Gilpin observer., 1900-07-12
CHARGES MISREPRESENTATION.
Mrs. Richardson Claims That She Was
Swindled Into Purchasing the
Topeka Mine

Mrs. Richardson Claims That She Waa
Swindled Into Purchasing tho
Topeka Mine
The following article is taken from the
Denver Republican of July 3, and is ex-
planatory of the existing trouble at the
Topeka mine in Russell district:
Attorney Joseph w. Taylor, represent
ing Mrs. E. j. Il. Richardson and A. j.
Richardson her son, yesterday filed in
the United States court an answer to the
suit instituted by Henry P. Lowe and
Tyson S. Dimes against his clients. The
suit involves nearly 100000 and the an
swer filed by the defendants alleges gross
fraud and misrepresentation by the
plaintiffs who sold Mrs. Richardson and
her son the Topeka group of mines in
Gilpin county near Central City.
Mrs. Richardson and her son live in
Buffalo, n. Y, and about a year ago were
visiting in Saratoga, Wyoming, where
they became acquainted with r. E. L.
Townsend, who, SO the answer alleges,
represented that he was looking for min
ing property in which to invest. Mrs.
Richardson says that through the agency
of Mr.. Townsend she became interested
in the Topeka group of mines and a
proposition was made that she and her
son buy a three quarters interest in the
property, which was valued at 1865, 1000,
Mr. Townsend, according to Mrs. Rich
ardson said that he wanted to buy one
| rta inf in nd
would put up S20o00 Mrs. Richardson
says she was to put up the rest of the
money and take out Of his share of the
profits of the mine enough to make up
the difference between $4,000 and the
value of one fourth interest in the
property.
Neither Mrs. Richardson nor her son
was acquainted with mining methods,
says the answer, and no expert examina-
ton was made for them. She says that
two reports, which purported to be made
by experts, were shown her, and that on
the strength of these she made the pur-
chase Sept. 13, 1899. Mrs. Richardson
says that one of these reports was made
by Clarence X. Colvin for the owners OF
the mine in order t.iat it might be taken
East to exhibit to prospective purchas-
ers. The other report, so the answer
alleges, WIS originally written by Prof.
Arthur G. Lakes as newspaper article,
and afterward changed into an expert
report for the purpose OF convincing
Mrs. Richardson of the value of the
mine.
When the sale was made Mrs. Richard
son paid Sl65,oOO cash and gave note
for SlS2, 800, secured by mortgage on
the mine. Mr.. Townsend gave her
check for $4,000 on the Gunnison
County Bank, but she says that when
this check was presented for payment
she found it to be worthless. Since TAX
ing the mine Mrs. Richardson claims she
has apent $4,000 in developing it, but
that the ore she has taken cut is worth
only $1,000.
She says that it was represented when
the purchase was made that the mine
contained large bodies of ore which aver.
aged in value about sl1 ton. There
was said to be another large streak which
averaged $40 to 500 ton and still
another body of free smelling ore worth
between $40 and 800 ton. The answer
states that after careful search by the
defendants they have been unable to
find any of this ore as represented at the
time the purchase was made, and there
fore they allege Misrepresentation.
When the second payment came due
last May / Mrs Richardson was convinc-
ed something was wrong with the mine
and she refused to pay any more money
for il. Suit was Immediately begun by
the former owners If the mine, and it
was the answer to this suit which was
filed yesterday. In the answer Mrs.
Richardson asks for the return of the
purchase money, that the mt rtgage and
note be Cancelled and for judgment for
the $4,000 spent in working on the mine.
Mrs, Richardson il the widow OF
match manufacturer who acquired con-
siderable money and afcrward sold his
patents to the Diamond Match company
for large sum. The case will be con-
tested and probably VII result in long
and bitter litigation.
Carload Of Whtcrmeions.