The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-10

title. Lots that had been bought for $50
each were then worth $1,000. Murray
fought all the suits as they cropped out,
ard when he was defeated in the lower
court. as he sometimes was, sent the
cases along on appeal.
A town site company got possession Of
some Of the squatters' Quit-Claim deeds,
and sailed in to clean Murray out They
failed to scare him eff. even with threats
of personal violence. Murray didn't make
threats. That isn't his way. But he car
ried his weapons In sight. and whenever
any one questioned his right he would
say simply:
What's mine is mine. and I'll have 1t
II l go TO hell for it,
1t was at this time that John Magu're
struck Butte. He decided that a theater
there woul1 be a paying proposition. He
selected site. 1t was on the Smoke
House claim. He was told that Schwab
& zimmerman. Of Helena. owned the
land. He called on that firm. They Of
fered him the lots for $500. While con-
siderings the offer, Murray heard Of his
plan In conformity with his custom
Murray warned Mcguire that he owned
the ground by purchase from the gov
ernment and that any other than a
Smoke House title would be worth only
its value as waste paper. Mcguire then
told Schwab q Zimmerman that he want
ed a warranty deed. They sought a
Smoke House title from Murray He
demanded $1,000 for It. They added tbs
sum to their own price and offered Nc
Guire a warranty deed for $500 Ma
guire went to see Murray. and at the
close of the interview Murray said 10
him:
"If they'll give you quit claim deed
for 1900. take IL, and see me again"
Schwab & Zimmerman accepted 1880 for
the land. and then Murray quieted title
to 1t by giving Mcguire a Smoke House
deed Of sale for 81. These lots are
today valued at $4,000. The Butte opera
house stands upon them.
That Was ii the seventies. In 1884 the
federal supreme court confirmed Muir
rays title and that decision made him a
millionaire several times over. His in
come from Smoke House rentals IS now
81 800 a day. He has valuable interests in
nearly every business block IN Butte
With Mr. Murray mining Is now side
issue. He owns a bank In Butte. another
in PocatelO. Idaho; Is largely interested
in the National Bank OF Salt Lake city,
and has banking interests in St Louis.
He already owns some real estate in New
York city Is proprietor OF the Hunters
Hot Springs and a hotel in the Yellow
stone valley owns the electric lighting
plant and the water works In the city OF
POcatello, has a million dollars Invested
in real estate in Salt Lake City and has
immense mining interests IN Utah. He
was one of the principal owners Of the
famous WashOe group of mnes in Butte
recently acquired by the big copper syn
dicate.
And this big fortune he won alone and
unaided He says now, mOdestly enough,
that ne got it by Just sticking 10 things
Others say he got it because things just
stuck To him" However II may be. ha
g4f
quiet way and has a lot Of FUN doing X.
Many d man has been "grubstaked' by
Murray and pushed into a little success.
Many a family has been fed and housed
by him out Of pure kindness through
long and bitter winters in the Rockies.
He has a reputation in Butte Of being
Just, but d hard man There are tnou-
sands in Montana and Idaho and Utah
who speak of him as good old Jim" and
who would fight for him because Of his
kindness 10 them. Personally, he doesn't
care what the world says about him
Mr.. MurTay's personal appearance Is
not suggestive Of the mining camps. He
IS a quiet. unassuming man OF medium
height fresh complexion. with keen blue
eyes and gray hair. He IS a well posted
man OF the world, IS fond OF horses and
of the theater. and enjoys a game Of bill
liards. He has the finest private library
in Montana. and knows more law than
many men practlcing at the bar.
Five years ago Mr. Murray felt that he
was rich enough 70 suppOrt a wife. He
wOOed and won a Philadelphia woman
of good family. whose beauty and accom-
plishments have made her a social IA
vortte in Butte Besides building a thea
ter in New York city. Mr.. Murray ex-
poets soon to present Mrs. Murray with a
summer home on the Hudson.
In politics Mr.. Murray is a Democrat.
He has been spoken Of as a MAJ upon
whom the DAILY and Clark factions IN
Montana may agree as a union candidate
for United States senator.