The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
MAUDE HAMILTON, RINANCIER'
TIE PRETTY STENOGRAPHER
WHO HAS SURPRISED IOWA.
She Explains How on 500 Month She Was
Able 10 Buy Diamonds, Have Foot.
men and Entertain-Iowans Caught
BY q Mining Company's Collapse.


woman can be Napoleon of Finance.
She Is Maude Hamilton, the young and
pretty stenographer OF gold mining COM
pany in which hundreds OF Iowa people
invested to their sorrow.
The Iowa Lillooett Gold Mining Com
rany and the Hawkeye Gold Mining Com
pany, two corporations organized to work
rich gold deposits in the Fraser River
country, are practically bankrupt. The
treasurer of the companies, B. b. Bliss, has
been declared insane by an Iowa Judge
and the directors of the Lillooett are try
ing to get his stenographer, Mrs. Maude
Hamilton, to tell how there happens to be
shortage of more than $4,000 in the ac-
counts. In consequence of this shortage
the stock of the company has dropped
from dollar to one cent share. The fall
in price has been a disaster to hundreds OF
Iowa people. some of whom invested all
the money they had with the hope of getting
rich
The Iowa Lllooett was organized two
years ago by Charles T. Hancock, formerly
chairman of the Iowa State Republican
committee. and still prominent in Iowa
politics. Interested with him were ex-
Gov. Frank d. jackson; George l.. Dob
son, ex-Secretary Of State; Mayor George
W. Mattern Of Des Moines; Prof. Calvin.
who is at the head Of the geological de-
partment in the State University, and
many others equally prominent.
The company acquired land in the Fra
ser Valley, British Columbia, before the
big rush to that region, and it's stock was
put on the market at 10 cents share.
With men of such prominence and influence
in Iowa back Of the project, Iowa people
invested heavily Operations were begun
at the mine with n dredging outfit in
stalled at cost of 100000.
A lot Of gold was taken out-nearly
enough to pay for the dredging. Still
more was in sight where the dredge had
been worked.
Iowans sent committees to see il the
glowing reports were true. They re-
turned and advised their friends to buy all
the stock that was offered.
The shares climbed rapidly in the mar
ket as the work at the mine progressed.
and few months ago the stock could not
be bought at dollar a share. Some Of the
heavier stockholders could have cleared
thousands of dollars on their stock, but
no one would SELL The stockholders all
held on like grim death,
There was no doubt of the quality of the
gold removed from the big mine, and al
though no dividends were paid, it took
iiftie Imagination on the part Of the stock
holders to see Immense fortunes In the
immediate future. II was predicted that
when dividends began to come in the
10 cent shares would be worth as fnany
dollars apiece. Even Iowa farm land was
mort gagged to get in on the good thing.
Last week two checks, one for SIC 600,
the other for s23 900, were sent by the Off
GERS Of the company to the State Bank at
Iowa Falls and payment was refused be-
cause OF lack of funds. 1t was supposed
that the company had on hand more than
SAC, 900, and an immediate investigation
was started.
Iowa Falls people had been investigating
a little on their own account before this.
They were trying to discover how sixty
dollar-a-month stenographer could, on her
salary alone, give balls and pink teas and
ride in carriages with footnen and at the
same time support a father and mother
and a husband who was the Ward McAllister
Of the town
When Immediately following the refusal
to lay the 20 large checks cane petition
Hy tic wife of 2. 3. Bliss treasurer and
Ccqe-,l n.cnr-er OF both companies, to
have a guardian appointed for him, the
stockholders visited the County Attorney
and Insist on 4 Grand Jury investigation.
m E!i.5 had just completed s25 900 house
il the littlo village, and no one could under
stand ~hGt brought about the sudden
attacl, Of ilsaat'.
Mrs. Hamilton, who is only 20 and is
stylish and pretty, was the only person
in charge of the offices. She gave the
anxious stockholders no satisfaction.
Their questions as to the company's
condition were received with frigid polite
ness. Mrs. Fla milton had bought fine
carriage, and with her footn an she drove
up and down the principal streets, assuring
the stockholders that She at least, intended
to remain at her post.
The country folk couldn't understand
how she got the IT oney to pay her servants,
to buy her carriages, and to entertain people
at two grand balls in the big opera house
Nor could they as7crtc in where she got her
valuable diamonds and opera cloaks, or
how her husband managed to live without
work
Mrs Ia rlton didn't explain.
The stock he l.crs learned that some OF
the records of the company had been de-
stroved-burncd Mrs. EaTilton admit
ted burning them. She said that her officers
had told her to do it.
The stockholders also learned that
Treasurer Bliss often visited the mines
and left the affairs of the company In the
hands of his pretty stenographer. He
signed checks in blank before he left, and
Mrs Hamilton used them as they were
needed.
After a whilo Mrs Hamilton quietly left
Iowa Falls. Tic stockholders thought she
would never rct,'-A. But she did. She has
finally admittet, that there Is shortage in
the company's Affairs and that the two
concerns for wh!0h she was stenographer
and acting general manager are in trouble.
She also says that she has known OF the
shortage for long time, but that she was
advised by the officers Of the company to
keep quiet.
She also admits that she has become
wealthy In the service OF the company,
but she says 1t was honestly done. From
her confidential relations to Bliss and her
own handling OF the company's affairs she
had insiie inform tion that enabled her to