The morning call., 1894-10-18
PRAYED OVER 1T.
How Montgomery Came
to Purchase.
MATTER OF A COVENANT.
Sequel to the Sterrett Mine
Transaction.
AS TOLD BY MRS. MONTGOMERY.
An Entertaining Letter Explaining
Her Husbands Position Gives
the Whole Secret Away.

IScN % l. ClcII6li, III "HiCu tuO otCi-
Tetts lost valuable mine in Placer County.
The case is still pending in the Superior
Court of Placer County and it is expected
will be tried soon. 1t has created vide
spread wonder and criticism, for many
persons were taken by surprise at the
facts set forth.
Two Of the Sterretts, old mining men of
the Comstock. possessed rich mine in
the Sierras, third OF which they gave to
their aged brother, a retired minister, who
lives iu the Mission. With age creeping
on and money with which to develop the
mine running extremely low. the Sterretts
were compelled 10 seek purchaser. Rev.
). L. Sterrett, a man of simple mind
trusting, sincere and imagining ali Chris
tians were like himself, undertook to
negotiate the transaction. He laid the
proposition before George Montgomery
and bargain was reached.
The SteTretts were to get $50, 600, three
lots in Beulah Represented as very valna-
bIe) and 10000 shares in the Montezuma
gravel mine in MOkelumue. But they
learned subsequently, after the contracts
had been signed. that the Montezuma
mine was utterly worthless. and that
lot true; also that the Beulah lots were OF
worth much. And they never got the
$4,000 The only recourse for them was
law, which they are now invoking TO
settle the equities of their case. All the
eldest brother swOre to in his complaint is
positively affirmed by Rev. Mr.. Sterrett,
who is sad at heart over the deception
practiced.
Mrs. Carrie Judd Montgomery, wife of
George Montgomery and also a defendant
in the suit, has written letter to the War
Cry, stating what she claims to be the
facts, as follows:
BEULAH. Mills College, Z. O., Sept. "a, '94.
BrlgGdier KeppeE. II 80 Market street, S. F.
DEAR BROTHER IN THE LORD: suppose you
have seen the article in recent issue of The
CALL against my husband and myself, the
nameS also OF dear Brother CrittenTon and
Brother bennett and Major Kyle being asso-
clated with ours. In the midst OF this great
trial the words OF st. Matthew VII are very
precious: BLESSED are ye when men shall re-
vile you and persecute you and shall say all
manner OF evil against you falsely for my sake"
Ii occurs TO me to-day that il would be well
for me TO make TO you a clear and definite
statement OF the matter, that you may have
wherewith TO answer any who may speak to
You on the subject, and who do not, perhaps
feel the same confidence in US that you do. 1
feel quite sure that your knowledge OF my dear
husbands character renders it needless for me
to make any explanation as far as you person.
ally are concerned; but, as said before l feel
led TO do this that you may have the facts in the
case II necessary TO speak OF them TO others.
cannot here go much into detail but Will give
you the main facts In the case
In the first place this complaint made against
my husband by the Sterrett brothers alleges
that Mr.. Montgomery was intimate with the
family and that he knew OF their possessing
this mine, and because OF their poverty took
steps to secure their confidence ana get the
mine away from them for less than its value.
The fact is that we had only met Rev. S. T.
Sterrett once, were not acquainted with any
others OF the family, did not know that they
owned any mine. and were first cognlZant of
this last fact when Rev. S. I. Srerrett came TO
my husband and thrust the mine UPON his
notice we'll remember the evening when Mr.
Montgomery came home and told me that Mr.
SterIett had called upon him, telling him of
this mining property and entreating him to
take 1t in hand. l also remember that my hus-
band said that he had refused 10 have anything
10 co with II, saying to Mr. Sterrett that he was
entirely out of the mining business aud did not
wish TO 90 into it again.
MIR. Sterrett saw my husband again and
again urged him 10 take hold OF the prop
erty. He continued TO urge it upon Mr.. NJ, en-
treating him TO pray over II, and saying that he
felt sure he had been led of the Lord TO ask my
husband TO take hold OF the mine.
In response TO these earnest entreaties Mr.
M. visited the mine and made the whole matter
a subject OF prayer, then making them a propo-
sition which be considered very fair, az the
mine was at that time scarcely at all deyel.
oped, and all the risk was on his side. I will
also add, as it will be of interest TO you, that in
secret prayer at this time MIR. M. said to the
Lord that he would take it as a token from him
II this proposition was accepted, that he wished
him TO go into mining again. II, however, any
part If the proposition was not satisfactory TO
The Sterrett brothers he would take that as an
intimation from the Lord that he was to drop
the matter entirely. This. OF course, was known
10 no one but the Lord aud ourselves.
The proposition was assented TO by the three
Sterreit brothers with the greatest of satsfac-
tlon, ana my husband went on developing the
mine No dissatisfaction whatever was ex-
pressed by the SterIeit brothers until NY hus-
band guided, as lie believes, by the Lord)
struck rich vein Of which had n,ver been
known or heard OF before, and this rich ore In
sight Immediately made the mine more valua-
Die, OF course, aud excited at once In the heart
OF one OF these brothers desire to break the
contract and regain the mine. This same
brother bad been on the fIiendliest terms with
MT. montgomery, and the first intimaIion that
MI. NJ. nad OF his dissatisfaction was an accj.
dental discovery OF The fact that Thomas Ster-
rett had been comforting with lawyer as to
tne pest way 10 endeavor TO break the Contract
Rev. 3. L. Sterrett the minister seems to
have been drawn into the suit by his two hrotI.
ers.
AS soon as we saw that any real trouble was
brewing Mr. Montgomery and myself. belno
desirous that everything should be settlen Az.
cordng TO the Scriptural way and in a true
Christian spirit, took pains 10 call on the Ster
retts at their home, Mr. M. Offering TO nav for
the services of the best mining LAWYER in ,ba
country and at the same time call In Christian
friends on both sides to settle the matter nv
arbitration. Mr. M. expressing bimself as fully
willing to abide by any decision that should be
reached 10 This manner. This, however was
faily refused. Mr.. M.'s spirit has at all times
been entirely different from that repre- sented
by The CALL, as he has not had the slightest
desire to flight IL out" but would be more
than glad to have a compromise Effected II
possible.
You viii perhaps wonder how Major Kyle
was connected with this thing. His connection
with 1t was indeed slight, as his name had sim.
ply been used in another claim. Mr.. Crittentop
and Mr. bennett had bought into the property
With my husband, and these three consecrated
men bad made solemn covenant with God
and with each other that every cent which
should come from this mine after their paving
for the property should be used for the Lord in
tile worlds eyapgelization. Is it any wonder,