Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-01-18

The attention incident to the Fair in
1882, and the absence from the city of
one or two Of the Directors, occasioned
a postponement Of this vital matter, but
at meeting Of Directors on May lst,
1883, Mr.. Hollenbeck submitted docu-
ment in the form Of petition to the
Court, to be signed by all shareholders,
requesting that the improper deed be
cancelled and that new one, in con-
formity to the original resolution, be di-
rected to be drawn and acknowledged.
A copy of the substitute deed was at
tached. This petition recapitulated the
essential features Of everything hera
stated, and was signed by eighty-three
shareholders, representing l07 shares of
stock. On this suit has been brought
and complaint filed juno 10, 1888; the
case is now pending. Tho writer has
been thus circumstantial in details so as
to show connected history of tho
whole transaction, and also the amount
of trouble already occasioned. Very
few understand the uncertain tenure of
an investment so many made for Iaue-
able object. supposing, as they had
right to, that the park grounds were Sc
cured in perpetuity. This report is in.
tended to show how the affair stands in
its present precarious condition.
In the list of subscribers given above,
William Niles is noted as shareholder;
a share, it appears from the record, was
voted him by the association in consid-
Grafton of services rendered at the or
ganization, no money being paid. In
the deed he is noted as holding ten shares;
10 the transfer book large number
more, acquired after the deed as ten.
ants in common" was placed on the
records.
Ga May %. 1888, Messrs. William II.
Workman and N. C Carter were appoint
ed by the Governor, at the request of
| the board, vice Messrs Hollenbeck and
Titus, resigned.
The statements above narrated are
ftcts in every particular, being matters
of record and subject to proof in the
case now psn.ing before the Superior
Court. II is not ntende to bias or pre-
| julice the case but to present to the pub
lie an expose of case of crookedness
but little known. 1t should be here re.
marked that Mr.. Niles was present, as
noted on the records, at every meeting
of the Board of Directors When the
question of annulling this improper deed
was discussed and had abundant means
of knowing just the feeling of indigna-
tion which had been aroused at the de-
ception, to speak it IN Idly.
| 1t will be notcel the names of new
directors were given from time to time,
thus keeping the list complete, also that
they were commissioned by the Cover
nor at the request of the Board Of Di-
rec ors; there was no obligation in this.
but it was an act OF courtesy on the part
of the State Executive, under the be-
lief that the directors knew best how to
select their associates.
A few weeks ago the Board forwarded
request that two gentlemen be COM
missioned. Mr.. Barretto, to succeed him
self, and Mr.. Ferguson to succeed Mr..
Childs, who wished to retire. 1t was
particularly desirable that these gentle
men be on the Board at this time, as
they were thoroughly familiar with the
entire history Of the trust deed dispute,
as they both were interested in tho pur-
chase. But it pleased Gov. Stoneman to
commission two other gentlemen,
strangers to the inside history here given,
in defiance of the request Of the direct
ors, and in response to petition sur
reptitiously circulated and signed by q
few men when it is presumed knew
nothing in regard to the property jeopar-
died. The gentlemen appointed. Mr..
Washburn, of Pasadena, and Mr.. Frank
Kimball, of Nationall City, are men of
integrity, and there CON be no exception
taken to their accepting the trust; but
it is to be hoped they will soon learn the
full facts as now developed, and why
| there has been inharmonious meetings
Of the Board of which they are now mem.
bers.
MATTERS PERSONAL.
This statement would be incomplete
without personal reference to several
directors in connection with the interest
they have taken to further the welfare
of the Sixth District Agricultural Asso.
cation. Especially may be named
Messrs. Hollenbeck, Childs, Ferguson,
Barretio and Lichtenberger. These gen.
tlemen have all devoted valuable time
as they all have vast personal interests
to look after-to give the Association
standing and character at home and
abroad, and exerted themselves to the
utmost during the past four years in its
behalf. They have not hesitated in
these years to go regularly down into
their pockets to a good round figure to
make up deficiency or to swell the
amount the public had pledged to aid in
meeting the expenses of exhibition; and
none Of them are engaged in a scheme to
| get possession of the property by ques-
tionable methods. Mr.. Barretto, as
President for nearly three years, has de-
voted time and attention to the affairs of
the Association that some hundreds of
dollars could not compensate for. An
interested public will note these things
and form q judgment therefrom. Much
depends on the course the Association
pursues as to the measure of future sue
cess, excepting, of course, the result of
this legal contest over fraudulent deed.