The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-05
BILL DISMISSED.
Old 0 richard Camp Greund Case
Decided.
THE OFFICERS WERE AND ARE
CORRESPONDENCE HAPPY.

Judge Haskell Sees No Cause for Bill in
Equity and Orders 1t .Dismissed With
Costs."-A Lively Day in the Supreme
Court-Appeal May Be Taken.
The famous Old Orchard Camp Ground
feud which has assumed legal phase,
| involving an allegation of fraudulent
issue of stock, by suit in equity brought
by the Brown heirs, against the As
ISOLATION officers, was continued yester-
day in the Supreme Court before Justice
| Haskell
Continuing his testimony on
| cross examination Mr.. Luce
said he bad little to do with the
finances of the association but had served
on the finance committee several times
He told what he knew of the condition of
the treasury which brought out the fact
that at the time of the transaction Of the
| stocK he did not know within 5000 the
exact debt of the association. The ground
| was originally Methodist institution
with a Methodist constitution allowing
| only Methodist meetings to be held.
When il was proposed to hold temper
| anoe meeting Rev. DIR. Randall objected
on the ground that it was not allowable
under the constitution. Then the latter
was enlarged to allow meetings of vari-
Gus kinds. 1t had ceased to be strictly
| Methodist institution. The District
| Methodist body had no control of the
grounds and never had. He had been
| several times member of the finance
com mittee which examined the treas
| urer's books and accounts but the treas
urer did allathe financial business. He
had always made the annual trade with
the oston & Maine railroad for the re-
bate to the association from sale of tick
ets5to tho Old Orchard campsground.
| The witness was inclined to go slargely
into history and far. outside the scope of
and finally his counsel MIR. Knowlton
admonishsd him to simply answer
directly what was asked him. Later the
court admonished him also.
Testifying further Mr.. Luce gave some
of the most interesting testimony of the
case in regard to the issue Of new stock
whichithe plaintiff claims was fraudu-
lent.
! Mr.. Moulton asked:
"When this new stock was issued. did
not you offer any of it to Brown~
"No, don't think I did,"
"Did you pay for your new stock in
cash2''
81 had no new stock"
"Your son Arthur had some; did he
pay cash?''
"No he worked and paid for it in
labor. 1t was counted as cash."
"Mr. Lee paid for his in laborf''
"Yes.''
Mrs. Pnlmer's was paid for by being
| charged on the booksf"
81 don't know"
son May 81, 1895, the records show that
only eight of the thirteen members of
the executive committee were plesentp''
| 81 think all the members were noti-
| fed
"Had Mr.. Griffin deceased at that
| timer"
ST have forgotten the date of his
death. -
Mr.. Luce was next questioned about
the purchase of the Band of Hope park
and house which was to be used as n
boarding place in connection with the
grounds. He said the treasurer did this
and admitted the association Indefinitely
postponed proposition to buy it when it
was proposed at meeting. He was one
of the executors of the Brown estate. The
Band of Hope farm was in the estate of
Brown but was mortgased to loan and
building association which held a mort
gage which was forecosed or about to
be. The treasurer dealt with this loan
company.
The Judge observed that he failed to
see how this line of questioning was
material to the case but Mr.. MouIton
urged it was as showing a fragrant mis-
management of the officers in disobey-
ing the wishes and votes of majority
of the stock.
The witness claimed that as president
and chairman Of executive COMMITTEE ne
knew nothing of the legal purchase
the property which was all done by the
treasurer. He had talked with him of It,
These were all the important facts
brought out in his testimony.
MIR. Knowlton argued for the defendant
and in opening briefly summed up the
evidence of the defense. He started to
tell, in arguing that the sale was Centre
| ly matter of good business and honor
able, that he himself had bought stock
from interest in the association and at
tended meetings. He was earnestly giving
his opinion Of the matter from his per-
sonal experience when. Mr.. Moulton in
terrupted.
81 do not like to interrupt you," said
he "but I think you are going way out
side the case in talking of matters not
relavent to the cause at issue"
"If you don't like to interrupt me why
don t, replied Mr.. Knowlton with good
deal of ginger "but If you do shan't be