Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-04-26
NO SETTLEMENT REACHED.
3. A. Ammon Proves an 0bstructor to an
Amicable Adjustment of Gilt Edge
Affairs.

The Gilt Edge officers and their
guests returned to Great Falls and
Helena Saturday last without having
accomplished an adjustment of claims
the property: Consultation was
held Thursday between T. E. Collins,
president of the company, and A. w.
War;, to whom the claims of the
Mercantile Co., Montana
Hardware Co. and Geo. II. Chambers
& Co. had been assigned. These gen.
tlemen outlined a plan to which both
would agree and when Mr.. Collins re-
turned to Gilt Edge matters looked
favorable toward an understanding.
But on Friday Mr.. Ammon, who
seems to have the upper hand OF other
members of the company, came over
and Immediately assumed the role OF
dictator, refusing to concede an iota
to a just settlement of affairs. The
only proposition which he made was
in substance as follows: All property
OF the Gilt Edge Mining Co. situate in
Fergus county to be turned over to X.
A. Ammon as trustee for the benefit
of creditors; X. A. Ammon to furnish
as bondsmen II. +. Collins and j. II.
Arlington; said trustee agreed to ad-
Just all labor claims and to carry out
the plans OF the experts for the in
creasins of the earning capacity OF
the property; the creditors OF tine
company agree to release all claims
and suits against the company and
transfer the same to said trustee; the
trustee to submit a monthly state
ment of earnings to creditors after it
had been audited by James II. Moe
and % pay all creditors pro rata from
the net earnings.
This proposition was fair save in
one respect. The title to the mines
does not rest i'm the hands of the com
pany but in individuals and OF what
use could the mill property be with
out the mines? The creditors repre-
scented by A. w. War; therefore in
sisted that the title of the mines
should also be assigned to Ammon as
trustee. Mr.. Ammon at first agreed
to this but finally refused to sign such
agreement and here proved to be the
stumbling block. Messrs. Collins and
Arlington and one ortwo other mem
bers of the company conceded MIR.
Wars insistence to be "A just one, but
Mr.. Ammon persistently refused and
however long the string OF lies may be
which he has or will pour into the ears
of reporters elsewhere, he was the one
man who stood i'll the way of agree
ment.
Mr.. War; made several propositions
any one of which could have been
agreed upon with little trouble but for
Ammon's obstinacy. He stood in the
middle of the floor for hours pro-
claiming his greatness, his shrewdness,
his wealth and his superiority above
all other men until ven members oil
the company sickened OF the. diarrhea
of rot and let him alonei in his glory
The audacity Of the rascal. however,
was astonishing when he wen upon
the streets Saturday and announced
that he ''made every concession in
the world which a reasonable man
creditors would do nothing honor
able" Mr.. War; would agree to re.
lease his claim providing they would
give other security and allow them
to meet the obligation within oneyear;
he also offered to grant stay of judg.
ment and allow them to use the prop
erty, he to take n fair proportion oil
the earnings. But to nothing but a
dishonorable "cinch" would the Tam.
manyite agree.
The total Indebtedness of the com,
pany amounts to sos, 900, the
amount for which suits have been en-.
tered is SOS, 900 and the claims of A,
w. War; and B. w. Pooleto S24 900,
The experts, 1t is understood, have
made a favorable report on the prop.
erty and Mr.. Allen of st. Louis stood
ready to assist the company in devel-
| oping the mine if they would first set
tie with litigants. Mr.. Collins used
his best endeavors to accomplish "A
settlement and had it not been for
Ammon, today stockholders, credi.
tors and laborers could have worn a
look of satisfaction.
ter OF conjecture, but as we have in
simulated, by all means purge the COM
pany oil Ammon's management.