Saltiel in prison in Denver in November, 1882

The Colonists arrived in Cotopaxi in May and just 6 months later we find E. H. Saltiel in prison in Denver.  To my research friends - here is a reason to search newspaper articles long after an event has occurred.

In October 1884, in the Salida Mail, Mr. M'Sweeny had a history column:

A charge of Criminal Libel
In the Superior court of Denver, yesterday afternoon John C. Stallcup, attorney for Emaeuel H. Saltiel, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, in hopes of securing the release of Saltiel, who is held by the sheriff on a charge of criminal libel.

When I first read this, I thought is was from 1884 - so I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it.  But that's just it, one has to pay attention to every written word.  Sometimes, you need to read, re-read, and then re-read it several more times for the significance to settle in.

Here we see that Saltiel is at some point in time, sitting in a prison in Denver.  Charged with criminal libel.  Are you surprised?

The warrant was issued in Fremont county on Complaint of E. S. Hart, who charges that about the 20th of last month Saltiel caused to be published in the Canon City Record the following:

Once again, I am thinking this was  "last month" from the date of the article, October 1884.  Here we see that Hart issued the warrant that put Saltiel in prison.  These guys are cousins?  Nice family!

Cotopaxi Placer Mining Company, 50 and 52 Exchange Place.

To all whom it may concern:

New York, October 20, 1882.

The office of the Cotopaxi Mining company having been informed that the one E. S. Hart, supposed to be a foreigner and not a citizen of the United States, claims certain lands belonging to the Cotopaxi Placer Mining company of Colorado, hereby warns all persons from buying, selling, leasing or receiving from said Hart any of the houses, lands, rentals, tools or goods belonging to said company, the said Hart being a totally irresponsible person and of bad record in New York City. 

Witness seal of this corporation, by Emanuel H. Saltiel, president.

And now we see it.   This letter is dated October, 1882.  Saltiel was in prison in Denver in November, 1882 - one month later.

In this letter, Saltiel is stating that Hart is a foreigner, not a citizen and warns you not to buy, sell, leave or receive anything from Hart - that Hart is a totally irresponsible person and of bad record!

This is the "libel" upon which Hart has issued a warrant for Saltiel's arrest.

The warrant was sent to Denver and served here.  The petition for the writ of habeas Corpus declares that the warrant is irregular and illegal, and that the offense charged is not sufficient to constitute a cause of criminal action.

The case will be given a hearing within the next two or three days.

This article shows us that in October, 1882, just 6 months after the Colonists arrived in Cotopaxi, E. H. Saltiel was in Denver.  He wrote this letter out of his headquarters at 50 and 50 Exchange Place.  I will show you later that he had sold his residence in Cotopaxi to Hart in 1881, then claimed it back.  There were issues between the 2 of them before the Colonists ever arrived.

Thus Saltiel wrote this letter to destroy Hart's business.

And Hart had him arrested in Denver on libel charges.  Saltiel was in prison sometime in November, 1882.

Here are a set of unanswered questions to ponder:

1. We know that the crops of the first year failed and the Colonists had to go to work in Saltiel's mines that winter.  Were they working for him in November while he was in prison?
2. We have heard the stories that Hart gave them script in his store for the work they did in the mines.  We do not know this is true - it's just a story.  But if it is true, then Hart surely felt Saltiel would repay him for the credit he afforded the Colonists.  
1. But why would Hart even consider that Saltiel would repay him when Saltiel was in prison due to Hart's warrant?  That doesn't make an ounce of sense!
2. Did we just prove that Hart did not extend credit to the colonists?
3. Or did Hart, being Ashkenazi, extend credit on his own account thinking the Colonists would repay him when they got on their feet?  This is a scenario I could justify.
3. We have a miner's lien which proves that Saltiel did not pay the Colonists for the work they did in his mine for up to 3 months.
1. The lien is dated April 1883.  
1. it only shows the total days and rate per day due

It's obvious that Saltiel was released from prison.  I haven't searched the Colorado Archives for records of this court case.  I might get that done next month.  But to me, the results are inconsequential. This shows us there were issues between Hart and Saltiel.  It shows us that Saltiel was absent from Cotopaxi.  This would be in November, 1882 - after the Tuska report was published in which we see that management of the Colony was taken away from Saltiel in July.

Putting this information to a timeline we find:

Fall 1881 - Hart/Saltiel land/property dispute

May 1882 - Colonists arrive in Cotopaxi.  No houses had been built.  The day before their arrival, Saltiel contracts with Hart to build their homes

July 1882 - houses still not built.  Tuska to Cotopaxi.  Management of Colony taken away from Saltiel

Oct 1882 - Saltiel writes letter against Hart

Nov 1882 - Saltiel in prison for libel over letter he wrote against Hart.

fall/winter 1882 - Colonists go to work in Saltiel's mines in order to survive

Once again, timelines are crucial to the understanding of what happened.  Paying detailed attention to dates can make all the difference when looking at what happened to a person, or to a place.

And there's just a ton that I haven't even started to write about.  There are more liens against other mines owned by Saltiel  - I'm starting to wonder if he paid anyone.

There was an ongoing battle between Henry Thomas (Gold Tom) and E. H. Saltiel over who actually owned the mines at Cotopaxi.  This court battle extends from 1881 to 1884 when Gold Tom was murdered.

And we cannot ignore Saltiel's personal life - he divorced his wife in 1881, sent her and their 2 youngest kids to NYC.  He had a 10/11 year old son with him in Cotopaxi.  He remarried Fanny Shelvelson in Feb, 1883. 

E. H. Saltiel was a very busy man.  But for the moment, shall we just leave him in prison in Denver?

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