Iron River had been choosen as Iron County's county seat. Until an election could be held the citizens of Crystal Falls wanted the courthouse there. The plot to steal the courthouse began with four men. They were Solomon Hollister, of Crystal Falls, county clerk; Hughitt, the county treasurer; David Lockwood, sheriff, and C.T. Roberts, supervisor of Crystal Falls. Their plan took many days to finish. They would not actually steal a building but would steal all the important papers recorded for the courthouse. They decided that since there was going to be a county meeting in Iron River, February 15, 1887, they would carry out the plan then. Two men were picked to do the dirty deed, Hughitt and Scaddon.

      When the day of the meeting came everything went as usual, except the two men suggested a high stakes poker game to be played afterwards. They assumed that everyone from Iron River would come and watch the game, no one would be protecting the county records.