The San Francisco call., 1909-08-29
UTOPIAN SCHEME
LANDS DREAMER
IN PRISON CELL
Disastrous Finale of Attempt to
Found Cooperative Common
wealth on Eel River
John AdOIph Miller Victim OF
the Cruel COmmerciaIism of
the Present Age


John AdoIph Miller. dreamer, friend
of mankind brother to all the worlds
oppressed. lies in the city prison under
charge of felony. and shrinking at
the Indignantly flung titles of scoun-
drel, fraud and cold hearted cheat. Ex-
planning and Illuminating the situation
is the fact that Miller attempted TO
organize a cooperative commonwealth
on the banks Of the Eel river in Mendo-
elmo county. draw together a few high
minded spirits and, away from the un-
equal strife of present day CONNER
cialism, build up happy community
among ideal surroundings. The oiti-
zens of the commonwealth got to hair
pulling, backing one anothers eyes and
calling names, and this latest Utopia
has gone the way of its shattered pred
ecessors.
NEVER AGAIN. SAYS DREAMER
Never again" Miller said yesterday.
gazing longingly out through the bars
at the world of base competition and
cold greed.
The specific charge against Miller's
name is that embodied in section 564
OF the penal code which makes it a
felony for any corporation to misrepre
sent, in its prospectus, the property in
which il is endeavoring to interest the
public
Miller replies sorrowfully that his
flock expected too much; that they
hoped 10 become wealthy without loss
OF time or application to hard work
Miller is a socialist and a native Of
Russia. where his name was Luksche-
witz He changed IT TO Miller on COM
ing TO this country 20 years ago. Until
shortly before organizing his cooper
, he fp11O -
sea and sailed out of this port as
master of the bark California.
POLICE RECEIVE COMPLAINTS
Some two weeks ago the police be-
gan TO receive complaints from the
colonists, and Detective Sergeants John
B. Freel and Steven Bunner We're as
signed the task of investigating them
Bunner masqueraded as a prospective
colonist and Freel his friend and
the pair arrested Miller Friday even
ing in the Office of his Cooperative
colonization company of California, As
Kcarny street. He was formally
charged yesterday.
The commonwealth, as described in
two prospectuses issued by Miller, con-
sisted of 10000 acres of land on Ten
Mile creek. a branch of the Eel river.
and some Is miles from Sherwood. BY
lease $500 acres Of this land had actu-
ally been secured. and the colonists,
by making annual payments for four
years. were 70 acquire the whole sec
ton for $4,000. DR.. George A Harker
of Mil Valley put up $4,000 as a bond
to secure the buildings on the prop
ertv. the cattle. shogss and fruit trees.
IN. 1908 So eco Of the purchase money
was paid.
Louis Van Hove a former restaurant
keeper. Of 1876 Turk street. swore out
the complaint. Other colonists We're:
r. NJ HasbrOok Of 1913 Market street,
Henry Schneider Of 81 Woodward ave-
nue.. Berkeley; Andrew Heide of 1911
Russell street South Berkeley; Will
liam J. Frank of 532 Clipper street, and
William Doty of 6S4 Golden Gate
avenue.
officers of the company are: ]. A.
Miller. president; r. ". Baranoff, vice
president II. FigUr, secretary; DR..
George A. Harker. treasurer; Judge
J. +. Barry. attorney
Miller says Hasbrook and Van Hove
and two other colonists, Charles Welch
and ID. Kastuk. quarreled and came to
blows. and that constant internal wars
disrupted the colony.