Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-24

| ing tract. I made my way TO tbe
mine adjoining the Wright tract. and
there found horde IF miners vai+.
| ing hungrily for the signal to beoin
work in the new field A great stony
wedge which marked one of the boun-
daries Of the tract had, by some IN
heaval centuries ago, been thrust
straight across the vein Of gold This
doubly rich vein, it had been found.
extended into the Wright tract, Old
gold hunters told me that il was
probably the most valuable piece of
| land in the state. and that it would
make its owners fabulously rich.
"It was my good fortune while I
was loatng about the mine to become
acquainted with Mr.. Frederick Meri.
vale. the chief stakeholder in II. He
had come out from New York some
time before, when the report reached
him that his vein had run M against
a stone wall. and that the iig was
| ND. The object of his Journey was
to make thorough investigation. To-
cate the severed thread Of gold, and
purchase the land that continued IT,
| y
him that just over the wall Of stone
lay the biggest bonanza in the state.
The next thing was to get hold Of IL.
It was registered in the name Of the
Diamond Mining company, Of which
Franklin was apparently the presi-
dent and chief stakeholder Well. Ner-
lvale wrote to Franklin and asked IL
he wanted to sell. He did not get an
answer for some time. Franklin was
evidently investigating through other
sources to see what was up. Finally
came the answer, which have here
and will read:
"I would be willing to sell pro-,
viding you can meet my price The
tract referred to being now the most
promising gold land in the west,
do not propose to part with it for
song
Several letters passed between
them, and finally Merivale made a
proposition that they should open
the mine as joint owners. He would
put in all the necessary appliances.
which he had near at hand; would
stand all the expenses, take all the
risks, and give Franklin half net Of
the gold output the first year. After
that they were TO share expenses and
profits together. \ letter to this
effect is also in my possession.
FINALLY there came hitch in the
transactions. Wright had learned
something of the value Of his tract
through Moses Dcnnison. formerly
Of this part of the country. hut who
had moved TO Colorado year. before,
and who had purchased this very
tract for Mr.. Wright Mr. Dennison
rather pumed himself in his sagacitv
in having picked out such a bic thing
90 years before, and he wrote to
Wright in a very enthusiastic man
ner. Merivale got wind Of the fact
through Denniaon that Wright
claimed the ownership, and he wrote
to Franklin 20 kno.g whether he
could give a clear title. BY various
misrepresentation, which the letters
in my possession set forth, Franklin
managed to get considerable sums
out OF Merivale, and with the money
thus obtained the work of thievery
and assassination was carried on.
Il found Meriyale TO be a very good
sort of fellow, and straight as that
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