The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1912-01-11
MANY LAWSUITS OVER MINE.
Company in Colorado Defends Fl With
out Losing a Decision in
Higher Courts.

In a recent issue of the Salt Lake Herald the following
story was published which shows clearly that almost every
producing mine has and expensive troubles enough
at the present time to etad the industry without adding any
extra burdens in the form of increased taxation While the
property spoken of is located in Colorado Idaho has many
mines which have undergone practically the experience
Litigation extending Il years and involving in the
aggregate than $12000000 in claims against the hex
Mining company of Leadve of group OF valuable
mining claims including the famous Little Johnny mne was
finally adjudicaed when the supreme court Of the United
States dismissed for of jurisdictions the appeal of L.
Van Ce from the decision of the circuit court OF appeals
vestng the ownership the San Jose claim to the hex
pany.
The Little Johnny and dacent claims owned by the hex
claim made the fortunes OF Colorado monares Or at
least formed the basis for these fortunes. Among them arc
President A. " Hunter of the First National bank John f.
Campon Byrd Page George Tmbe and the late Eben Smith
The properties were long thought only ordinary produc
ers until suddenly in 1894 rich strike made in the Little
Johnny claim Following the veins exposed in the shaft
this claim rich pockets discovered and high grade orr
mined where formerly only low grade had been thought t
exist Excitement followed the discovery and the news OF thu
strike heraded broadcast with the result that former own
ers the claims held by the hex heirs OF for
er ownersappeared with claims for shares in the output Of
the mine or for interests in the mining claims
There many loose ends to the titles of the properties
and when refused share of the profits the claimants began h
bring suit against the company As matter of record the
Little Johnny has produced approximately $200O0OO0.
Since the first discovery of the rich p suits have
been brought titles to portions Of the
claims included in the Little johnny group Many of these
have been fought through the state circuit court OF appeals an
thence to the United States supreme court.
In all these suits the beX company has been successful
having lost decision in the higher courts having paio
a dollar of judgments in settlement of claims.
Judge T. A. Green who died several years ago. was coun
sci for most of the claimants Judge Green OF the
hardest fighters admitted the practice of law in Colo
RADIO. He great trial lawyer, but time and again was
ouwed and outfought by the late Senator Hughes and his
associates Mr. Hughes admittedly being the greatest auth
ority on mining laws the state has ever produced
In one case that of Mum against the hex company
Judge Green made particularly determined fight with the re
suit that Judge Haett of the district court awarded Mum
money verdict of $S000O0 This appealed to the
United States circuit court Of appeals which court reversed
the decision later being upheld by the highest tribunal
The Van Cse case, finally adudcated the last pend
ing litigation against the hex company. The suit was
brought establish his right sole remaining heir OF John
p Van Cse who part of the San Jose lode clam
in 1897 before taken by the lbex company to
three -eighths interest in the claim.