The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-25
CBNTRAES BIG Fight.
A BELIEF THAT The LEASE WILL
BIZ BROKEN.
Capt. RaouI or Col. Phinizy to Take
the Helm.

The speyer Loan the Principal Finan-
clal Rock in the Roads Path TO a
Renewal of It's Former Prosperity.
A Graphic Story of the Opening Pro-
.eedings in the Court at Macon-In-
teresting Tabular Statements of the
Roads Assets and Liabilities.
MACON, GA, March 24.-The prelimi-
naries Of the greatest legal battle on rail-
with to-day and the decks cleared for &C
tion tomorrow. Immense piles of legal
documents and statistics bearing on the
case were filed, the most important of
which are analysed for the MORNING NEWS.
Tomorrow will be devoted to argument.
Ali six of the attorneys are expected to
speak, Messrs Rountree, Irwin and
Bacon for the compliments. and Messrs.
Lawton. Cunningham and Jackson for the
defendants. 1t is doubted il the argument
will be concluded tomorrow. The appoint-
ment Of a receiver is regarded as
a certainty here and the only discussion is
upon the man. Capt. Raoul is favored by
Mr.. Roun tree and q large party Of stock
holders, including some of the directors
Hon. Daniel Speer is being pushed by the
Atlanta party, and Col. G. II. Phinizy is
urged by many stockholders and directors.
1t is thought to be between Capt Raoul and
Col Phin1zy. The directors themselves ac-
knowledge the probability OF the appoint
ment of a receiver, or, at least, the break
ing Of the lease, and some of them say they
are not sorry for it. They are thoroughly
dlsgusted with the whole course of
the Richmond and Danville since taking
control of the Central, and the
only question with them now is how to get
loose from it in the best possible shape.
They acknowledge that they have been
badly disfgured by their contract with the
Danville. They would like to see the road
returned to the hands of the directors and
the Richmond and Danville held to strict
accounting. They do not propose TO be
bulldozed into paying any accounts not
legally due. A prominent lawyer who has
not vet taken hand in the case said yester-
day that as soon as 1t is seen that per-
ulhucAb ECCClfOA 40 GSAAk w 10 0pPOAnbcQ
the fur will begin TO fly. Every one
of the various interests represented at the
hearing will clamor for recognition, he said,
and special protection will be requested tor
each one. The SpeYer loan contract is
looked on as the principal rock in the roads
future path now.
OPENING OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
The judges entered the court room
promptly at 10 o'clock, Judge Pardee pre-
cediug. Judge Speer took his usual seat in
his easy chair, and Judge Pardee sat in a
chair on his right. Marshal Corbett
opened the court in the usual form. The
court room was crowded when the judges
entered. Inside the bar sat great array
Of legal talent. Among the lawyers
were Capt. Harry jackson, repre-
Senting the Richmond and Danville and
Georgia Pacific; Marion Erwin and D. W.
Rountree. the complainauts; Maj A. O.
Bacon, the intervenor; Capt. Il. G. Cum
ningham and A. R. Lawton, Jr., the
counsel for the Central; Judge William D.
Harden and G. N. West, representing a
large number Of minority stockholders;
Judge A. Pratt Adams, representing South
western stockholders; Julien T. Davies and
Charles Beaman of New York, representing
the Mutual Life Insurance Company and
Speyer & Co.; Maj. Joseph B. Cumming
and Joseph Ganahl, the Central and Georgia
railroad counsel at Augusta; W. II. Brannen
and John Peabody of Columbus, division
counsel Of the Central; Frank H. Miller,
representing Augusta and Savannah stock
holders; John W.. Weed OF New York. rep
fesenting stockholders of that city; III.
Joline of the general counsel of the Central
f1Nt,avN -
Ing and Judge Henry B. Tompkins of At
anta; A. Minis of Savannah, and members
Of the Macon bar.
THE CENTRAL's OFFICIALS.
President Alexander, Cashier T. NJ. Cum
bingham, Directors George J. Mills, E. P.
lowell, U. B. Harold and @. H. PhinizY
occupied seats inside the railing, as did also
SSopt. McBee, Supt. Dill. Judge Banks of
Columbus, president of the Mobile and
Girard. and H. H. King of Savannah, clerk
the United States court.
tnt
delegates from the employees at Savannah,
1acon, Columbus aud Augusta were also
present. at the hearing, but had no legal
representatives. They had conferred with
.u1ge Speer and Judge Pardee and are
care Of.
Judge Pardee announced that the court
cOuid hear the case Of Mrs. Rowena NJ.
afk against the Central Railroad and
ppaaking Company of Georgia ct. al. Judge
.ardee spoke 10 low tone of voice and
"sspeared ~ to be suffering from recent attack
:" the grip.
RoUNrREE TAKES THE FLOOR,
4 mt Rountree Immediately arose and said
tba' 'ney were ready. but before opening
b s1oe ~ gaSe desired to know if any answer
III wV4o be made by the Richmond and Dam
q ,a a Mr. Rountree named the papers
ssuested Al In the bill all the leases. contracts
4 ~ agreements between the Central
P1I'troed, the Georgia Pacific, the
Teutnond and Danville, and the Richmond
a. AZ lnlnal and their leased lines interested,
a.. ~ laso eso the charters Of the Georgia Pacific,
Mohmond and Dauville and the Rich
n ~ terminal asked for in the amendment
apt jackson announced that he ap-
Gu ior the Richmond and Danville and
rsaaka facitlc, and stated that he was
Wa 20 make showing. The Terminal
- uot represented. He announced that
Of IL sapera desired that were in possession
D,s,Gl Duo ,GleoFgia Pacific and Richmond and
uoet ne 1' were present, but IS 70 the RichN
NJ terminal he could make no answer.
trsc, Aountree asked tor copy OF the con-
O.. uy which tho Richmond and Danville
Cs1, the CENTRAL railroad.
trs,,pt. aekson said there was no such con-
Hl., being provided Ia the lease that the
Of a. pAa aud Danvillo 8hould take charge