The Portland daily press., 1886-04-15
TO RECOVER 100000.
Action Against the Hon. John B.
Alley for the Value of Postal
Telegraph Bonds

BARNsTABLE, Mass. April 13.-In the Supreme
Court today, before Judge Thompson, was begun
the case of Chester Snow Of Harwich vs. ex-Rep-
representative John B. Alley of Lynn, to recover
the value of certain Postal Telegraph bonds The
Hon. George o. Shattuck of Boston and Judge III
p Hartman appeared for the plaintiff and Dis
triet Attorney H. NJ Knowton of New Bedford
and the Hon. Robert G. Ingersoll Of New York
for defendant. The court room was packed at an
early hour to listen to this case on which more in
terest centres than on any coming before a Barn
stable court for years, possibly on account of the
appearance of such eminent counsel The decla-
ration alleges that the defendant has used one
hundred and fifty telegraph bonds valued at $1,000
each.
Judge Hartman opened the case and recited at
some length Mr.. Shows connection with tele-
graphy. he beng the one to build the first wire
Cape Cod Mr.. Snow also invented wire of great
ductility and of which thousands of miles were
sold and which was in use for seven or eight
years. after which time its manufacture was dis
continued owing TO certain defects. The Postal
Telegraph Company was finally consolidated with
the Gray harmonic system, which was nothing but
a multiplication of the Morse system, Mr.. Alley
holding four-ffths of the stock OF this company,
which he agreed to turn over for Sl9,OO0OOo
worth Of Postal Telegraph bonds sd the MY whole ne eaR
INJURED against this consolidation, but the other
members of the company being IN favor the
consolidation was accomplished. Through the al
legged misrepresentation of Mr.. Alley, Mr. Snow
was induced to sign paper cancelling all claims
against Mr. Alley and Withdrawing the SUIT, put
Mr. Alley did not fulfil his agreement to give MI
Snow valuable considerations.
Chester Snow was the first witness, and testified
that he never received one cent for the loo bonds
TUNED M ey IL e M aad Rys %as
nection with Alley.
BARNsTABLE, Mass, April 14.-The trial of the
case of Snow VS.. Alley was continued In the. S9-
preme Court here today. Mr.. Snow again LOOK
the stand, and Hon. R. G. Ingersoll continued the
cross-examination, which was very rigid, but
failed to shake the testimony OF the plaintiff IN
the least.
York put in for the plaintiff, although origin
ally taken in the interest of the defendant, Rob-
ertS being one of three men who II IS claimed were
instrumental In defrauding Snow. fbis deposition
was strong denunciation of defendant, going to
show that he had used underhand means and
sharp methods, and that Alley received all these
bonds for Snow and failed to keep his agreement
to share them with Roberts.
After the Introduction of depositions corrobor-
alive of SHOWS testimony the plaintiff rested, and
Hon. H. NJ Knowton opened for the defense.
The defense first offered the deposition Of Henry
Cummings, vice president of the Postal Telegraph
Company, which was TO the effect that he saw
Snow sign the agreement to transfer the bonds TO
Alley 1t further stated that depOnent heard
Snow say that he had no doubt a Cape Cod jury
would give verdict against wealthy Boston
man, and that he could depend on his neighbors to
b alp him out
The deposition of Elisha Gray, inventor of the
Gray harmonic system, was presented to contra
dict Snow evidence relative to his opposition to
the consolidation ef the Postal and Gray har.
monte systems. He heard Snow complain that
Alley had not kept his agreement.
After other minor testimony Hon. John ID;
Alley took tie stand in his own defense. he had
never agreed to loan Snow $20,000 as the latter
testified, and had fulfilled every condition OF any
contract entered into by him. His testimony was
direct contradiction of the plaintiffs witnesses;
and he characterized the testimony OF Snow ana
others as entirely false.
Adjourned.