The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-02
ELECTRIC TROUBLE
The San Mateo Company
Sued.
The Thomson Houston Company
Wants Its Pay for the Plant
1t Furnished.

A replevn suit was filed yesterday
against the San Francisco and San Mateo
Electric Railway Company by the Thorn
On-HouSton Electric Company to recover
possession of the dynamos and electric APP
paratus used in the power house and cars of
the company or their value, which they
estimate at 100000, besides $40, 900 for dam
ages incurred 10 the machinery while in the
possession Of the defendants.
A bond of S2OO,0 900 was required from the
plaintiffs before the Sher # would place an
attachment on the plant. This was promptly
secured, but the names OF the bondsmen
were withheld.
The plaintiffs aver in the complaint that
the railway company purchased certain
personal property to the amount afOre-
stated, with the promise of paying for the
same within stated period, and that the
defendants have not complied with their
agreement, which expired seven months
ago.
Therefore, they found it necessary TO pc
titi0n the court to make an order requiring
the defendant corporation to pay the
amount named 10 the plaintiffs il the prop
erty is not returned, with an additional
$4,000 damages.
c. c. Butler could not be found last even
ing, but it is understood that he will en-
deavor to compromise the suit if it lies in
Behrend Joost, president of the electric
railway, was seen at the company's office at
Thirtieth and Guerrero streets, and when
asked by CALL reporter concerning the
trouble he said:
81 have nothing to say concerning the
snit, except that il is a severe blow TO the
railway company. l did not suppose that
the Thomson-H custom corporation would
ect SO hastily in the matter; but, neverthe-
less, we will probably arrange matters in
such manner as to satisfy all parties con-
cerned.
ITO give you brief history of how this
debt was contracted Will probably explain
matters which have heretofore been mis-
represented. You see when the road was
first organized we made contract with the
Sunnyside Construction Company for
them TO furnish all necessary cleo
trcal appliances, and to construct
twenty-one miles of road including the line
to Golden Gate Park and Baden. for 81, 900, =
600 In bonds. The construction company,
of which c. G. Butler is president, then
entered into contract with the Thomson
Houston Company for electric equipments
costing $780, $50. OF this amount, the sum
of $4,000 has been paid.
The Thomson Houston Company there
fore have lien to the amount of balance,
$3.50, as per stipulatiOns in the contract
on the construction, represented almost en-
tirely by G. c. Butler. This indebtedness is
therefore on the part OF the construction
company and was not directly created by the
San Francisco and San Mateo Company.
I'm the construction of the road there has
been expended the sum of $780, COO cash, of
which amount the leading spirit, c. C. But
Ter, advanced 500, 900 at the rate of is per
cent per annum, the balance being fur
nished by my brother, Fabian Joost, and
myself. For Buffers loan to his own COM
| pany he is secured by 400 bonds held by
him In trust therefor.
During the past few months MIR. Butler
has been seized with the desire TO control
the railway company, of which he is in
reality merely a stock holder and secondary
in interest to myself and brother.
I'm pursuance of the desire that possessed
him he began course of intimidations
toward efficient officers. He circulated
stories regarding the physical as we'll
as the financial condition of the
road and by other means endeavored
to create the impression that the property
was being deprecated by the management,
all with the purpose, as was evident to
those familiar with his whole career in San
Francisco for the past thirty years or more,
OF imposing his Shylock grasp on this val
liable property.
The only explanation that may be Of
fered by his friends for such a course on his
part is that his faculties have been affected
by worry and old age. he being now past 70
years.
Il have nothing further to say than that
Il would be pity to see such a valuable
franchise sacrificed, thereby causing a re-
newal OF the Inconvenience 20 the many
suburban residents for fifteen or sixteen
miles along the line Of this road"
II Is probable that the suit will be settled
without further litigation.