Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-12
WESTERN UNION In LUCK.
THE WIRES OF TWO MORE COM
PANIES UNDER CONTROL.

Both the Bankers and MerChants' and
American Rapid Lines Virtually ABB
sorbed-The Legal Circuit Through
which the Currents ware Connected
with tho GuoId system.
NEW YORK, July 1l.--An order which
was granted yesterday In the Supreme
Court by Judge Donohue directing Gen.
Farnsworth 10 transfer the wires Of the
American Rapid Telegraph Company to
the Western Union Telegraph Company,
was made on a motion by the lawyers OK
the Western Union Company upon a mo-
tion sworn to by Noryin Green, its Presi-
dent. The motion was made in the suits Of
Austin G.. Day, Alex. II. Deliayen and the
Farmers Loan and Trust Company
against the Bankers and Merchauts' Tele-
graph Company of this city, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Baltimore city. Ed
ward Harland is receiver of the American
Rapid Telegraph Company Of this city and
other States, having been appointed by
the different courts in which the litigation
respecting the company has been pending.
A RECEIVERS POWERS.
The Western Union Company, in its
petition presented yesterday, stated that
on July Judge Shipman, of the United
States Circuit Court, made an order
vacatng an order which had previously
been granted to the end that Receiver
Harland should be free to make such
traffic arrangement or lease with other
persons or corporations as he should
deem for the best interests of the stock
holders OF the American Rapid Telegraph
Company. In pursuance of that author
ity Receiver Harland yesterday executed
a contract with the Western Union Com
pany for taking possession, managing and
operating by the latter company as agent
for Receiver Harland OF all the telegraph
lines, instruments, etc, OF the American
Rapid Telegraph Company of this city,
Connecticut and other States IN which
tho company has been doing business.
QUESTION OF JURISDICTION.
The petition stated that the receivers OF
the Bankers and Merchants Telegraph
Company were in possession of sOme Of
the wires Of the Rapid Telegraph Conn
pany, but that such receivers had not been
authorized to take possession of the tele-
graph linesof that company, and that any
possession that they may have taken wes
wholly without right and authority Of the
law, or of orders Of the court. 1t asserted
that the Bankers and Merchants' Tele-
graph Company had no lease, contract or
agreement emitting it or its receivers to
possession Of the property Of the Rapid
company.
WESTERN UNIONS AIM.
The property OF 1.-THE Bankers and Mer-
chants' Telegraph Company was adver-
| tised for sale yesterday, and the Western
/ Union Company in its petition alleges
/ that 1t was the purpose Of that company
to have the purchaser take possession not
only of all the property of that company,
but also Of the telegraph lines and prop
\ erty Of the American Rapid Telegraph
1 Company.
Frederick II. May, an officer and di-
rector of the American Rapid Telegraph
Company, made an affidavit which was
Vouched TO the petition Of the Western
Union Company declaring that the Bank
ers and Merchants Company had no
lease, contract or agreement emitting it.
or its receivers - possession or use Of the
property Of the American Rapid Tele-
graph Company. 10 WAS upon these pa
pers that the order directing the transfer
OF the wires TO the Western Union Cons
pany was made.
CRIPPLED BY cur WIRES.
The business Of the Bankers and Mei-
chants Company has been seriously
crippled to-day by the cutting Of the
American Rapid Company's wires. At
least tWo-thirds OF the wires of that c0m-
pany are now 10 the hands Of the West
ern Union Company. The General Man=
ager OF the Bankers aud Merchants Com
| pany said to-day that until the matteF
/ was settled by The court it was impossi-
/ BILE 10 determine who owned the wires u
/ the two companies. Western Union
officials are reticent as TO the courf
which will be pursued by their company.
| They say that the seizure Was made by
order OF Judge Donohue and the re-
ceiyers Of the American Rapid Company,
and that they simply obeyed the instruc-
tions they had received.