The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-07-09

coming to the west.
"On December l8, l0ls, Braley made
| application for employment with the
Pollard Employment agency in San
1 Francisco, according to one of the
| forms found in the jar. On this appl-
| cation his qualifications are named as
executive, financial position, banking,
and his address was given as the Hotel
| Woodstock.
"Had Many Whining Shares.
"Braley apparent y came TO the Pa
cifie coast with the idea of making
money quickly. for stock certificates,
showing investment in hundreds OF
| shares of oil and mining stock of the
wild cat variety were found. For
most of these shares only 81 share
| was paid.
ATTACHED to the ornate stock eertif
Gates in several cases are the enthu
siastic letters of promoters telling of
just how deep the oil well had been
bored or how mining operations had
progressed, and invariably winding up
with an appeal for more money SO that
| the venture could be brought to the
golden climax desired
"In all the scores of papers there
was nothing to indicate that Braley
had realized cent in any OF these in
yestments.
Adding to the mystery are the
many blank sheets of business CORE
spondence paper, at the bottom Of
which Braley's name had been signed.
No other marks appear on these sheets.
There are number of Peoples Ma
al Da l. IL Lna IL
nature and nothing esle.
MAY Be FOrgeries.
"Some Of these signatures indicate
tracing, some are apparently crude !
copies of what appear to be the bona
fide signatures of Braley, such as those
on the will. the assignment and several
deeds found This may indicate that
Braley was forced to sign some of the
papers, under duress or the signatures
may be forgeries.
"Braley apparently had an intimate
friend in B. G. Hite, an oil promoter of
Salt Lake City, to whom he intrusted
some Of his money. Some of Braley's
letters ask that replies to him be adj
dressed in care of Hite at the Salt Lake
Cry address.
There is also note for 81 900, un
dated, bearing Hite's signature, made
payable to the Barre bank so often re-
ferred to- A small blue print was
found. showing a plot of land owned by
Braley in Barre Numerous blank pow
ers of attorney on California forms, |
bearing the signature. were discovered, |
together with some quitclaim deeds on |
Texas oil property.
Operations of 1918.
Dated October 26. 1918, is receipt |
for the purchase of 800 shares of
stock in the Crows Nest Oil Co. of Spo |
kane. Another statement from the A. |
B. Leach 4 Co. bond house ~ Cedar |
street, New York, shows that 81 900 of |
bonds were sold for Braley in 1918 at
price of 1864.
"A check for $500 drawn by Brsley |
on the BANKERS Trust Co., one of the |
largest financial institutions in the |
United States, does not bear the name |
of a payee. There were other undesig |
ing. in all, $500
'Braley was the owner of 345 share.
of capital stock in the Boston-New
Mexican Mining Co, according to Ger
tifcate. No. $50, dated April "a, 1911,
found This certificate was signifi,
cantly marked in lead pencil no value
and initiated +. n. B.
Numerous articles of correspondence
Indicate that Attorney William Lam
kay Of New York, early in 1919, was
suing one Alex. Heller to collect a
Judgment of $500 for Braley.
"Notes for Large Sums.
"More than dozen notes given by
Braley. all for large sums and stamped
as paid. were found
"The certificates show he was inter
ested in the Tucson Arizona, Copper
Co. to the extent of hundreds of
shares. the Ely Consolidated Copper
Co. South Utah Mines & SmelteTs,
the Flathead Petroleum ca. and other
ventures
He was the inventor Of device, ,
called an oil saver, for which no mar
ket could be found, according TO let i
ter from Hite He owned one thirty
fourth al a private water works sys-
tenn of Barre
He was an organizer and vice .presi
lent and director of the national bank
in Barre until November 30, 1915, and
Dne Of the letters is warm commen
1ation from C. w Melcher, president
Of the bank. Insurance napers show
he was born December 81, 1870, that
he was five feet 10 inches tall and !
weighed 100 pounds.
Every paper shows the wide range :
If his business activities. :
Numerous theories arc advanced Ss J
% his possible fate. Gearhart believes {
ie NAV have become discouraged over r
he unsuccessful business ventures, J
sealed his property and committed sui c
'ide. or that he may have gone insane. i
"Foul Play Suspected.
"The presence of the suspected forged / d
iignatures may Indicate that he was il
compelled To turn over his papers TO v
men with designs against his wealth i
md he was afterward slain.
"The coroner was communicated 4
With to-day. but has no record Of the d
inding Of the body that would clear a
~ the mystery The police have had 4
10 reports in the last Is months Of oc- b
in. which Braley may have U
igured.
"He was of unquestioned business \
cracitv. according to 9 message re- 2
eiyed BY The Journal to-day. ]
"Gearhart. complying with Oregon 4
aW. to-day is notifying the county u
Jerk Of the discovery and posting pub "a
ic notices. After a year has expired.
I no one claims the property. half
l.. md The I 4