Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-05-04
GRAVE CHARGES
AGAINST Ii S|EUR.
The Opal Mining Man of Provo
Said to Have Used the Mails
FraudulentIy
WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.
Says lie is Ready TO Meet Accuscrs--
A. II. Birrell's Connection With
Opal Mining Concern,

According to adylces received from
ST. Louis the government authorities
are after st. Vrain lie Sieur, who, un-
I'll recently, was president Of the lie
sleur Opal Mining company, which is
said TO own properties In Lemhi coun-
ty, Ida. lie sieur is charged with hav-
ing used the United States mails for
fraudulent purposes, by obtaining
money under false pretenses. A war
rant has been issued for the promoters
arrest and It will probably be In the
hands OF U. S. Marshal Haywood for
service within a few days lie Sleur Is
in Provo and will not be hard to find,
In st. Louis, 1t is claimed, lie Sieur
came there for the purpose OK promot-
ing an opal mining scheme. COM
pany with 100000 shares Of the par
value of 81 each was organized and the
sale OF the shares commenced OF the
900 shares lie Sieur and A, II. Bir.
rel whom he brought whit him to st,
Louis. retained 100000 each and Fiscal
AEtIll0 iDtuJlllllll hllbul N W MNAN
given 100000. The remaining 100000 re-
mained in the treasury, or this amount
$4,000 shares have been sold Members
of the company charge that lie Sieur
has even sold more than the million
shares of stock to people outside or the
city.
j. +. Dunn, one OF the directors OF
the company, who Is now In charge Of
offn ire ~ thA XOnai-
ton city. is alleged to have charged
lie Sleur with having expended
company funds to improve his
own property. The Opal COM
pany is bankrupt Tho former president
is also accused of transferring all the
treasury stock Of the company to him
self including 10000 shares that were
| sold
Postofiice Inspector Piatt Of ST. Louis
| has I'm his hands complaints from
shareholders who had sent money
| through the malls TO lie Sieur.
The A. II. Birrell mentioned In the
st, Louis dispatches was formerly an
| employe Of the oregon Short Line IN
this city. When he Joined forces with
| lie Sieur he sent out to railroad men
| In various parts of the country, 1t is
| alleged, some carefully worded and
| catchy circulars i'm which he exploited
| the merits Of the opal company's prop
erty. More recently Blrrell was con-
| nected with what was known as the
| Utah & Northwestern Investment COM
I pany. with Offices at sos Templeton
| building. Inquiry made there this
! morning elected the information that
| the concern had retired from business
| and that Birrel had returned TO ST
| Louis, and established headquarters az
1923 Missouri avenue. Consequently
no statement could be secured from
| him.
Mr.. lie Seur returned TO Provo about
three weeks ago and is said to be IN
| a delicate state of health. He claims
the company was organized by Birrel
| and a party by the name OF Benjamin
| Wright as promoters; that II was capi'
talized FOR 100000 shares OF the pal
value of 81. under the laws Of Arizona
that he was made president; Wright
vice president, and Birrell secretary
and treasurer He alleges that Birrel
and a man by the name Of Rogers solo
large amount of the stock, and ovel
sold the amount in the treasury to the
extent OF $4,000 shares, which, las
January, lie Sieur claims to have madt
good out of his own holdings, In addt
ton TO this, another 900 shares t
place the company on its feet
| "Birrell," said lie Sieur last night
was relieved as secretary and treas
urer for cause and the present secre
tGry and treasurer Is Z. McFaren,
banker, OF Flora, Ill. II is true tina
/ bought some property, but / bough
It with my own stock and not witt
the stock OF the company, AS TO tn
condition Of the books / do not know
They were kept by f. p. Horace, Wit
was employed for that purpose IL tn
books are wrong II IS his fault. ! an
not n boookkeeper When / came hom
about three weeks ago / was exam
ined by DR.. Slater. who said I could no
recover and / resigned as president o
the company by mail. They know
where l am, | had letter from Mr.
Horace only a few days ago AS L
the United States postal authorities
wanting me- ! know nothing | onll
used the mails In n legitimate man
rer, sending out prospectuses Of tn