The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-21
Allegation of S. A. L. officers
Regarding Mr.. J. H. Winder'
FOR 100000 LIBEL.
Mrs. Winder Brings Suit Tor
Defamation of Character.
Pres, Hoffman's Private Carr Chained
TO the Track--Passed Through
Raleigh Yesterday--Mr. Winder
Deposed from the Presi-
dency of the Atlanta
Belt Line.

D6tt LtEiCs
Mr.. John III. Winder has been finally
deposed from the presidency OF the
Atlanta Belt Lime railroad. This sey-
ers entirely his connection with the
Scaboard Air Line.
When the late Maj. John Winder re-
signed the vice-presidency and Mr.. H.
st. John, of Chicago, was elected to
fill the vacancy, THE conflict between
the Hoffman and the Winder interests
in the Seaboard Air Line began And
since that time, unceasing war has
been waoed, increasing in bitterness
as the months went by. At last Mr..
John Fl. Winder was removed from his
position as general manager of the sys-
TEN. Mr.. Winder remained president
of the Seaboard Belt Line, at Atlanta.
But a meeting of the directors of the
Belt Line was held in Atlanta Friday.
at which the office of president was
declared vacant, and Mr.. r. c. Hoffman
elected to that position.
Later a meeting of the stockholders
was held, and they ratified the action
of the directors.
Mr. Winder has now in court suit
against Mr.. Hoffman and other officers
of the Seaboard Air Line.
WHAT MIR. WINDER CHARGES.
The bill filed by Mr.. Winder, alleges
that he was elected president OF the
company on November, Is, 1895, to
serve for one year, and that he dis
charged the duties of his office until
May 10, 1896.
That by virtue of the bylaws of the
COMPANY, the directors should hold one
ffSfrId hn aal led
together in special or adjourned meet
ings, ait such times and in such places
as the president might deem proper
and for the interest of the company.
That a meeting was held in Balti-
more Nav 10Th, at which r. c. Hoffman,
yice-president of the road, directed the
secretary and the treasurer TO refuse
access to the books to Mr.. Winder, and
turn the books over to l.. R. Watts, who
is not in any way connected with the
Belt Line road.
That there has been no request or
communication on the part of any dl-
rector or stock holder in said COM
pany to call any special meetings of
the directors thereof, since the first
day of January, 1896; that notwith-
standing said facts, on the 30th day of
April John M. Sherwood, the defend
ant above alleged, signing himself as
secretary of the Seaboard Air Line
Belt Railroad company, by virtue of
some pretended authority from the
xice-president of his company, under
took TO call special meeting of the
baord of directors thereof, to be held
in the city of Baltimore at the office
of the president: that Immediately
upon its receipt, on the 10th day of
May, 1896, your complainant, as presi-
dent of said company, sent to X. G.
Hoffman, ait Baltimore, Md; E. ST.
John, at Portsmouth, Va; r. f. Hoke,
at Raleigh, N. c.; l.. r. Watts, at Ports
mouth Va; NJ. Frank, Thomas A.
Grambling, John A. Smith and w. NJ
Kelly, ait Atlanta, Ga, they being the
directors of the said company, the fol-
lowing telegram, to-wit: referring to
secretary's notice of 18th, there will be
no meeting in Baltimore on 10th. Call
illegal. VIII call melting at request of
any director.
JOHN H. WINDER,
President S. A. LIB. r. r.
WHAT THE DIRECTORS ALLEGE.
The S. A. L. people make grave char
ges against Mr.. Winder:
AT this meeting the following reso-
buttons were passed and forwarded to
him:
Resolved, That the general counsel
of the Seaiboard Air Line he requested
to write a letter to the late general
manager, Mr.. John II. Winder, and ask
for an explanation of the following
matters:
'Of the $4,000 paid Oyerton q Dunn,
to yacate lease, when the same was re-
quested to pay for grading, as per en-
gineer'sestimate, in his telegram of
May %, 1894, 30 r. C. Hoffman, presi-
dent.
"2.Why did he not conclude the pur-
chase of the lot from Kentz, he having
asked $1,000 with which to pay for
same, as per his letter of December
9th, 1892, to r. C. Hoffman, president
80. Why he paid $50, 900 for a portion
of property when the entire property
was offered for 500, 900, and why So, 900
was paid by the company, when the
owners of the property only received
$4,000 therefor.
81. An explanation of the inaccura-
cies of the plat of -- referred TO in his
letter to r. c. Hoffman, president, June
10th, 1894, as compared with surveys of
such property, subsequently made.
N VI t1 SOpJ " ~ ''~hANi~s
Secretary.
THE TROUBLE IN ATLANTA.
AT the meeting in Atlanta Friday
President Winder called the meeting to
order, and when the resolution was
passed declaring the office vacant, Mr..
Winder withdrew under protest.
1t is claimed that 499 out OF 500
shares of stock were represented in
the stockholders meeting that ratified
the action of the directors.
The Atlanta Journal says:
Neither Mr.. Hoffman nor Mr.. st.
John would talk, but Judge Watts was
not so reticent He said that Mr..
Winder had ceased TO be a stakeholder
in THE road, and therefore could not
hold Office, and was accordingly ousted
and his successor chosen.
Mr.. Winder was seen after the meet
ing, and was asked what had occurred:
Il was present" said he, land called
the meeting to order. l presided until
a resolution declaring the Office of
president vacant was offered and car
ried, after which / retired under pro-
test. In the resolution it was alleged
that / was ineligible to the office of
president because | had no stock in