The record-union., 1894-10-16
THE STERRETT MINE LITIGATION.
Carrie Judd Montgomery Relates Her
Version.
She Alleges That the Sterrett story of
the Affair is Not the Corr
rect One.

Some weeks ago there was reprinted
from the CdU what purporfed to be the
allegations OF a suit commenced by the
Sterrett brothers Of Placer County for the
recovery from c. \. Crittenton, Mr..
Montgomery and others of the Sterrett
mine in that county, which it was claimed
had been obtained from the Sterretts by
misrepresentation. Mrs. Carrie Judd
Montgomery has published the following
statement in reply, which is addressed to
Brigadier- General keppel of the Saliva
ton Army:
Dear Brother il the Lord: 1 suppose
you have seen the malicious attack made
in recent issue OF the CdtL against my
| husband and myself, the names also OF
| dear Brother Cnttenton ana Brother
! bennett and Major Kyle being associated
with ours. In the midst of this great trial
! the words of st. Matthew VII, are very
precious: blessed are ye when men shall
revile you and persecute you and shall
say all manner OF evil against you falsely
! for My sake"
| 1t occurs to me to-day that it would be
we'll for me to make to you clear and
definite statement of the matter, that you
may have wherewith 10 answer any who
| may speak to you upon the subject, and
who do not, perhaps, feel the same conf
| dence in us that you do. l feel quite sure
that your knowledge of my dear hus-
| bands character renders 1t needless tor
me to make any explanation, as TAR as
| you personally are concerned, but, as
said before, l feel led to do this that you
may have the facts in the case If neces-
sary to speak OF them to others. L cam
! not 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 Sc
! cure their confidence and get the mine
away from them for less than its value.
The fact is that we had only met Rev.
| ). L. SterreLt once, were not acquainted
with any others of the family, did not
know that they owned any mine, and
were first cogniZant OF this last fact when
] Rev. ). L. Sterrett came to my husband
and thrust the mine upon his notice. |
well remember the evening when Mr..
| Montgomery came home and told me
that MIR. Sterrett had called upon him,
| telling him of this mining property and
| entreating him to take it in hand. L also
rememb Der that nv husband said that he
! had refused to have anything TO do with
it, saying to Mr.. Sterrett that he was en-
tirely out of the mining business and did
not wish to go into it again.
MIR. Sterrett saw my husband again and
again urged him to take hold Of the prop
| erty. He continued to urge it upon Mr..
NJ, entreating him to pray over it, 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. NJ. visited the mine and made the
| whole matter subject of prayer, then
| making them d proposition which he
considered very fair, as the mine was at
! that time scarcely at all developed, aud
all the risk was on his side. | will also
add, as it will be of interest to you, that
! in secret prayer at this time Mr.. NJ. said
to the Lord that he would take it as
| toke ell from Him if this proposition was
accepted, that He wished him to go into
mining again. If, however, any part of
| the propoStlon 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 to no one but the Lord and
ourselves.
The proposition was assented to by the
three Sterrett brothers with the greatest
of satisfaction, and my husband went on
developing the mine. No dissatisfaction
| whatever was expressed by the Sterrett
brothers until my husband guided, as he
! believes, by the Lord struck rich vein
of ore which had never been known or
heard Of before, and this rich ore in sight
Immediately made the mine more valua-
BILE, OF course and excited at once in the
heart of one of these brothers desire to
break the contract and regain the mine
This same brother had been on the
friendliest terms with Mr. Montgomery,
and the first intimatlon that MIR. NJ. had
of his dissatisfaction was an accidental
discovery of the fact that Thomas Sterrett
had been conferring with lawyer as to
the best way to endeavor to break the
contract. Rev. S. L. Sterrett. the minis
ter, seems to have been drawn into the
suit by his two brothers.
AS soon as we saw that any real trouble
was brewing Mr.. Montgomery and my
self, being desirous that everything
should be settled according to the Script
ural way and in true Christian spirit.
took pains to call on the Sterretts at their
home. Mr.. NJ. offering to paw
for the services of the best mining LAWYER
III the country and at the same time call
in Christian friends on both sides to SET
tie the matter by arbitration, Mr.. NJ. ex-
pressing himselfas fully willing to abide
by any decision that should be reached
in this manner. This, however, was
fatty refused. Mr.. NJ. IS spirit has at all
times been entirely different from that
represented in the CdU, as he has not had
the slightest desire to tight it out,u but
would be more than glad to have a COM
promise effected if possible.
on VIII perhaps wonder how Major
Kyle was connected with this thing. Ills
connection with it was indeed slight as
his name had simply been used in an
other claim. Mr.. Crittenton and Mr.. Dem
nett had bought into the property with
my husband. and these three consecrated
men had made a solemn covenant with
God and with each other that every cent
which should come from this mine after
their paying for the property, should be
used tor the Lord in the worlds evangel-
iZation. Is it any wonder, dear Brigadier.
since these three hoiy men had this noble
end in view, that the Devil should try to
invent a way by which their plans for the
advancement of Christ's kingdom should
be frustrated?
assure you it has been great trial to
J have these published MISREPRESENTATION
made in regard to the matter but it has
also been great comfort TO receive such
tribute to Mr.. Ms character as has
come to US from SO many sympathetic
Christian friends who have assured us
OF their utmost belief in Mr.. Ms spotIess
integrity. Will you not help us in the
f prayer that the Lord Himself NAV BRING
about peaceable settlement of this try-
ing affair and that God's name shall he
glqrlfled and His Kingdom advanced
through every act of ours. Hoping that
have not wearied you with so long a
letter, l am yours faithfully in the war,
CARRIE JUDD MONTGOMERY.