National Republican., 1879-08-23
Mr.. Hills Complaint Against the
Fair Association.
A Bill in Equity to Compel the Directors to
Purchase the Benning's Grounds-An
Answer to be Made by the Assoc
citation Denying all of MIR.
Hilps AiIcgations-Tho
Courts to Decide.
The Controversy over Grounds at Bennins's.


and advantageous for National fair grounds.
Being desrous of converting the grounds into
a National park for the public fair grounds, in
proximity to the Capitol of the Nation, lie
induced numerous other citizens to unto with
him in an application to Congress for special
act Of Incorporation, which was passed mainly
through the plaintiffs instrumontalities, and
with the expectation that tho National fair
grounds would be located at Beuniug's.n In
July st the association was organized as a
corporate body under the charter, by the cleo
tion Of board Of directors and William NJ.
Gait as president.
On the 2lst Of the same month these officers
went to Benuings, viewed the grounds aud
received a diagram of the same from the COM
planant They approved and selected the
location for the fair, and designated Mr.. II.
ii. Blackburn to negotiate with Mr.. Hill aud
settle on the terms of purchase Tho terms
were agreed upon between the parties aud re-
ported to the board of directors aud by them
approved.
On the 25th of July the plaintiff declares
that the defendants took possession of the
property and still occupy and control it that
they have received benefits and advantages
from It, for which no account has been rem
dered, and that they notified the public
through the newspapers of the adoption of
rules and regulations for the government of
the grounds.
On the 18th inst. he rendered decd to the
association and demanded the 500 required to
be paid on signing. Mr.. Gait refused to re-
ceive the deed or pay the money. He further
| complains that Mr. Gait has combined with
certain persons outside Of the lawful corporate
authorities of the association, and is now Ca
deavoring to -repudiate the purchase. Mr.
Hill claims that he is stakeholder, and as
such is entitled to the right to prevent an
abuse of the corporate franchise. He saws
that Mr.. Gait and others have uulawfully
constituted an advisory committee" which
has usurped and controls the affairs of the
corporation, aud they not only repudiate the
contract made with him, but are about to pur-
chase Il tract of land in Il different locality
for the fair grounds, uninproved and unpre-
pared for such purpose. With this view they
| have called for the immediate payment of all
the installncmts IN the stock subscribed, aud
the complainant charges that Mr.. Gait
and his associates have engaged In tho adveu-
ture of involving the association in difficulties
with the ultimate view Of selling out the fair
grounds to get them In II few hands for specu-
| lative purposes.
He therefore says that he is liable to suffer
| irreparablc injury, and asks that the defend
ants may be ordered TO specifically perform
| the contract made with him for the purchase OF
| the Bennings' racc-cOurse grOunds;" that
they be enjoined from purchasing other lands
| for u fair ground and also from abandoning
the franchise of the corporation that they be
| required to act under tue legally constituted
authorities of the corporation aud euioined
from acting under the dictation or control of
the advisory board.
ACTION OF THE FAIR ASSOCIATION
The board of directors of the National Fair
Association were furnished yesterday after.
noon with a copy of Mr.. Hills bill and the
tfart do 4
an informal gathering ut the headquarters of
the association, No. 493 Pennsylvania avenue,
last evening. Tho declarations in the bill
were reviewed, and it was agreed to answer it
substantially rs follows: The answer will con-
tain denial Of the statement that the bill in.
cooperating the association was passed through
Congress by Mr.. Hill's efforts or for his
benefit and allcge that the bill was
passed at tho instance and earnest
solicitation Of u large number of citizens. II
will also deny that the organization was por.
fected with the view of selecting Bennings as
the site. 1t will contain an admission that I'm
pursuance of Hills invitation the directors
visited his grounds among others, and denial
that Hill exhibited o plat showing that he
only owned ll3 acres, but OH the contrary told
the entire board that he owned 100 acres, less
the depot site and the county road (seveu
acres). The answer will allege that lie brought
to the directors an abstract of title made pur.
posey for their inspection, which showed that
! he had l60 acres, less the seven acres men
toned, and that there were about $2s, 900 OF
, liens upon the property; that the board there
upon passed q resolution that they would plr
chase the land if the title could be made sat
|, islactory, and the advisory committee ap
, proved the purchase that the advisory boart
recommended the purchase of the grounds ii
{ an avenue 100 feet wide could be procureC
, across the Sheriff property, and that the board
appointed one OF their number to see If sucl
avenue could be obtained, aud found that il
could not be obtained ut any price.
Mr.. Hill then, for the first time, informed thu
J board that he had decided away sixty acres
this land but the decd WAS not on record.
The board being disappointed as to tho mum
Der of acres, called meeting of the stockhod
crs and the advisory committee, at which
resolution was passed ad dyising the board no
! to purchase this small tract of land. Tn
answer will also show that the advisory com
mttee was appointed by the stockholders q
the general meeting, and that Mr.. lin vote,
Q Mr.. Hills proposition; that the boar
has never been on the Benuing'
grounds since they visited them wit
him, aud that they have never taken posses
Q sion of the grounds, or otherwise had any
= thing to do with them; that Mr. Hill pre-
sented proposition on the llth of August
e more than two weeks after he swears that til
4 whole tract of 100 acres for $4,000. Thi
e proposition, which was made in writing,
I now in the possession of the board and will ac
n company their answer US an exhibit. Th
I answer will be prepared by Judge Blackbur
I aud associate counsel, aud will be filed, 1t
probable, either to-day or tomorrow.
WHAT THE MINUTES SHOW
The transactions between Mr.. Hill and til
: directors are shown in chronological order /
Q the minutes OF the board, which were inspecte
A by REPUBLICAN reporter last eveninl
n These records show that on July 90 Mr. Iii
n made his first proposition to sell or lease h
| grounds at Bennings. On the following da
|, Mr.. Hils offer was duly conside red, and
, resolution adopted that the board would q,
- cept the offer if the title was made satisfa
d tory and the purchase met the approval of III
d advisory committee. On the "a Of August
,, resolution presented by the advisory commi
4 tee approving the purchase, provided acce
# could be obtained to the grounds, aud furthS
!. recommending that Mr. Hill be required
"a convey one.half of his stock at par value W,
adopted by the board, aud Judge Blackbur
WAS appointed committee Of one to see IL oh
desired road or avenue could be obtained. q
, tho 4th inst Judge Blackburn reporte
~ that the owner Of the Sheriff pro-
y, erty would not sell the land, and furth,
II that he was informed that Mr. Hill had sol
m sixty acres south Of the track to a man name
Ig McIntire. On the 9TH Instant the advisor
n, committee reported that in view of the iac
ID developed they could not advise the purchas