In April, 1914, W.G. Beattie, District Supt. of Schools at Juneau, was contacted by a group of Natives and other persons to seek help as a number of native graves had been desecrated in the old cemetery site. According to Mr. Beattie, the burial ground, along the embankment that leads to Gold Creek Canyon, was used by whites as well until approximately 1891. Some graves were moved to a new cemetery but approximately fifty graves remained at the old site. While a mineral claim was filed in the area in 1887, little work was done. On March 25, 1899, this claim (fraction lode) was located as a mining claim by J.F. Malony, John Olds and L.L. Williams and recorded June 10, 1899. It was surveyed April 22-27, 1907, and patented June 21, 1909 with a plat in the U.S. Land office marked Serial no. 075. The plat also designated "old graves scattered in this area." The land was put on the market and sold as town lots by J.F. Malony, J.H. Cobb and their associates. Excavation of a residence for F.J. Wettrick unearthed the graves. Henry Phillips, a native, contacted Deputy Marshall Hector McLean and W.J. Lewis, Special Agent of the General Land office, who inspected the site and arranged recovery of the grave remains which were taken to the court house. Mr. Beattie recommended that the Secretary of the Interior request an investigation and that immediate action be taken to protect the graves. Other government officials wrote in this regard as well as S. Hall Young, Special Representative of the Board of Home Mission for Alaska, and James H. Condit, Presbyterian General Missionary for Alaska.

The records include an abstract on the Fraction Lode claim patent and plat map showing the land and general gravesite in dispute and notes for a legal case that were probably prepared by the U.S. Attorney. A "Memorandum for Mr. Warren" concerning the case and a brief citing various precedent case decisions are included.

The decision to the case is not included in the collection or in ALASKA REPORTS for 1914-18.