations to that
matter were not in the slightest degree
dishonorable or discreditable to him.
Mr.. Cullen then proceeds to state in
detail the circumstances connected with
the case. He shows that John H. Rogers
Of Deer Lodge county owned at the time
Of his death certain undivided interests
in the claims on the Original lode, in the
Summit Valley mining district. Mr.. r.
vine, the administrator, could not sell this
interest for less than three-fourths of its
appraised value. Accordingly, in order
to wind up the estate, he received author
ity from the legislature to sell the prop
erty atauction, the sale to be confirmed by
the probate judge. Regarding the sale,
Mr.. Cullen says: .M.m.. o...
I think Mr.. Clark was not present at
the sale, and if my memory serves me
correctly he was not in the territory when
it took place. Mr. Larabie, however, was
present, and lnasmuch as he and Mr..
Clark owned the other interests in these
claims, was DESTROYS of purchasing the
infnrnctc of To
Granville Stuart, who was at the time
connected with the First National Bank
of Helena, heavy creditor Of the estate,
fearing he might become bidder, said
to him: 81 will give you two hundred
dollars not to bid against me-" Mr..
Stuart, considering that sum Of more
value to the First National Bank than the
interests in these claims, even if it should
become the purchaser, accepted the offer.
Mr. Larabie will readily acquit them Of
transaction. At the sale there were other
bidders, but MI. Larabie was the highest
and best bidder, and became the purchas
er of the property. The sale was con
firmed by the probate judge of Deer
Lodge county. The court after careful
examination became satisfied, and in his
order of confirmation certified that he did
not believe that bid exceeding that of
Mr. Larabie's ten per centum additional
exclusive of the costs of resale could
be obtained. This was in the spring of
1877. The property was at that time
wholly undeveloped, and Mr.. Granville
Stuart said to me that Mr.. Larabie paid
more for the property than he would have
bid on it if the transaction above men
toned had not been made.
This outlines an ordinary business tran
sactlon, from which no one except the
Helena Racket could draw any unworthy
inference.
Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Larabie proceeded to
develop the Original lode and after two
years work the mine seemed to be one of
great value. The First National Bank of
Helena accordingly revived its claim and
induced Mrs. Rogers, who had in the mean
time married Mr.. Jones to join in the
suit against Mr.. Larabie and Mr.. Clark.
The subsequent proceedings are thus
told by Mr.. Cullen. .v.M.@
Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Larbie had spent as
| have said a very large sum Of money IN
developing that property; they had made
it valuable; they thought they had good
title to it, and very naturally undertook
to defend the action, Mr.. Clark, however,
took care to consult one of the most emin-
ent lawyer living, the Hon. Jeremiah
Black, who was his warm personal friend
and finding that the transactions between
Mr.. Larbie and Mr.. Stuart would proba-
bly, defeat his title, he came forward like
an honorable business man as he is, and
made fair and honorable settlement of
the whole matter. We did not get $780,
900 out of the transaction as the Record
asserts, but we are satisfied, and every dem
ocrat and some republicans who were
connected with that litigation as prlnci-
pals or attorney, or in any other way, will
vote for Mr. Clark on election day.
This statement is confirmed in letter
from U. S. Marshal Kelley to the indie
pendent in which he says he was bid
der at the sale and was "importuned by
both Mr.. Larbie and Mr.. Clark to become
the purchaser"
He concludes his letter as follows:
do not believe that any frauds were
perpetrated at that sale, and am satisfied
that if everything pertaining to it had not
been perfectly fair ana square that the
probate judge of Deer Lodge county,
Oren Emmerson, good republican,
would not have confirmed the sale or au-
thorized deeds issued for the property.
That is all there is of it. 1t is not often
that foul libel is SO readily refuted. The
scandal monger Of the Racket kind gen
orally counts upon few days start OF
course the Racket won't print either Mr.
Citizens or Mr.. Kelley's letter. That
would be showing fair play, which would
not suit the Carter interest.
But the Record, known also as the
Racket, because of its Gathering, empty
noise, will not divert the people from the
real issue. They will elect William A.
Clark because he is well and truly quail
fled to represent Montana in the United
States congress.