The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-11
STORY OF A GOLD BRICK
Topeka Men Involved in a California
Scandal.

The following. from the Los An
geles Times, refers to a mining ven
ture in which Topeka people are in
terested as we'll as to some of the peo-
| pie themselves:
Are there to be international com
/ plications arising out of the troubles
of the Hermosa Mining company, OPP
Grated in Old Mexico, the main offices
of which concern are located in this
city?
VIII the state of sinaloa have to en-
large its prison to provide accommo-
dations for 17S Angelenos while they
serve term for smuggling?
VIII the government of Mexico come
down with the iron hand and conf1s-
cate the entire mining properties of
the Hermosa Mining company for all
legged violation, on the part of some of
its stockholders, of the export laws Of
/ the southern republic2
There are in Los Angeles 173 stock
holders in the Hermosa company. Not
one. SO far, has confessed to the
smuggling of the gold brick. viii the
entire 173 have to stand for the viola
ton of law and receive their punish
ment?
This phase was seriously discussed
/ at the meeting held last Saturday
night in the Schroeder place of bust
ness on East Second street There
/ were calls for the man or men who
had done the smuggling to step forth,
declare his or their error and make
reparation. Nobody stepped.
After a painful pause. John Taylor,
who declared he had nothing to do
with the smuggling affair, stood up
and said he was willing to ssbe the
scapegoat.'' and would take the gold
brick down to Tia Juana, have the
Mexican customs officials weigh it, and
then tender the money necessary for
the payment of the export duties
Friends of his objected. They were
fearful lest the Mexican officials would
arrest Taylor and thrust him into a
! Mexican prison for many months.
/ They were afraid that such Official &C
might cause the Mexican government
to simply confiscate the entire Her
mosa properties. They were filed with
other vague alarms, and nobody
seemed to know just what was best
to do Finally it was decided to call
another meeting of the stockholders
for the raising of an assessment to hire
| a Mexican attorney to look after the
| interests of the company.
As matter of fact the Mexican
government has taken no cognizance of
| the affair, officially; it must do SO, how
| ever, when the treasurer of the Her
mosa company goes before the Mexican
consul and tenders payment of export
duty.
Mr.. Schroeder says DR.. E. W. Min
iney and W. H. Stilson are responsible
for the brick episode. and for the en-
barrassing position in which the com
pany is placed thereby. These men do
not accept this responsibility. It is al
legged they have countercharges to
make.
brick story is one with several phases
out of the ordinary, and it has its anus
ing side as we'll.
The story goes that in order to brace
up sales Of 5 sck in the Hermosa COM
/ or
a gold brick which he or they claimed
was the product of the Hermosa mines.
Tn csc mines are located in the state of
Sinaloa district of Cosala, directorate
of Guadalupe.
The gold brick was freely shown by
DR.. Minney, George Cunningham,
president of the company; w. L. WI
liams its secretary, and W. H. Stilson,
square was very helpful in disposing
! of stock.
Finally, says the story, other stock
holders heard of the gold brick and
demanded that it be turned into the
| company's treasury. This was done, on
their demand, and Treasurer Schroeder
started it off by express for the United
States mint at San Francisco.
Then certain other shareholders
heard Of this move. and were Mortified.
They hurried to Treasurer Schroeder
| and told him he had put his foot in
it, There was whispered imparting
had been struggled up from Sinaloa;
that 1t never had paid duty.
The treasurer was urged to get the
| brick back into his possession imme-
| diately. 1t was set forth to him that
| it would be necessary at the United
States mint to place on record the To-
/ cation from which the gold was de-
rived: that the company would then
stand on record as having violated the
| Mexican report laws, as the customs
| officials would know Immediately that
no gold from the Hermosa mine had
ever paid export duty. and that this
| would simply mean the cOnfiscation of
| ment.
There was some hasty telegraphing
| to the express company handling the
gold brick. and finally it was returned
to Los Angeles without having ever
reached Uncle Sans mint. The famous
gold brick now lies in Treasurer
/ Schroeder's safe He wishes It were in
| the bottom of the sea, or safely back in
/ Old Mexico, or somewhere where Gus
| toms duties cease troubling and con-
! sciences are at rest.
The meeting on Saturday night was
a closed one. BIZ enough information
has leaked out to show that matters are
not exactly peaceful In the Hermosa
| Mining company. There was a demand
for the resignation of its entire board
of directors. it IS said; but some of them
promptly declined TO resign. Some of the
disgruntled stockholders declare they
will insist on the selection of a new
directorate and a. personal inspection of
the Hermosa's Mexican property by a
committee to be appointed by the stock
holders
Presbytery at AIarysviIIe.
Marysville, Kas.. April 1.-THE