The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-02-03
Hundreds of Colored People Duped
by a Smooth Scheme.
THE COON RIDGE NO GOOD
Charles Porter Groves Charged with Sell
ing People Blocks of Alleged Mon
tana cold Mine stock.

cation unknown, recognizes what's best
for him, he will remain away from this
section for some time. Thirteen
enraged colored men from Chicago,
some with razors and some with guns,
are looking for him. Four of these
man-hunte1s are here, having walked
from Radersburg. The other nine are
still stranded in the hills.
Hundreds of other colored people in
Kentucky and Illinois would also like to
interview Grove. A year ago Grove,
with DR.. Norman Croker, of Chicago,
and Francis Brooks, residence unknown,
organized the Montana and Illinois
Gold Mining Company, with a capital
stock of S5,O0O,000 in shares of SIS each.
Grove was the owner of several pros
pect holes in Jefferson county, near
Radersburg, on what is known as Coon
Ridge, named from Groves color In
November last numerous inquiries were
received here regarding Grove, who
was posing in Lexington and Louisville,
XIV, as a millionaire mining man of
Montana and president of the aforesaid
mining company, whose properties were
SO rich the output of gold was sold by
the ton avoirdupois instead of by the
ounce troy. 1t developed that Grove
had won the affections of a young col
ored woman as well as the confidence
of numerous of his race on the strength
of his alleged rich mining property.
There was a swell wedding at Licking
ton on the money which conflding col
ored brethren and sisters had paid for
large blocks Of the Montana and Illinois
Gold Mining Company stock at the uni
form price of IS per share.
After working the Kentucky field dry
through the medium Of church meetings
Grove took his bride to Chicago. In
Chicago he hunted up pastors, deacons
and pillars of colored churches. Meet
ings were held at which Grove dilated
on the great fortunes to be made by in
vesting in his company. He sold several
thousand shares in Chicago colored
church circles, at the regular prices.
Then another idea struck Grove. He
called meeting and proposed if any
present wanted to 60 to Montana and
work in his mine he would pay them
$50 a month, but they must buy one
share of stock 1t the regular price. He
made another clean up. Thirteen of
the best men in the meeting he selected
to come to Montana as an advance
party. Grove, his bride and his brother
in-law, William Howard, came with
them.
After installing the men in cabin
without furniture or mining tools Grove
and wife went east. The men soon
found out from the white miners that
Groves properties consisted of pros
pect holes. When the first months
pay was due the men were each given
$40 in cash and nineteen shares of stock. |
Meantime stockholders in Kentucky
and Chicago were making inquiries
about the first dividend, and Treasurer
Croker at their instance, visited the |
place, worked at the holes in the |
AOhAN AA0 WCHA dV w udL ne re- |
ported is not known, Four of the men !
crme into Helena recently and MADE a |
thorough investigation and came TO the |
conclusion that all hands had been de- |
ceived. The other nine are stin at the
mine, chopping wood TO keep warm and
waiting for the spring thaw 10 clear
away the snow and give them chance
to walk home.
CHICAGO, Jan. 29-Mrs. NJ. @. Robert
son, 297O Dearborn street is general
agent of the company. She said 1T
is not true that the men who went west
have been defrauded. They have been
paid partly in money and partly in
stock. Mr.. Grove is in Washington
now negotiating for loan to pay the
miners and carry on the work. Neither
is it true that any considerable amount
of stock was sold in Kentucky. 1t is
held mainly in other states. 1 have
heard of no cases of dissatisfaction in
Montana and never knew that any men
were sent out there from Kentucky"