New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-15
AFTER THE SUGAR TRUST.
THE DISSOLUTION SUIT BEGUN.
THE METHODS OF THE GREAT MONOPOLY TO BE
LAID BARE

LAID BARE
Tho action for the dissolution Of the North River
Sugar Refining Company, begun by Attornoy-renera
Tabor was brought to trial before Justice Barrett
I'm the supreme Court yesterday. As there was no
dispute about the facts, and only questions oil law
were to be considered II agreed, after jury had
been obtained, that the evidence should De suo-
mitted to the Judge and the jury was discharged
until next week The state was represented py Inc
Attorney General assisted by General Roger Pryor
and wilram J. Iardner James c. Carter, John L.
Parsons and ex-Judge Charles p DAILY represented
the company After a consultation 1t was arranged
that after the evidence was all IN an adjournment
should be taken until November %, when the jury
Will be present the counsel will sum and the Judge
Will direct verdict after laying down the law
governing the case.
In his opening address Attorney General Tabor said
that the Sugar Rcfincres Company, otherwise known
IS the Sugar Trust, monopoly and that the de-
fcndant company was part and parcel OF that con-
Germ. By its connection with this monopoly the
defendant had gone out Of business in December 1887
and 1T had neglected to file annual report OF Its
business as required by Law. The defendant, by
entering the trust had placed all its stock In the
care OF the trustees Of the trust He claimed that
By this conduct the defendant had forfeited Its charter
and said he would ask for judgment annulling the
charter.
The first witness called by General Pryor, who
conducted the examination for the State, was George
Refining Company. lie was shown the deed Oh inc
Sugar Refneries Company CTrust.) He said he had
signed 1t in September 1887, as secretary OF 'ne
company on the authority of the stockholders anu
trustees. A resolution In the minute DOCK OF 'no
company was shown to the Witness by which com
mittce was appointed 10 effect consolidation with
the other sugar companies. He said that this resoiu
ton was rescinded afterwaId The entire STOCK OF
the company was subsequently, turned over 10 'onh
T. Searles jr. The stockholders Endorsed 1t in blank
and IL was delivered to him upon the receipt OF
1925, 900, which TO be divided among the STOCK
holders The business not conducted by searies
although he had the stock. The stockholders were
allowed under an agreement with him, to run the
refinery until January 1888, SO 10 work up their
stock
On cross-examination by Mr.. Parsons the witness
said in reply to question as to the practice oi
running the refinery in the winter that during the
thirty years of It's it had boon stopped only
once or twice.
Q.-when you stopped, II was always In the
winterl Ayes, sir. There was not as much de-
mand In winter for refined sugar as IN 'he sun1n ror
template closing the refinery during the winter OF
1ss7-'ss! A.-There was no Intention TO STOP
John f. Sc aries, who president, treasurer and
a stakeholder of the North River Sugar Refining
Company, and Is a member Of the Sugar Re
fnores Companys board and its secretary and treas
urcr, was the next witness. lie said he had trans
ferred tho stock of the defendant under an agree
ment with the subscribers that he should receive
certificates for it. All the persons mentioned in the
deed united In the agreement. lie received a
certificate Of 1895 900 and the stock was held sub
feet to the terms of the deed Of trust The amount
had been fixed By the person with whom he made
the bargain The Board Of Trustees did not fix The
amount he did not purchase the stock for him
self but with the agreement that he was to resell
it to the Sugar Refneries Company. The witness
said he did not know the annual product of refined
rJa UaS
sary to file a report for the North River Company
because there were no debts, liabilities and no
assets other than it's plant. Proceedings wero taken
in the Supreme Court to condemn the property of
the North River Company for a public park In
January last the company had no property and could
not do any business without outlay of 100000
or 5000 900. That outlay would have been total
loss unless the city awarded compensation for the
property No suggestion had ever been made as to
the discontinuance of the business. The Board
OF Directors had discussed the future OF the company
but no action had been taken. In every case each
person who signed the deed had the authority OF
all the stockholders of his company to do so. The
understanding was, and 1t was carried out, that no
certificates were to be issued until 1t was known
that all the stockholders assented TO the signing OF
the deed. The Trust Board had declared dividend
of . l-2 per cent for five months last April and
It had been paid Mr.. Moller recalled, said to At
torneyGeneral Tabor that when he left the company
800 900 pounds Of sugar a day-about 500 or 800
barrels. When the company stopped business 1t was
in better condition than ever before. CrosSeX-
amined by Mr.. Parsons, the witness said that the
company had not been doing business at a loss the
last two or three years of its existence. Its busi-
ness had been poor and there had been loss IN
some years. The Havemeyer Elder Company turned
out about 5000 barrels Of sugar day. The last
dividend declared by the North River Company was
on January 10, 1882 and was per cent. Mr..
searles was recalled and replied to questions by
General Pryor as follows:
Q-Is there any raw sugar refinery company
I'm the city State Of New-York whose stock has
not been transferred this Board? A.-Not re-
fneries that recognized as sugar rehnerles.
Q-Is there any refinery proper situated outside
of the State Of New-York whose stock has been
transferred TO this Board! Ayes, Sir
. Q-Are there any whose stock has not been trans
trredl Ayes, sir-the Franklin and one other OF
Philadelphia, the Revere, in Boston, and spreckles's
California refinery in San Francscoalso his refinery
now building in Philadelphia which he says will have
q capacity Of from one to two million pounds day.
The witness stated that the North River Com
pany received for its stock 100000 less Is per cent
which was reserved by the Board. This ended the
case so far the presentation Of testimony Is con-
cerncd.
NOBLE WORK FOR THE BELIEF OF CRIPPLES.