The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-01
THE onNrRAL's LATEST SUIT.
An Insider Explains Some Things
About Il.

An Insider Explains Some Things
About It.
The movement TO wrest the Port Royal
and Augusta railroad from the hands Of
the Central is causing considerable com
ment among those interested in Central
properties.
| There is considerable salty gossip as TO
who are back of the effort. 1t was said
/ yesterday on pretty good authority that
| Maj. Thomas p Branch of Augusta and
Pat Calhoun of Atlanta are the chief
movers in the scheme backed by several
lesser lights. The whole thing, it is claimed,
IS an effort to speculate in and boom prop
erty at Port Royal, where the Branch-Cal-
houn party has large holdings
ALEX g. King, whose name is signed to
the bill OF complaint as one OF the attor-
neys," said gentleman yesterday, in speak
ing Of the Port Royal matter. lis a partner
of MIR. Calhoun's, in the law firm of Cal
| houn, King & Spalding of Atlanta. AM
other noticeable thing is that the affidavit
OF Henry b. King of Augusta, one Of the
parties to the bill, who, by the way, is no
relation Of Alex A. King, is sworn
to before Ridgeway Smith, who is
Maj Branch's private secretary and chief
factotum, and in all likelihood the affidavit
was taken right in Maj. Branchs Office.
Maj, Branch has been working on this line
& long time
Several years ago he bought up q lot of
bonds OF the Port Royal and Augusta rail-
way and threatened to enter suit against
the Central railroad to recover the amount
OF the bonds. The Central railroad direc-
tors regarded Maj. Branch as taking a very
undue advantage, but all the same he
secured large sum Of money out Of them
IN exchange for his bonds.
''Those interested in the Central acquainted
with this fact have not felt very kindly to
ward Maj. Branch since. l have it on good
authority that the actual holdings of Maj.
I Branch, Mr.. Calhoun and their associates
in Port Royal and Augusta railroad stocks
and bonds do not amount TO $40 900 actual
cash invested.
about year ago Pat Calhoun, Mai.
Branch and others purchased a large
amount Of property at Port Royal
from the Appletons of Boston, paying
therefor, il is said, 100000. They
started out to boom Port Royal
with great hurrak, but Port Royal did
not boom, and they still have their property
on their hands
1.-The scheme now is to wrest the Port Royal
and Augusta railway from the Central, use
1t to boom Port Royal, and then sell their
property at big prices to those who will be
attracted by the glowing newspaper ac-
counts or the future IN store for Port ROYAL
1t is a great scheme for those in it and hurts
nobody from their standpoint except the
Central railroad"
w. j. Verdier who is the attorney asso-
ciated with Mr. A. c. King in the suit, &C.
cupied seat il the last South Carolina
legislature as a member from Beaufort
county. He introduced a resolution max
ing charges against the conduct Of the
Port Royal and Augusta railway by the
Central railroad and calling upon the attor-
ney general of the state to investigate these
abuses. The resolution was passed and a
day set for the investigation.
The attorney general met Mr.. Conner
and his counsel at Beaufort on the day ap-
pointed and Mr.. Verdier was called upon to
make his charges and submit his evidence.
Mr. Verdier said he had no charges TO
make and made none, aud the attorney
general so reported to the governor. Mr..
Verdter is now one Of the attorneys bring
ing the bill of complaint