The record-union., 1894-09-21
BAD BARGAIN BY THE SPERRETFO.
More About Their Placer County
Mine Deal.
salvationfst Montgomery Appears to
Have Struck Good Thing-The
sterretts are Broke.

Yesterday the RECoRD-UNIoN pub
ished a statement from the San Francisco
Call concerning lawsuit commenced in
that city by Rev. Samuel T. Sterrett of
Placer County and his brothers against
George S. Montgomery, G. n. Critten-
ton, A. w. bennett and others to recover
the Sterrett mining property in that
county. which they alleged had been OBJ
tanned from them by fraud and decep-
tion. The same paper published yester-
day the following, giving the personal
statements of some of the parties inter-
ested:
There is pathetic side to the story Of
the Sterrett brothers suit to recover their
mine from George S. Montgomery, A. w.
bennett, Charles n. Crittenton and
others. AS matters stand between the
Sterretts and George Montgomery, the
millionaire salvationist, etc., the valuable
mine IS owned by him and his interested
friends, while the three old men, who had
looked upon it with loving eyes for many
year past as the support OF their old
age, have nothing, absolutely nothing.
Mr.. Montgomery looks on blandly, and
says he is in perfectly secure position.
He has the mine, and declares 1t was
bought for all 1t was worth when pur-
chased, and adds with an air of candor
that it is he who has grievance.
They tried to blackmail me-" he said,
shut would not submit to blackmail-
no, sir; it is a square battle and we shall
fight it out now"
what can we do. what can we say to
man like that?" was the only answer
Rev. Samuel Sterrett could make when
asked what Truth there might be in this
statement. "Black kmaiI-welI. l cannot
reply. All we have done is stated in the
complaint now on file in Auburn, Placer
County, and every word Of it is true as
gospel. 1t will ali be proved when the
case comes up Tor trial."
In small apartment of flat at Six
teenth and Shotwell streets John and
Thomas Sterrett, pioneers of the Com
stock, whose history is an open book
among old miners, live together. How
they have withstood the siege OF dire adj
versity only their nearest friends under
stand. AT one time, and that not long
ago, either, they possessed an abundance
OF this worlds goods, were men of promi-
nence in mining communities and little
dreamed of want when old age came on.
Their mines in Placer County, described
on Government maps as the ''Sterrett
nIine," gave them assurance of wealth
whenever money would be needed.
And so they looked forward with secur-
ity to day when that property should
pass out OF their hands for "a handsome
fortune. But they builded castles in the
air. For to-day they are compelled to
live together in a humble hall bedroom
with barely the necessaries of life around
them. All they may do is wait, and, in
deed, they are waiting for what they
think is justice, believing firmly that if
there be still any equity in the law the
mine shall be theirs again.
The question was fatty put to Thomas
Sterrett as it had been to his brother, the
;r1ic, hot Icf
this transaction?
Montgomery and his friends have the
mine that is worth a quarter of a million
dollars"
And what have your"
IN othing. We received nothing. The
property was taken from us by trickery,
and blame myself for allowing mans
religious reputation to throw me and my
brothers off our guard"
The Sterretts and their attorney, A. c.
Ellis, are of the opinion that Charles \.
Crittenton, the millionaire evangelist is
an innocent party TO the matter. He
bought an Interest in the mines from
George Montgomery, paying S33, 900 for
his share. The money is said to be still in
Montgomery's hands. a. w. bennett
the cotfee-houSe man, who also bought an
interest for the nominal consideration of
So, is known TO have paid large sum, in
the neighborhood OF S20,0 And this
making total so far in his keeping of
over $4,000, in addition to which he still
owned jointly with Mrs. Carrie Judd
Montgomery. his wife, large share Of
the property.
Evidently the plan to get hold of Ster-
retps mine was exceedingly complicated.
When the preliminary proceedings had
been finished, it is alleged, with records
OF Placer County as a basis for the asser-
ton, that George Montgomery, without
the consent of the Sterretts. who thought
they still owned share of the mine, con-
veyed, on December II. 1892, an undi-
vlded half interest of all the property to
A. w. bennett, VINO is accused of not be-
ing an innocent purchaser in good faith.
1t is alleged that bennett was fully ad-
vised of the rights OF the Sterretts under
a contract of August, 1892. Attorney Ell
lis ayers in the complaint th&. this trans
action was breach OF the contract be-
tween Montgomery and the Sterretts.
On June 3, 1893, George S. and Carrie
Judd Montgomery and A. w. bennett
jointly delivered deed of conveyance to
a third interest, for which S33, 900 was
paid.
Montgomery denies that he has cheated
the Sterrett brothers out of their mine,
but, on the contrary. claims that he paid
eyerv cent it was worth. Said be:
''Mr. Crttenton, Mr.. bennett and N.Y.
self bought the mine from the Sterrelts
and paid them in full. We elived up to our
contract with them in the spirit and letter,
and | propose to stand by that agreement.
These people were satisfied with the ar
rangement, and thought no doubt they
had the best of the bargain, until we en-
tered into negotiations with certain par
ties to sell the mine at figure very much
larger than they received. Then they
came after us. The fact is they wanted
more money. and were mad that il could
not be had; so they went around and got
an attorney to fight the matter out. They
kept at us for more money, and as we did
not propose to give any, they began this
suit to tnwart our negotiations.
''But there never was anything in this
suit, except it be blackmail Seeing we
paid no attention to them they came
around to ms for a compromise se-anything
to get some money out of US. My answer
was: ;. have lived up to the contract
and paid you all the mine was worth,
and if this is going to be fight let us
have it OUT l would not COMPROMISE.
Il is simply an attempt at blackmail. The
lawsuit has stopped the sale, but it is
going 10 be fight without COMPROMISED
',How much did you really pay the
Sterretts ?" was asked.
Everything the contract calls for be-
fore the mine is in operation-the Monte
yuma tunnel shares, money and real
estate.''
.'But the Montezuma shares are re-
garded as valueless.''
Il don't know about that. They were
quite as good as what the Sterretts had to
offer. Granted that the Montezuma mine
was not developed at the time of making
the contract-it was a prospect And i
bought the Sterrett mine as prospect
pure and simple. 1t was a fair and square
proposition. Let them fight it out OF
course when we went into the Sierras
and developed the Sterrett mine we found
1T to be very valuable. but then it was a