Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-24
CREDIT MOBILIER,
A Case Commenced in Rhode Island
which Promises to be Interesting.

NEWPORT, r. L., Dec. %.
A suit has just been entered in the circuit
court of the United States the title of which
is. John N. A. Griswold vs.. Rowland G.
Hazard, ct ais. This case Is part of the Credit
Mobilier litigation, and promises to become
one of the most celebrated in the history of
the Rhode Island jurisdiction. The bill
which gives the particulars of the complain
ants suit was prepared by the late Secretary
of State Frelinghuvsen, who was = near rela-
tive of Griswold. The case is to be called on
Monday, January 4th, and the particulars are
briefly as follows: On August 22, 1865,
Isaac z. Hazard and others, on behalf of
himself and all the other stockholders of the
corporation known as the Credit Mobilier of
American, filed bill of complaint in the su-
perior court of Rhode Island against Thos.
e. Duranr and others, claiming that Durant
was indebted to them in the amount of $53,-
1856. Durant was resident of New York,
but was in the habit of visiting here. Haz-
ard sought to have issued to them a writ of
ne exeat against Durant, and alleged that he
was ''of the state of Rhode Island" and Gin
tended soon to depart out of the state" The
reason given for suing Durant in Rhode
Island is found in the statement of Rowland
Hazard made April 81, 1875, which was that
Durant was not sued in New York as was
originally intended. "because of the notorious
corruption of the courts of that state, and the
reported connection or relation of Durant
with some of the judges then presiding in
the same" On August %, '6S, Durant ar
rived here from New York on his yacht and
was arrested on a writ of ne exeat, which had
been issued under Hazards complaint. Du.
rant was taken to Jail, bnt communicated with
his friends, one of whom was Henry Win
throp Gray. a prominent and wealthy stock
broker of New York, and a nephew of Mr.
Griswold. Gray asked the latter to become
surety for Durant. Griswold and Dexter
Bradford, now deceased, jointly became bail,
as Griswold declares, for the appearance only
of Durant. the amount being S53, ,735.
The conditions, however, of the bond were
in these words: ''That the said Thomas c.
Durant shall on his part abide and perform
the orders and DEGREES of the supreme court
of Rhode Island" which OF course involved
the judgments of the limit, itself, the bill of
the present complainant, and which, now filed
in the circuit court, "insists that this bond
should be reformed as it was obtained from
him in the present form by fraud,
Bradford is dead, and principal Durant
died few weeks ago. and this fact has some
what precipitated Griswold's action in appeal
ing to the United States courts, which he asks
to restrain the Hazards from attempting to
sue him for the amount
The fellow defendants with Durant in the
original suit were Oliver Ames, Benz f..
Bates, Jno. Duff, Cornelius S. Bushnell, S.
Dillon, Henry S. McComb, Credit Mobilier
of America and the Union Pacific r. r. Co.
These, briefly, are the facts and it is stated
that it is not impossible that the entire Credit
Mobiier case may be reopened as the case
proceeds.