The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-04

citation in his hands, including that le-
Ceiyed for new stock. A protest was
made against the action of the executive
gfioers in issuing the new stock, but no
attention was paid to it by the president.
All three of these witnesses admitted,
under cross-examination, that they came
into possession of their five shares each
of stock lust before the 1895 meeting. 1t
was transferred to them by Mrs. Fannie
e. Brown, widow OF Irving j. Brown,
without consideration. Director Bick-
ford, In discrimination, said he is
member of the committee of improve
ments and that President Luce had not
interfered with him in the performance
of his duties. Treasurer Palmer reported
at that meeting that there was surplus
of about 5000 in the treasury
Director e. NJ. Yates was member of
the finance committee in 1895, but the
defendants ignored him, only two bills
being presented to him for approval
during the whole year.
Lawyer Knowlton sharply questioned
| this witness about his write-uD of the
proceedings of the meeting in question.
| 1t was published In a Biddeford paper.
| instnnationS, it contained some severe
criticisms of the attitude of Messrs. Luce,
Palmer and Randall.
"There had been quite stir over this
matter at Old Orchard, hadn't theIei"
| said the defendants counsel.
eyes, it had become matter Of neigh
bcrhood talk"
"And you wanted to take q ha nd In
ftp"
~ had no special purpose in attending
the meeting and becoming director"
"You cared enough about it to write up
criticism for the papers. didn't your"
lit is part of my business to report
| all the happenings in the town. The re-
port Will show for itselfs whether 1t con-
| tanned severe criticisms.
PRESIDENT LUCE TESTIFIED IN
DEFENCE.
The first witness for the defence this
afternoon. was Rev. Israel Luce. presi-
dent of the association. He was ON the
| stand An hour, and his cross-examination
had not been concluded when court ad-
journed at 5.45. His testimony was, in
effect, general denial of all the acousa-
| tions contained in the complainants' bill.
He denied that there had been any CON-
spiracy to injure the interests of the So
| called Brown action, and that be and the
other two defendants are running the
affairs of the association to foster their
| own interests, or to porpetuate Them
selves in office. The issuing of new stock
was, he declared, an act within t he
power vested In them by the bylaws and
by vote Of the stockholders In Novem-
| ber, 1894 They simply disposed of reg u
larly created shares of stock which had
long remained unsold. Every share Of
this new stock was paid for, either in
cash or notes, az the treasurer's books
will show.
"What WAS the real reason Of the issue
| Of that stook9'' asked Judge Haskell.
"The chief reason,'' repiied President
Luce, WAS to pay the Indebtedness of the
association, amounting to about $4,000.
Another reason was that we didn't want
any one person to control the affairs of
the association, in speculative way.
The association was designed for religious
purposes; we didn't want to earn divi-
dends, or to run 1t rs a money making
enterprise. We had also been led to be-
lieve that the controlling interest WAS
to be sold and go out of the state."
hands of Maine Metkodists," suggested
the court. -
"Not exactly that, :, replied the wit
ness, "but We desired to keep it within
the presenu membership.
"Well, you are all good Methodists,
G6rpO6ou Gu6 COufb.
Eyes, your nonor," lauahinaly re-
sponded President Luce ''We wanted to
perpetuate the interests of the camp
ground.
"Was there any conspiracy or concert Of
action in order to perpetuate yourselves
in off]ce,'' continued the judge.
"No, never. Both Brother Randall and
myself have tried to get out of office.
Once did get out. and sold my stock,
but after great deal OF persuasion
came back"
Cross examined by Lawyer Moulton,
President Luce said the election of
| officers did not take place at the annual
technical defect was found in the call.
"But you called special meeting,
shortly sfterward, didn't Jour"
eve did,"
"And why didn't you elect officers
| then?"
officers shall be elected only at an annual
| meeting"
"When you and MIR. Palmer signed
| that paper, agreeing to sell no more stock
without vote of the associations. did you
mean to keep your agreenent?"
Il did, and have kept It,"
"How long did you keep it?"
"Till the present time l considered
that when the executive committee voted
10 issue stock, the matter was taken out
of our hands"
In response to question by the court,
Mr.. Luce said the agresment was signed
at the solicitation of Brother Brown,
VINO was building q number of cottages
at the camp ground, was hiring consider
able money, and he thought his standing
| with the banks would be enhanced II he
could show them he held a controlling
| interest in the association.
| Dispositions of Rev. Daniel B. Randall,
the secretary, and Treasurer M. @.
Palmer. who was in attendance through
out the hearing, were read. These officers
also made general denial OF the COM
nlainants' accusations, and went deeply
| into the details of their respective official
duties.