The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-06
MR. HOFFMAN HAD PLENTY OF
VOTES WITHOUT THOSE
/ THAT WE'RE CONTESTED.
AL THE OLD OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS WERE REELECTED
~. W. R. Tucker Chosen as the North Caro-
WA Representative on the Board The In
Junction to be Heard at Norfolk on
December i5th--A Special
Master Appointed.


Master Appointed.
Another chapter in the war between the
6eaboard and Southern railways was
written yesterday in the annual stock
hoidere' meeting OF the Seaboard and
Roanoke Railroad Company at Ports
mouth.
Az is well known, syndicate, headed
BY Thomas f. Ryan, F. M. Colston and
Henry Crawford, who are known to be
friendly to the Southern Railway, has
for more than a year been endeavoring
to secure control Of the Seaboard Air
Line
To accomplish this they have resorted
20 all sorts of schemes. And yesterday
they played their last trump card and
lost. That card was an injunction from
Judge Simonton. But to the surprise of
Mr.. Ryan and the Southern, Mr.. Hoff-
man held digger trump, in the form
of majority of the 900 uncontested
votes represented in the meeting, and
took the trick.
In the fight between Ryan and Hofr-
man both have been buying up all the
stock they could get and obtaining prox-
les therefor. Then the Injunction game
was opened by President Hoffman. who
procured an order of court in Virginia
restraining Ryan from voting the stock
owned by him.
The stock purchased by Mr. Ryan was
distributed among a number of persons
and proxies for it secured by Mr.. RYAN.
BY this arrangement advantage was TAX
en- of the voting scale required by the
company's charter. This stipulates that
stock held by one person when voted is
subject to the following provision: For
twenty shares, 20 votes; for the next $50
shares, one vote for each two shares;
for the next 800 shares, one vote for
each five, and for 500 and over, one
vote for each ten shares The charter
OF the company is one Of the Oldest in
the country, and this provision was de-
signed to give the minority stockholders
representation.
Mr.. Ryan bought about 1900 shares
OF the company's stock, and according
TO the bill asking for the Injunction. he
distributed this stock among various
persons, including his coachman and a
number of clerks. The total issue of the
company's stock is 1885 shares.
THE SIMONTON INJUNCTION.
Judge Simonton's Ryan-Southern-Rail
way Injunction was not made public un-
til the stockholders met yesterday at
Portsmouth. Then it was read by an
officer, and created quite a sensation.
But 1t did not stop the meeting, for af-
ter an investigation by the committee on
credentials it was found that 900 shares
Of uncontested stock were represented,
this being so the stockholders proceeded
10 re-elect all the old officers and board
Of directors, except that Mr.. w. II.
Tucker, OF this city, was named to sue
oeed as the North Carolina representa-
tive ON the board, Mr. w. w. Fuller,
formerly Of Durham, N. c., who has
removed to New York.
Ryan's injunction was brought here
Monday afternoon by JohnW. Hutchin-
son, Jr., New York attorney, and was
aled In the office of the clerk of the
United States Circuit Court, but by re-
quest it was not made public until yes
terday. A similar paper, except in favor
of a different complainant was filed in
the Circuit Court at Richmond
The complainant in the injunction filed
here is George B. M. Harvey, a citizen
Of the State of New York and stock
holder of record in the Seaboard and
Roanoke Railroad Company. The bill is
in behalf of himself and all other Of the
stockholders who may intervene and
claim benefit in the suit. The COM
plainant alleges:
l. That the Seaboard and Roanoke
Railroad Company is consolidated
corporation created by and existing I'M
der the laws of North Carolina and Vir-
gina, with corporate powers, duties, re-
strictions and franchises specified in its
charter and the general laws applicable
to it. For many years it has owned and
operated a line extending from Ports
mouth to Weldon, 81 miles long, togeth-
er with engines, cars, machinery, ma
ter:al and appurtenances used in con-
nection with the operation Of the rail-
roads embraced in its system and con-
trolled by it. 1t also leases the Roanoke
and Tar River Railroad, from Lewiston,
N. c., to the Virginia line, and owns a
large amount of stocks and bonds of
great value.
2. That. under the powers vested in it
by it's charter, the Seaboard Company
has from time to time acquired manage
ment and control of the following eight
corporations: a. Raleigh and Castor
Company. from Raleigh to Weldon, 81
miles. and the Louisburg branch. 10
miles: (2) Raleigh and Augusta Air Line,
from Raleigh to Gibson, LOT miles, and
.tbe pittsbero branch. ~ miles: (3) Caro-.
lima Central from Wilmington to Ruth
erfordton. OCT miles; AZ Georgia, Caro-
lima and Northern, from Monroe to Belt
Line Junction, near Atlanta. 265 miles
(5) Belt Line from Belt Line Junction
10 Atlanta. 8 miles: 90 Durham and
Northern, from Durham to Henderson