The San Francisco call., 1898-12-17

Senator and reputed owner of the fam- ous bonanza known as the Candelaria mines in Mexico.
 A majority of the people of this State are aware of the manner in which Burns discharged his duties as an of- flee holder; all are aware of his present Senatorial aspirations: but only few have a knowledge of the facts concern ing the manner in which he obtained control of the mines in the State of Durango, Mexico, and which are esti- mated to be worth anywhere from $20.- 100000 to $50, ,000.- Here and there may be found man who has an in- distinct remembrance of hearing that Burns occupied cell In a Mexican jail at some time in the past, and that his imprisonment had something to do with his connection with the Candelaria mines.
 Neither these men nor any one of the 120 legislators who will be asked to cast their votes for Burns within the next month know that the shadow of a Mexican prison cell still hangs over this Senatorial candidate, and that only the doubtful termination of a civil suit
 
 ment of criminal proceedings that once before branded him felon.
 There are on file in the office of the Secretary of State at Washington. D. C., documents that tell the official story of Burns connection with the Can delaria mines, his arrest and imprison- ment for the fraudulent appropriation of another's property, and the proceed ings by which one court after another reaffirmed the justice of his conviction and confirmed the sentence of impris- onment. Such portions of these docu- ments as have to do with Burns inn mediate participation in this alleged fraud by which the title to this vast mining property passed to him. as we'll as the history of his arrest and impris- onment, will be quoted here in full.
 A perusal of the following record will give the reader an insight into the na- ture of the fraud charged against Burns. It should be understood that at the time the events referred to oc- cured Burns vas employed by the owners of the mines in the capacity of superintendent. From the record:
 In 1890 learned that Daniel NJ.
 
 300 feet deep from the 10O0-foot level (which Nas then the bottom level Of the old workings of the CandeIaria Mines). The shaft was sunk Immediately under the diyis- ion of the main CandeIaria Mine and its addition, the Chenery Mine. Drifts were run from the shaft. every fifty feet deep, each way on the vein. The ore taken from the shaft and drifts was so rich that 300 pounds of quicksilver was used to each charge of 20O0 pounds of ore to take mp the precious metal This ore was so rich that it could not be worked at the mill to advantage, so a portion was sacked and sent to MaxatIan. Mexico, and from there shipped in bulk to Europe. instead of to California. as was usual.
 No ore was taken from the stopes, but the hoisting works and stamps were taken out of the shaft, and it was filled mp with waste rock, and information given out that the ex- pIoration for ore was failure. and that the rich upper ore bodies were about worked out, and the upper works would be abandoned when a new tunnel was run to reach the mine at a lower level. Then Burns, in securing the approval of the Local Federal Mining Agent to a plan for a new tunnel, which was stated, to run through the Cande- Iaria Mines. conspired with the Fed eral Local Agent to give him (Burns) a new title and possession of the mine. Subsequently,, when the fraud ulent proceedings were brought to the knowledge of the high federal authorities of Mex leo. they declared the act of their 1 agent irregular and illegal.
 Burns had, at the time, for under ground foreman and assistant. two American miners. They were in- structed to keep the extent of the l rich find secret. and he gave it out shaft and drifts came from pockets; but a detective, in 1890, learned 1 from the assayer at the mill and from the assistant underground foreman and other miners the real fla cts, in regard to the richness and extent of the ore find, the estfmated value or Wn1cn WAS so enormous that I refrained from making it public. fearing 1t might not he true. 1 At this same time Burns was de- the mine and giving out 1 that the old mine had been worked 1 out. The facts, as learned by the l were given in n casual way. and neither the foreman nor his assistant supposed they were be- traying any confidence.
 In 1893 the underground foreman became i'll. He then left the mine 1 and returned to the United States. Early in 1894 . detective was en- gagged to get whatever information he could from this foreman The latter was at first secrefiye, but eventually disclosed the fact that | he. when climbing up through the old works, had discovered the chim- ney. where the millions had been taken out by the former owners, and that. at his suggestion. the 3oo- foot shaft was located and sunk, and the drifts run. disclosing over five million of value in sight. Then inc development was abandoned and the shaft filled in with waste rock.