The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-10
A LAOY'S BONANZA
IN SNOWY OREGON
M. T. Ward Sued Because
He Failed to Develop
a Mine.
Sharp Words Used by the Plain.
tiff in Describing Her
Wrongs.
Mrs. Elizabeth J. Finnicau Denounces
a Contractor as a Schem2r :
and Rogue"

Elizabeth ]. Finnican, by her attorney,
J. N. E. Wilson, has sued Michael T.
Ward for an annulment of contract by
which he holds possession of a certain
valuable gold-mining claim known as the
Bohemia lode in the mountains of
Douglas County, Oregon.
The claim is the separate property of
Mrs. Finnican, tie same having been
located and posted by her according to
the local mining regulations and the
United States mining laws. Her husband,
James Z. Finuican. is named as CO.
plain tiff as being party i'll interest.
Mrs. Finnican speaks her mind very
freely in her complaint, and docs not
mince her words or disguise her sentl-
ments in the slightest degree when de-
nouncing the author of her troubles. She
accuses Ward of fraudulently retaining
possession of the property contrary to her
desire, though he has failed to keep any of
his promises in regard to the development
of the mine.
As basis for the suit contract is set
out in which it is agreed by Mrs. Finni-
can that in consideration of 81 Ward
shall for ten years have the exclusive
privilege to operate and crush the ores
from the Bohemian lode, and he is to pay
Mrs. FinnicaE % per cent of the gross
proceeds of the mine. On his part it is
agreed that he shall sink shafts and run
such tunnels, cuts, slopes and wines as
may be necessary 10 develop the property.
He is also to erect the buildings ana to
put Up the machinery required for the
operations in contemplation it being
understood that Ward was man of
means and experience and that he could
| secure all the backing needed by big capt.
talists.
Mrs. Finnican and her husband aver
that since the making of the contract
they have discovered that all the repre-
sensations made By Ward are false and
fraudulent and known by him so to be !;
that he induced them to enter into the
agreement with him for speculative pur-
poses only, we'll knowing that in no re-
spect could he fulfill any part of his agree
ment; that in truth he had no experience
as mining man; that he did not employ
any one to work or develop he mine, and
that he was not worth $780, 900 or any sum
of money whatever.
The further charge is made that Ward
had no backing by wealthy men OF Chicago
or elsewhere, and that ne never intended
to erect any machinery for the purpose of
working the ore.
1t is stated in the complaint that. al
tains of Douglas County. Or. in May,
1896, and the condition of the property
was such that Ward could have pro-
ceeded with any prospecting or develop
ing WORK he mi hit choose to do, yet he
did no such work and never intended to.
The most bitter allegation is near the
close OF the com plant, when the follow
ing words are used: ''It has come to the
knowledge of these plaintiffs since said
contract was entered into that the said
Ward is nothing more nor less than a
schemer and rogue, who induced these
plaintiffs TO enter into said contract that
he might use said agreement and contract
upon innocent third parties, not for the
purposes for which the contract was made
but to further his own selfish and criminal
ends.'
Judgment is demanded TO the effect tn at
the contract be declared null and void !;
that Ward be com PEELED TO surrender pos
session of the original contract for cancel
lation and that he be compelled to pay
the costs of suit, and for such other relief
as may be jus. in the premises.