The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-01-02
BLEWFTT MINE OWNERS
HAVING THEIR TROUBLES
Two Factions Fighting for Control of
the Old Washington Meteor Mining
Co.'S Properties

AS the result OF Warrant sworn out
last Monday week ago charging J.
E. Reynolds of Blewett with assault in
the second degree, when he pulled a
gun on four men representing rival
mining concern, the city hall was the
scene of an interesting trial Monday
afternoon, when the two sides fought
their case out in Judge Rice's court.
For several years there has been
trouble over the ownership and title OF
the mining properties Of the old Wash
ington Meteor Mining Co., and on
Monday Dec. Do, when Mr.. Ridgley,
Mr.. Smith and others representing an
other company claiming ownership Of
the property attempted to eject Mr..
Reynolds, representing the Amalga-
mated Gold Mines Co., which also
claims the mines, trouble began. 1t
appears from the testimony introduced
at the trial that Rdgley and Smith had
served notice on Reynolds several days
previous to the trouble that he must
vacate the property, to which Key
nolds had replied that he would do
nothing of the sort until the matter
had been tried out in court, and the
real ownership established.
On the day of the trouble, Reynolds
plancing out of the window OF his
cabin, beheld Ridgley, Smith and two
other men approaching his house. AS
he wished to avoid any serious trouble,
he testified that he went to the door
and ordered the men not to come any
further. As they did not heed his
warning he stepped back in the house
for his gun, warning them for the Sec
ond time that there would be blood
shed if they persisted in their efforts to
enter his cabin. After this occurrence
the four men left the premises after
which they swore out the warrant for
Reynolds arrest.
That there has been i'll feeling ex-
isting between the two mining fac
tions for several months was shown by
the testimony introduced at the trial.
A month or so ago Mr.. Ridgely and
Mr.. Reynolds fought out their differ
ences at the mouth Of one OF the tun-
nels, when Mr.. Ridgley attempted to
90 into the nine, but neither of them
suffered any serious injury.
The trial in the local court Monday,
while brought on charge OF assault
and battery and later changed to as
sault in the second degree, had the
appearance more of being the out
growth Of scheme brought about to
settle title to the property at the ex-
pense of the county. Deputy Prose-
cutting attorney represented the state
and Attorney E. H. Fox, the defend
ant, Mr.. Reynolds. The case was
dismissed.
The Blewett mines, which in the
past have produced over two million
dollars in gold have been tied up in
litigation for the past eight or ten years.
and while it is still looked upon as
good property it is likely to be many
wears vet before active operations will
be resumed. Most OF the time it has
been in the hands of promoters, such
as Hazeltine and others, who have
done nothing but sell stock. The
name OF the company has been
changed half dozen times in order
that the manipulators might sell more
stock and it is reported that still
newer company and stock selling
campaign is to be launched in the
spring.