The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-09-09
CLEVELAND g CA rON.
Interesting Matter Brought Out at the
Trial In q Boston Court

Interesting Matter BrouSnb OuS AZ INV
Trial In n Boston Court.
The taking of testimony In the CleVe-
land & Canton quo warranto case -
completed. Justice Allen, OF the Su-
Dreme Court of Massachusetts,, decided
that the Justice Of the peace has author
ity to compel D K. Stevens, secretary Of
the Cleveland & Canton Company, to
produce the records OF that company,
and on being again snbpoenaed ne did
so, A Boston paper gives the following
account Of the testimony: Many import
ant facts were brought out which the
Corbin party claim to be very discredit-
able to the Blood management. Among
other things the record discloses that
special committee was appointed, con.
sisting of large stockholders OF the ccm-
psny, to devise some equitable plan OF
ad i1stment Of the equipment and terml-
nal debts, and to obtain estimates Of the
cost of char ging the gauge OF the road
and to report their conclusions to the
stockholders.
1t appears that afteIward, without
waiting for any report from this COM
mittee, President Blood went to Ohio
and had the Ohio directors (wh0 had no
interest In the rOad). pass " to giving
to himself and Treasurer Chapman au-
thOrity to make any settlements they
saw fit with holders Of the terminal or
equipment interests, to Issue the o0gn0.
Wit notes Of the company without limit
In amount, and dispose OF all the unls-
sued stock Of the company; also the
power to make contracts for the pur-
chase of steel rails and standard gauge
equipment for the road, and borrow
money for these and other purposes, and
generally comforting upon them the
| financial and general management OF
the corporation, and substantially all
the powers possessed by the tOard OF
directors. Mr.. Stevens could not recOl-
lect what amount of these terminal In
terests had been purchased, or what
amount Of notes had been issued, nor
how much Of the stock had been dis
posed Of, although he testified that he
had, as secretary, signed and certified
to all the notes and stock that had been
put out under the foregoing authority.
It would seem from this that the In
| junction recently obtained In Ohio pre-
venting the issue of notes of stock Of
the purchase Of terminal and equip
! ment interests was applied none too
soon. 1t was also brought out that the
plan to obtain the Injunction In the
name of Benjamin Cook, under color of
which the common stock should vote at
| the election, was understood by the
B'Ood party some time before they start
| ed for Ohio to attend the May election,
and that Cook went with them to Ohio
in the same train, as he also had done
, for the reorganization meeting the year
| previous, when he was elected one Of
| BlOOd's directors. The testimony Of Mr..
Stevens was VolumlnOus and interest
ing, and the COrbin party claims that
1t strengthens their position materially
| In several points. Mr.. Charles Il. Blood
was summoned and called upon to tes
tify, but objected to do so on the ground
that he resided at Fitchburg, and that
under the law he cannot be compelled to
! give his deposition more than twenty
miles from his place of abode.
A summons was issued for Mr.. q. A.
Blood, the president, W. o. Chapman,
treasurer, and Mr.. Hewins, transfer
agent, but their whereabouts could not
be learned, so their testimony could not
be taken. A summons was served on
Mr.. William ]. Rotch at New Bedford,
who sent physiclan's certificate to the
magistrate excusing his absence on ac-
count of the condition of his health,
with letter commencing Mr.. BlOOd'a
management, so tar as 1t was known to
him. A summons was also sent out for
Mr.. William ROtch, but he could not be
found. The testimony on behalf Of the
State Of Ohio will soon be closed, and
the Attorney General will demand a
prompt hearing on the converting of the
court on the Goth inst. The counsel for
both parties have left fer the West. The
COrbin people consider the avoidance
and refusal Of the Blood party to testify
as Of more value to them than their tes-
timnnU