Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-05
PACIFIC COAST NEWS GLEAN|NGS,
A Big Suit Involving San Pedro
Harbor improvements.
Property Worth Several Million
Dollars in Litigation.
Mise Ayres' Death Still shrouSed in
Mystery-Strong Circumstane1ai
Evidence Against Engin-
eer Jefreys.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
SAN FRANcIsco, Jan. Ar. @. Saufiey
has brought suit against the San PEDRO
Harbor, Dock and Land association and
the Pacific Improvement company, In
which he makes numerous allegations
of more or less general interest. Tne
complaint is of formidable dimensions,
but in substance it is as follows: In
1888 j. w. Pearson, business manager
OF the San Pedro Harbor, Dock and
Land association, held in trust for w. E.
Brown 2O, 900 shares of capital stock OF
the corporation, to be transferred to the
company upon the payment OF $2s OoO
to Brown. The Pacific Improvement
company was desirods to gain control
of the San Pedro company, so Sauttey
alleges, and held $4,000 shares. 1t
was agreed to pay Brown S2o,-
600 for his shares, and Pearson
agreed to give the Pacific Improvement
company 1000 OF his $5U, 600 shares, pro-
yiding the remaining 5000 would be
on-assessable. A written contract was
entered into by all the interested par
ties, by the terms of which the directors
of the Pacific Improvement company
pledged themselves upon gaining con-
troll of the San Pedro harbor corpora
ton to build railroad to San Pedro; TO
build dock and hotel, and ito use all
their influence and do all proper things
to'influence the United States govern
ment to carry out the plans laid out and
approved by Colonel Mendell, United
States engineer on che Pacific coast, for
improvements OF said San Pedro hsrbor,
and shall never do any act or thing to
close up, obstruct or prevent the full de-
yelopment and use of said harborto the
greatest possible advantage to the peo-
pie of the southern portion of the state
of California"
The stock was then delivered to the
Pacific Improvement company, Saufiey
SAYS the corporation has failed to keep
its part OF the contract, and has not
constructed the wharf, railroad or hotel,
but on the contrary the directors have
entered into pilots, plane, schemes and
combinations with persons adverse to
the harbor of San Pedro"
1t is further asserted that no influence
was brought to bear upon the federal
officials. The Pacific Improvement COM
pany wished to control the entire water
front of San Pedro. The San Pedro
company paid dividend then amount
ing TO s2.362s per share. The 10000
shares were conveyed by Brown, he re-
eeiving $47, 1888 therefor. On May 23,
1892, Brown conveyed his claim to
Sauaey. 1t is asserted that $25, 900 was
never paid Brown, and that the 20 900
shares are now worth about 81, ,0O0, 900.
Saufev sues to recover the dividend
of S47 1888 and to regain possession of
the 10000 shares, and for an ac-
counting.
Sauhey also brings another suit
against the same defendants in which
he reiterates all the allegations OF the
foregoing complaint, and adds that if
the Pacific Improvement company did
not keep its contract Brown was to have
his 20, 900 shares returned to him, and
was also to have the option of purchas.
ing TIE remaining 81, Geo shares of capi
tai stock Sauhey asks TO be allowed to
purchase that stock for $240,000.