The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-06
THE BRIDGE LAW SUIT
The Theme upon Every Tongue in
the City Yesterday
TIE PLAINTIFFS ARE RETICENI,
But say they Expect to Prove Every
Allegation of their Petition Filed
OH wcdncsday,,c Curiosity as to how
the Company Secured tho Informa'
ton on which tho Suit is Based.


1t has been u long time indeed since
rs great a sensation has been produced
in Wheeling, in all circles, as by the
publication in the papers yesterday
morning Of the particulars Of the suit
brought by the Wheeling Bridge Cons
many to recover $4,000, alleged to have
been fraudulently obtained from the
company by John NJ, Sweeney, Ferris 4
Kaufman, w. D. UptegratF and Will
liam p, Hubbard. It was the topic OF
conversation everywhere all day.
The main interest seemed to center iti
the question how the company secured
ihe information on which the charges
in It's petition are based, and partlcu'
iarly, tho alleged copy Of the agreement
which it is charged was made ny the
five defendants. Several theories were
advanced, more or less plausible, One
WAS TINT one Of the Pittsburgh parties,
having nothing to lose and everything
10 gain, had given tho information,
Another idea was that a we'll known
,nan formerly employed on the prclim.
mary work OF organizing the company
had betrayed the confidence Of friends,
but none Of the rumors could be con-
tirmed.
THE ATTORNEYS INTERVIEWED.
All the representatives OF the COM
many who were seen declined to talk
much about the matter, referring the
reporters to Caldwell. & Caldwell, the
attorneys who brought the suit for tho
company. Mr., Alfred Caldwell was
called on, and asked II there was any
new information about the suit, that
Said Mr., Caldwell: az do not know
anything that IL not embodied In that
petition. That is o very long petition,
and contains q great many interesting
facts" ~
"Mr. Caldwell, how did the company
get tic information and documents on
which the petition ia based% .,n,
Mr.. Caldwell smiled, and said: "Ihat
isaprivate matter | cannot enter into
now."
There are about fifty stockholders IN
tho company, hut only eight or ten
hold ANYTHING like large blocks OF stock.
A little later Mr.. Caldwell added:
1--WE expect to be able 10 prove every
allegation contained in that bill. II we
were not sure OF our ground as to any
drtail Of that statement we would not
make It, because ina matter at this
magnitude it would not be right OF
safe"
Schmulbach had Investigated the
charges thoroughly before no would
consent to make oath to the petition.
WHAT TuE rtAiNriFF KNOWS.
Mr. j. E. Hughes, who was one Of the
incorporatora OF the Wheeling Bridge
Company, and still holds a large block
OF the stock, was called on by m INTEL
IIdBNcGR reporter yesterday afternoon,
but did not seem disposed 70 talk about
the case. He said no had no knowl'
edgo OH tho subject that was not en-
bodied in the statements made IN the
Tho reporter said he had heard Il
suggested that Ferris & Kaufman had
not only helped others TO secure an OK
cessiyc amount from the company, but
had also secured for themselves a por'
ton Of the other money by deceiyinl
tho other parties to the secret agree
ment
NO." said Mr.. Hughes; "that is MOI
true. We know to cent what the diff
iarent parts Of tho work cost Ferris 4
Kaufman. They lost $1,000 on the
bridge at the contract price less th'
Sl25,000."
Nevertheless there arc engineers ant
contractors who say that $500, 900 wa
an excessive estimate for the work. 1
will be remembered that there werl
some unusual items OF cost, however,
growing cut Of the high water aud tht
like.
Tho former comment on the fact tina
the company allowed the contractors t.
be their own engineers and Inspector
is now revived. II certainly was an un
usual arrangement.
Mr.. Hughes declined to say how the
now board OF directors became possess
cd Of tho information and documents
in its hands, but he said the statement
in the declaration we're so fortified ant
the evidence so complete that he wa
sure no statement in it couldbe success
fully denied,
President schmulbach was seen, bu
refused TO talk for publication, relerrtnl
tho reporter to Caldwell & Caldwell
the company's attorneys.
Three still Alarms.