The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-14
SILVER STATUE STORED.
The Figure Montana Sent to the
Worlds Fair Causes Trouble.

Topeka Capital.
The Ada Rehan statue of Justice, about
which there has been, and is likely to be,
much expensive litigation, carries an in
teresting story. Romance and fact are
most strangely woven in its history, and
the end Is not yet. The expensive piece
Of statuary is now put away in the store
of s. Barnum q Co., awaiting the final
action of the court as to it's disposition
The statue is the working out of an idea
advanced by a wealthy Montana man,
Judge Bickford, of Helena This gentleman
was the chief promoter of the enterprise,
and is the president of the company.
AS is well known, the statue was shown
at the worlds fair, as Montana exhibit.
The figure is considered as near the ideal
representation of the figure Of Justice as
1t is possible to make. 1t is popularity sup
posed that Ada Rehan posed for the figure,
but this story is open TO all sorts of avgu-
ment. One version, which finds many be-
levers, is to the effect that an Illinois girl
praises she received for her eutrancing
beauty and superb figure had the effect OF
turning her head. is not entirely clear AT
any rate, the story goes that the misguided
girl strayed away from the path of recti-
tude and fOrsook all her friends, until such
time as she was forsaken by them. No
matter whether this story is true or not
1t sounds well, and lends an added if I'M
healthy, charm TO discussion Of the ia
nous work of art
The statue is owned by the Montana Sill
yer Statue Company. 1t stands nine feet
high, and its weight approximates two
tons. 1t. is made almost entirely of Mon
tana silver with as much alloy added as
Will insure lasting qualities. The cast
was made in Chicago. The first expert
face Of the figure being full of little holes
and not at all smooth. Then an expert
was brought all the way from Paris, and
he was successful with the casting. The
f1gure stood out in perfect likeness of its
beautiful model.
1t is impossible to place even conserva-
tive estimate upon the value of the statue.
The amount of silver ii contains, reckoned
at bullion rates, is considerable, of course
but its chief value is as work of art.
A representative of the stockholders OF
the company declares that $4,000 is not
by any means too high an estimate Of its
worth.
When the worlds fair had closed the
owners of the statue cast about for some
plan to make ii a paying investment They
decided after due elaboration, TO display
it in show windows of large stores over the
country, for a proper consideration. The
plan proved great success, and but for
the unfortunate fact that the stOckhOld-
ers got to quarreling among themselves
would be followed to-day.
There were two factions among the stock
holders. One, led by +. ID. Highly. had
charge of the exhibits. The other faction
claimed, whether justly or not is a matter
for the courts to determine, that Mr.. Highly
was not acting In good faith and did not
make proper returns of business done. The
controversy reached a climax I'm December.
1886 at the time the statue was being ex-
hibited in the show windows of Crosby
Brothers, OF this city.
The secretary OF the company. who rep
resented the faction opposed to Highly, arr
rived in Topeka the evening before the
statue was to be moved TO the next adVer-
tised point That evening he went TO work
quietly, and took the necessary legal steps
for the detention of the statue. When Mr..
Highly appeared next morning to proceed
with the business of moving 1t. he was con-
fronted by Samuel Barnum OF this city.
who had been appointed as receiver. and
who Immediately took possession of the
statue in the name OF the law.
This in brief, is the history OF the IA
nous work of art. What the final outcome
of il all will be Is merely conjectural. 1t is
likely. however, that the difficulty win be
settled soon. 1t is stated that Mr.. Highly
has a few creditors who are yet TO be sas-
isfied. This. It is thought. will soon be done
and then the company will be reorganized
on a new basis, and the business of exhib-
| itlng the statue Will be resumed.
The statue was borrowed by the Santa re
people for their silver anniversary. and was
used on ore Of their floats in the big parade.