Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-01

A CELEBRATED CASE.
Third Trial of the Snit OF Chester Snow
Against ex.COngressman Alley.
BARNsTABLE, Mass, Nov.

BARNsTABLE, Mass, Nov. 80
The celebrated case OF Chester Snow OF
Hsarich, against eX-Congressmsn John B.
Alley of Lynn, came up for the third time il
the superior court today, Chief Justice Brig
ham on the bench. The plaintiff is repre-
sented by John NJ. Mortol of Fall River anc
Judge Hiram Hainu. Whit the counsel for
Alley are Hon. Hosea NJ. knowlton and Geo.
o. Shattuck Of Boston. The case is An ac-
ton of tort brought to recover Sl5O,O00 fol
$50 postal telegraph bonds, which were
claimed to have been obtained from the
plaintiff BY promises of the defendant whicl
were never fulfilled. To which the defend
ant denies each and every allegation ther il
contained. After the jury had oeen empsn-
el.ed, Judge Hanimsn reviewed the case for
the plaintiff. Snow began the IN tnutacture
of wire, patented by Moses G. Palmer.
composed Of a steel core covered with cop
per which Snow perfected in June, 1881.
The Postal reiegraphic Co. was formed and
the Electrographic Manufacturing Company
which was formed in 1871,
based on the Legg automatic system
of telegrsphy by which 500 or 1900 words a
minute could be sent over the wire WAS
merged into the postal company.
Parties interested in this company formed
a syndicate and advanced the plaintiff $50,
900 and subsequently, $40, 900 on his factor,
at AnsOnia, which Snow obtained from Wal
lace & Son.
The Postal Telegraph Co was formed with
5000 900 in bonds and S2l ,000, 900 in stock
with which the company and Snow entered
into a contract Jany. l3 and conveyed his
factory aud machinery, but not his wire. Al
ley controlled multiple system, by which
one wire would do the work of several under
Tt,. al HI
ic.
March 10, 1882. when the Postal Co. wa,
organized, Snow was director, but subsequent
ly resigned and was not memoer at the tim
of the purchase of the Gray Harmonic. and
objected to the transaction.
Some time in April Alley went to George
ID. Roberts of New York and said, Il think
We ought to get some bond, from Snow, aud
think If you can get Cummins to assist you
we can get them"
Snow met them at Alleys rooms in New
York when Alley Informed Snow that it wa
grand scheme. Alley said he must have
$3.50, 600 of bonds for his influence Snow
declined to advance S75, 900, an equal sum
with Cummins. Snow wanting the money
offered Alley Sl50,000 of bonds if he would
advance him $20, 900 on the bonds under lieu
in the Farmers Loan & Trust Co. and SIG,
600 for personal use. Snow signed the paper
which he supposed contained the verbal
agreement made few days previous, but
did not receive either the bonds or money.
Alley denied that he ever made such an
agreement; kept putting Snow off and later
forced him to so bonds to raise money for
% cents On a dollar.
Chester Snow, plaintiff, was the first wit
ness to the facts as related by the counsel in
his opening. The witness said that the Postal
Telegraph Co. never had any cash capital
When Incorporated the stock was valued at
$3.50, 0,oC0 and was soon after increased to
50 100000. Adjourned until tomorrow.