The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-06
AFTER THOUSANDS
A Swede Fights to Recover VAL
liable Alaskan Mine.
Action in LeavenwOrth Courts
to Aid a Church
TO RECOVERPROPERTY
Peter H. Anderson Thought to
BE COnceaIing the Assets.
The Romantic Story of a Soldier
of Fortune Up North.

Leavenworth, Kan, June 6.-The
Times says:
The hearing of a bill in equity filed
by Nels c. Holberg, trustee of the
Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant
of America, against Peter H. Ander-
son and a number of co-defendants,
to realize on judgment of $264,7OS
rendered by arbitration at Chicago In
1904 and confirmed by the United
States supreme court, in an action to
recover for the religious society on
Alaskan mines the property of the
church which were said to have been
appropriated by Anderson has been
begun in the circuit court here.
1t was way back in 1898 when Hol-
berg and Anderson went into the
northland and established a mission
for the conversion of the savage
Esquimaux. They located far to the
north in a desolate and forbidding
region. The mission which served for
home and church alike was the only
civilized habitation for miles of the
bleak frozen wilds. 1t was one day
in the summer that while wandering
about in the mosquito-ridden wastes
that Holberg discovered pay dirt"
He located a number of claims.
1t was but few months later I'M
til the region grew famous as the
Cape Nome district the richest of the
Alaskan placer deposits.
Holberg meanwhile returned to the
states and located in California tenn
porarily. Anderson was left in charge
of the mission and it's mining projects
A wandering soldier of fortune, one
Price. happened into the mission one
day during the absence of Holberg.
He talked with Anderson and in the
course of their conversation advised
him that the two mines belonging to
=, oh, vol, II; ol1 "a he
names of two Esquimaux boys, wards
Of the mission, could not be held as
under the mining laws the natives
were not citizens. Why not locate
them in the name Of the mission
suggested Anderson. This. too. was
declared impossible by Price. He was
wrong in both opinions.
For his very valuable misinformation
one of the claims was given to Price.
The claims belonging to the mission
were located in Anderson's name. They
develop into very valuable properties
convinced that they were his personal
ly as they became more productive Of
wealth.
When Holberg returned to Alaska and
learned of the situation he filed suit
as trustee of the properties of the COM
mission and this suit after pending
some time in the Alaskan court was
finally settled by arbitration in Chi
cago in 1904. when Holberg was given
judgment against Anderson for 1922, 200
and against the White Star Mining
company, which had been operating
the mines, for $4,000 and the mine.
The claim against the White Star COM
pany was satisfied after an unsuccess-
full appeal.
Anderson refused to pay and upon
gaining a judgment against him Hol-
berg recovered $1,000 by the sale of
farm lands in Dickinson county by
sheriffs sale under writ of execution.
This left $261 ,408 yet due on the judg-
ment. A second alias writ of execu-
ton was issued but the sheriff was
unable to locate any more of Ander-
sons property and the execution was
returned unsatisfied.
Holberg is now in his action before
the court here seeking to recover
$261,4eS with interest from March IL,
1907 at 8 per cent. The bill in equity
now before the court is aimed to I'M
cover assets of Anderson held by other
persons. 1t is believed that he has
large sums tied up in loans and in
properties held by his wife. The mat
ter to be decided by the court con-
Germs the question of whether or not
the many co-defendants have proper
ties belonging to Anderson which may
be held liable to satisfy the judgment.