The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-12-08
A MILLION IN FINES
w. A. Bunce Begins Suits
Against Corporations for
Technical Violation
of Laws.
BUILDING AND LOANS THREATENED
Steps to Be Taken to Put a Stop
to the Wholesale Litigation
In This City,

w. A. Bruce of No. 25S Broadway,
who claims that not less than ten thou
sand corporations of this State are liable
to a penalty of 5000 ench for failing to
file annual reports with the Secretary of
State, as required by law, and who has
grought suit against all but a few of
the corporations in Jersey City, has stir
red up veritable hornets nest among
the local disciples of Blackstone. Bruce
according to law is entitled to at least
SlOo from each of the 1876 corporations
in this State for becoming informer, and
with a view of realizing something like
$4,000, has engaged Attorney Frank c.
Smith, of New York City, to fight the
cases in the various courts of the State.
The amount involved brings the suits
within the jurisdiction of the district
courts and the cases will be fought there.
The first of the Jersey City cases will
be fought in Judge Puster's court on
Thursday next. Meanwhile the corpora
tions who are in danger are letting no
grass grow under their feet, and as a
result there are few Jersey City lawyers
who are not directly interested. num-
ber of Jersey City lawyers have been
engaging them to fight the cases for
Bruce in the local courts, but all those
approached have refused point blank to
take any part in the fight as represen-
tatives of Bruce.
TO BRING SMITH TO TERMS.
one lawyer suggested this morning that
an attempt be made to bring Smith to
terms by charging him with instigating,
for personal gain, the suits commenced
by Bruce. Smith, who appears in the
cases, is engaged in business with Bruce
and they conduct a corporation collection
agency Smith is also the editor OF the
American Lawyer" a prosperous law
journal. In all probability meeting OF
the lawyers interested in the Jersey city
CORPORATIONS will be held next week and
preparations made to fight the matter
1t has been suggested that when the
cases are called before the court each
corporation sued apply for a trial by
Jury, demanding that plaintiff pay the
Jury expenses. This would mean an ad-
ditional expense to Bruce of over $500
cash, and if this plan were followed in
all the cases it would involve an outlay
of So 500 for the cases so far commenced.
A number of lawyers are examining the
papers on file in the District Court.
searching for technical errors, and nu-
rnerous defects have already been dis
covered which may possibly result in
non-suits causing Bruce 10 re-commence
every action. This, if effected, will mean
an additional outlay of S1,eo0 for Bruce
1t is said that an application will be
made to the Chancellor for an injunc-
ton restraining Bruce from proceeding
with the cases on the ground that the
wholesale method adopted is contrary to
the spirit of the statute and against pub
lie policy.
MR.. KELVEY'S ACTION.
Secretary of State Kelsey has been
called upon by Bruce's representative
who has been furnished with the infor-
nation upon which the actions are based
The lawyers find no fault with the Sec
retary of State on this account, his ac-
ton being simply ministerial and in ac-
cordance with law. If all the above
plans of checkmating Bruce fail to ac-
complish the desired end specific case
will be selected and certioraried to the
Supreme Court where a vigorous light
will be made This will tie up matters
for year or more and will entail an ad-
ditional expense upon Bruce. AT the
same time application will be made in
Chancery for an injunction restraining
the proceedings of the other cases until
the certiorari is decided.
The matter is of the utmost Importance
to the residents of this city as all the
Building and Loan Associations are in
cluded in Bruces action.
The New eJrsey Law Diary for 1894
dcss not contain the name of Frank
Sn n among the list of Attorneys en-
titled to practice in this State and the
Attorneys for Corporations affected
will apply to the Clerk of the Supreme
Court to ascertain whether he ever was
admitted to practice in this State. If his
. name does not appear on the Supreme
Court list, objection will be made to his
appearing in the suit.
The firm of Morehead & Fish of No
2O6 Broadway New York. has also taker
up number of these cases, presumably
in the interest of the same party whom
Mr.. Smith represents. Representatives
of the firm have approached several loca
attorneys with a view of having then
appear as attorneys of record in theil
cases, but not with no better success
than Mr.. Smith.
Bruce and Smith, together with Cope
land and Lee, attorneys of Rutherford
visited the District Court yesterday ant
were in the act of substituting the firm
name of Copeland & Luce for that o.
Smith on the pleadings, when mum
Der of the local lawyers interested ap
paared on the scene and raised objec
tion to the changing of the court rec
ord. The lawyers threatened to have
Bruce and Smith indicted. Bruce gav'
up the task upon this threat, but hi:
work had been practically completed
Bruce discovered that objection viii
be mat Smith appearing as counse
and for t.-Is reason has enlisted Copeland
and Luce as his counsel.
CITY NEWS NOTES.