The St. Louis Republic., 1901-10-17
sues ILLINOIS
FOR s2,ooo,oO0,ooo.
Denver Woman Claims Title to the
Entire State-Wants $3.50, $780,
600 From Corporations.
REFERLIC SPECIAL.

REPTBLIc SPECIAL.
Springfield. ILL.,. Oct 1s-Secretary Of
State Rose is puzzling over a bundle of
documents that has just reached his office.
The great fat package came all the way
from Denver. and the Enclosures are sealed
and attested to with a formality sufficient
to overwhslm man less familiar with
such matters than the Secretary of Illinois.
Each Of the five documents is state
ment of lien. The one most calculated to
cause every taxpayer in the Common
wealth to shiver Is a suit for s.. .OO0 COJ, 900
against the State of Illinois. The four
others are directed against three promi
nent corporations and banking institution
OF the State. and aggregate S56o.0ro0l0.
making total of se.560.0o00 sought by
the plaintiff.
Miss Minnie L. Knox of Denver is the
plaintiff IN each of these dazzling suits.
Miss Knox specifically states hcr address
to be box las. and that no possibility of a
mistake may occur, adds her street num-
Der. No. 2260 Champa street. The state
ments were first sworn to in Arapahoe
County Colorado on October last. and
We're forwarded Immediately to Springfield.
After investigating the matter. Secretary
Rose returned the whole bundle to the ad-
dress given.
That Miss Knox is earnest in her deter
mination to prosecute her cases was
evinced by her prompt return of the docu-
ments, together with a note to Secretary
Rose informing him that the papers are
sent for filing.
In her communica tion, Miss Knox says:
You are mistaken. The inclosrd papers
are to be placed on file in the office of the
Secretary of State at Springfield. in the
State of Illinois. Yours. very truly, Min
ME e. Knox
These remarkable statements of lien are
directed against the following:
State of Illinois. s2090,0OO.O0o.
Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific RAILWAY,
see. ,0CO.
First Natioal Bank of Warsaw, Hancock
County, si0.G90.GO0
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Rail-
way, 500 100000.
The John V. Farwell Company. si2l 600 900.
Miss knoN'S cause of action appears most
and, Secretary Rose believes,
furnishes the key to the mysterious pro-
cceding. In her suit against the State. it
Is set forth. that the said lien be held for
and on account of the desire for thieving
and robbery of any property belonging to
iinnie f. Knox. who Is the sole owner of
the State of Illinois and the private prop
erty OF the family and o; the United States
Government" In the four other cases the
cause of action is similar. the only change
In the wording being in the name of the
defendants
These papers show the vagaries of
mind that has become unsettled" said Sec
retary Rose to-day, in discussing the un-
usual proceeding. II shall not return them
10 Miss Knox again. Instead. will write
her and make request for the filing fees. !
which will amount to something like 50 In
zach case. OF course. II the money Is sent.
shall return it, but l expect this action to
bring some development in the affair.""
That Miss Knox has some time had n
iegree of official standing is indicated by |
he seal borne by the papers, which Is |
marked Minnie E. Knox. Court Commits
'ioner of the State of Wisconsin" The doc
iments are attested to by herself as such |
Commissioner The legal blanks are filled
n proper form, evidently by Miss Knox her
'elf, as the firm, neat handwriting corre- !
'ponds with the accompanying communica. |
ion