The sun., 1897-10-31
SILVER STATUE STORED.
The Figure which Montana Sent TO the Worlds
| Fair Causes n syndicate Trouble.

Fronl the Topeka Capital
The Ada Rchan statue of Justice about which
there has been. and is likely to be, much cxpen-
sive litigation. carries an interesting story. Ro
nance 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. Bnrnum & Co.. awaiting
the final action of the court to it's disposition
The statue is the working out OF an idea ad-
vanccd by Il wealthy Montana man. Judge Bick-
ford 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 S n Montana exhibit. The figure
is considered as near the ideal representation Of
the figure Of Justice as it is possible to make.
1t Is ropular!y supposed that Ada Rchan
posed for the ignrc. but this story is open to all
sorts of argument. One version which finds
many believers is to the effect that an Illinois
girl posed for the figure. Whether or not tho
praises she received for her enhancing beauty
and superb figure had the effect o; turning her
head is not entirely c!enr. Al any rate the story
path OF rcciitudc and forSook all her friends un-
iii such IA time MS she was forsaken by them. No
matter whether Tins story is true or not. it
| sounds well and lends an added. il unhealthy.
charm to discussion OF the famous work of art.
| Statue Company. II stands nine feet high and
| its weight npproximntcS two tons. 1t is made
almost enl rely Of Montana silver, with as much
cast was made in Chicago Th" first experiment
was n lancntnble failure, the surface 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 figure stood out a perfect likeness
| of its beautiful model.
II is impossible 10 place oven a conservative
estimate upon The value of the statue. The
amount OF silver II contains. rcchoned al bullion
| rates is considerable of course, but its chief
value is ~ = work Of art. representative OF
the siOckholdrr9 OF the company declares that
$50. 1000 If not by any means too high an esi-
| matro lis worth.
| of the statue cast alOul for some plan to make
| IL paying investment. They decided after due
dcibcratlOn, 10 display IT. in show windows of
large stores over he country for n proper con:
sidcratinn, The plan proved great success and
but for the unforInnnte fact that the stockhold;
ers got To quarrclling among themselves would
be followed to-day,
There were lwo factions among, the stock,
OF the exhibits. The other faction claimed.
whether Justly orn"t is matt, matter for the court
good faith and did not make proper returns OF
business done. The controversy reached a eli
max in DeccGrT iIS", ~ Ii M the % time y,h the siS'n,
Crosby Brothers Of this city.
The secretary of the company, who represent
ed the faction opposed TO Highly, arrived In
Topoka the evening before the statue was 10 bt
moved TO tnc next advertised point. That even
sary legal steps for the detention OF the statue
WHOM Mr.. liigby, appeared next morning &c
| proceed with the business OF moving IL he wai
| Confronted hy Samuel Barnum OF this city, who
| had been appointed as receiver, and who immedi
ately took possession OF the statue In the nam,
This. in brief, is the history of the famous worI
! of art. What the final outcome OF 1t all will b'
Il hal Gr" tho dany viii be settled soon mn"Gt0E II
stated that Mr.. Highly has few creditors VIII,
, soon he done. and then the company will 6c re-
organized on a ncw basis, and tho business o
The statue was borrowed by the Santa F.
, people for their silver anniversary and was use
, or one of the haats in the big parade.