The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1900-06-20
BOUGHT THE BRICK.
Banker Paid $4,000 for $3.50
Worth Of Copper.

ThStlngS, Nebraska, June -, says ina
William Kerr, president Of the Adam
County Bank, Of Hastings, has received
word from the Denver mint that gold
brick he had purchased from strange
at leavenworth, Kan, a few days apo
for $4,000. is made OF copper. The brIch
was transferred to Mr. Kerr bv a mar
who represented himself to be an ole
mining partner in California ct Albert
Kerr, a cousin OF the bank president. Mr
Kerr on June ;, accompanied the stranger
10 lcavrworth where the brick, held by
IN Indian companion of the "'miner" was
drilled. The sample, which Kerr had
aSSiyed IN Kansas City, was found to run
$40 to the ounce. Mr. Kerr returned Ia
lcavcnwor,h, drew on his bank tor si3,.
600, ana became possessed OF the brick
which he sent to the FIRST National bank
at Denver.
The Denver end Of the story is thus
told by the Republican OF that city: I, is
the old story OF the rich banker, the
ahahle stranger, the gold brick and the
mythical bonanza mine In MeXicO, IN which
the stranger is willing to let the banker
gain a controlling interes, on such 'latter.
ing terms that the rich old banker can
not resist. OF course, there Is the lost
cousin oi the banker, whose partner the
stranger had been, and the silent Indian
through whom the mine was discovered.
But the gold brick IS the subject ot i'm.
mediate chiei interest. II viii he disposed
ot at 4 small cost, because the present
possessors OF II are IN need OF cash. and
are unsophis,icatei prospectors who do
not know the regular ways Of disposing of
such valuables a. the fruits Of their tolls
In the mines. Then there is the buried
treasure. guarded by the ignorant but
faithful Indian. This is 4 sketch OF the
latest and one oi the boldest gold brick
swindlers OF late years, which was un.
earthed In Denver.
The brick is now In the United States
mint In this city. II is about three feet
long, three inches thick and nearly four
inches wide. II is pure copper, unsullied
except for poorly applied coating OF what
is commonly called gold paint. It has
a cash value Of $3.50, and cost the Ne.
braska banker $4,000. The brick |
reached Denver last Saturday, consigned
to the First National bank, to which
M, Kerr sent Il to have its value
tested.
Mr.. Kerr has had the brick IN his pos.
session nearly two weeks. II was on
Decoration day that stranger approached
the banker with his story OF a tabulously
rich mine which he had discovered In
Mexico. The stranger represented that
he was an old time partner Of Albert Kerr,
n cousin Of the banker. whose absence
for several years had made any word
from him, through whatever source, more
than welcome 10 the banker. Only a few
days before a letter had been received,
10 I've from the long absent
cousin, containing the cheering intorma.
ton that the cousin would soon return to
Hastings. Al this the stranger seemed
10 know, and he talked feeling OF the long
years that he and Albert had spent to.
sether. In the mountains OF Colorado and
California, finally drifting In 10 Ola
Mexico, where they became separated.
Then the stranger had found the old
Indian. who directed him TO wonderful
-ich mine. The stranger came TO Hast. ,
ngs for the purpose OF finding his old
PARTNER and sharing the good lutk with
lim. ,