Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-03-02
q. W HUNTS SUIT.

The Well known Railroad Builder Brinss
. %. 900, 900 Suit Against the Receivers
OF the Northern Pacific.
A new chapter in the career Of nota-
BILE man was opened Tuesday by the
fling of a suit in the federal court in
Seattle 1t il that OF George w. Hunt,
the famous railroad builder, who sues
the Northern Pacific railroad for S.
OOO, 900 damages. The history Of the
case dates back to 1891. when Hunt was
in the heydey Of his successes in railroad
constitution in Eastern Washington and
Oregon and at time when the eyes Of
the western world were focused upon
him.
A week ago petition was presented to
Judge Hanford in Seattle for leave to
bring the suit, but he denied this on the
ground that it could not be done on an
ex parte statement. The attorneys for
the road were then notified of the suit and
Yesterday at Tacoma the petition was
again presented.
Hunt is represented by Williams,
Wood 4 Linthicum and j. W. Whalley
of Portland and Hastings & Stedman Of
Seattle.
James Ashton represented the road
yesterday, and Hunt was represented by
the Seattle firm. Mr.. Ashton objected to
the granting of the petition on the
grounds that the plaintiff should be com
PEELED to present his claim and have it
adiudicated in the cause in which the re-
ceivers were appointed and not in q
separate suit. Judge Hanford ruled
against him and permitted the petitioner
to bring the suit, and the papers will &C.
cordingly be filed this morning.
Mr.. Hunt brings his suit to recover
damages for losses suffered by reason Of
an attachment which he alleges was
fraudulently sued out against him by the
railroad. In 1891 he owed the Northern
Pacific SAC, 900 and the attachment of his
properties was secured at time when he
was actively engaged in railroad con.
struction, and all his plans were frus-
t-ated, his subsidies lost and his mills
and camps shut up.
, Mr.. Hunt was the owner OF the roads
known as the Hunt system in Eastern
Washington and Oregon and was build
ing the road from Centralia to Gray's
Harbor. He had 5000, 900 subsidies
: promised and at the time was in New
York negotiating bonds for the purpose
of carrying on his extensive construction.
The Northern Pacific alleged in their
suit, 30 MIR. Hunts complaint states,
that he had absented himself from his
usual place and had practically alb
seconded and was trying to dispose Of his
1 properties to defraud his creditors, es-
) pecially the Northern Pacific This Mr.
? Hunt now claims was false and known
to he by the Northern Pacific and Il. W.
Dickinson, who made the allegations al
3. the time. The attachment proceedings
1 were advertised at the instance OF the
railroad company throughout the coun
, try, and his sale OF bonds, which was
. about consummated. was destroyed
, thereby and he WAS unable to continue
a construction and employ labor to earn
his subsidies, and his credit was &C
: ruined that he was unable to engage ia
his profession as railroad contractor and
constI uctor.
Mr.. Hunt had an immense working
plant and had number OF saw mills
j. two of which were in Thurston county
:, which we're reasonably worth 500, 900
: In his statement Of alleged losses Mr.
. Hunt estimates the value of the many
:, subsidies promised him at the time the
:. suit was brought, as we'll as the reason
= able value Of the railroads and the grea
value of credit which a man in his posi-
= . ton is possessed of.
Mr.. Hunt also claims that his debt t.
: the Northern Pacific at the time wa
! wholly secured. The present officers O
. the Northern Pacific, it is said, do no
g approve of the action of the former off
% GERS in suing out the attachment. MIR
:, Hunt visited Seattle last week, when hi
a first petition was presented to the court