The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-08
SLY MOVE is MADE.
RECEIVER WANTED FOR TACOMA
GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY.
Application VIII Prevent the sale of
the Property Under the Hammer
the sheriff of Pierce County
signed by Judge Hanford.

Judge c. II. Hanford was asked ysster-
day afternoon 70 appoint receiver for
ne Tacoma Gas and Electric Company. OF
Tacoma
The application was fled By John III.
' Shaekleford. formerly city attorney under
Mayor f. 8 Orr. - Tacoma. as represent
ing the New York Security ana Trust
Company, OF New York. The bill states
shat the gas com pany Is indebted TO the
trust company. as trustee under a mort
gage for 5000. in the sum OF $I2.&a. be-
Ing interest on the principal note. II IL
further stated that although the company
vas authorized 10 issue bonds for $50 90.
only szal.9vo had been issued. Interest on
the bonds outstanding. 10 the amount OF
$l-.e0. was due IN seni-annuai payments
January ana July /, last.
Default on these interest payments Is
alleged. and made the ground for asking
that the affairs OF the company be placed
IN the hands Of q receiver. Judge Han
ford heard the application yesterday after
noon, and indicated that he would enter
The desired order this morning.
Who the receiver viii be Is q matter OF
conjecture. While the Tacoma company,
represented by Judge T. l.. Stiles. admit
ted the allegations In the complaint and
agreed 10 the appointment Of receiver, IL
did not ask that any particular individual
be chosen. II Is generally understood that
q Tacoma man VIII be named by the court.
Coatemporaneo1s with the appointment
Of a receiver was the application By the
trust company for an order restraining the
sheriff OF Pierce county from selling tbs
property OF the company under execution
from the supreme court. The execution
was Issued In pursuance OF judgment
secured by the city OF Tacoma against the
Tacoma Light and Water Company in the
famous Mathematician damage suit.
Charles B. Wright. the Philadelphia mill
ionaire. II, or was. the chief stakeholder Of
the Tacoma water company. which sold
the city It's water and electric light plants
IN 1883. Mr. Wright owned the gas plant
and a water system at PuyaIiup. These he
subsequently transferred 20 the Tacoma
Gas and Electric Light Company. OF which
Charles L. Hurley Is president and general
manager. Judge Wickershan. IN levytng
on the property OF this company 20 satisfy
the judgment against Mr. Wrtghts COM
pany, alleged that the transfer TO Mr.. Har-
ley and his associates was fraudulent and
without consideration.
Judge Hanfora signed an order restrain
Ing the sheriff OF Pierce county from sell
Ing the property OK the Tacoma Gas and
Electric Light Company, as he had intend
ed doing on September I3. and set the mat
ter for hearing October 13.
There is q great deal OF history wrap
Tacoma and the gas company. Readers
OF the Post-Intelllgeneer are familiar with
the chief grounds Of contention between
TIE city OF Tacoma and Sir. Wright, so
that a recital Of the long fight that has
heen carried to the supreme court end
there adjudicafed upon twice during the
past year, is unnecessary bTfef sum-
mary OF the matter may throw some hght
on the present case, In which the parties
interested appealed 10 n Federal judge
50 Seattle to avoid the Ills OF sherifs
sale under execution In Tacoma.
The bin filed by the New York COM
pany does not allege insolvency on the
part Of the gas company. IL Is set forth.
however. that the Tacoma company mas
defaulted IN It's interest due on the dates
above named II Is then Tecitcd that the
sheriff OF Pierce county. acting under
the instructions Of the attorney for the
city Of Tacoma had seized the property
OF the company and was about to sell
the same IL 81 then alleged that Ia
comA's claim - the property Of the gas
company Is without the shadow Of right
or title: that Il s. a pretended claim and
that. In fact. the city has no Len what
ever on the property OF the gas company
Then Il ia alleged that the seizure by
the sheriff had tended 20 emharrass thu
company and would operate 20 destroy
and waste It's assets. 70 the detrsmont
of the plaintiff IN the action. the New
York Trust Company. On this ground the
court Is asked first 20 restrain the shev-
~ from further proceeding IN the mat
ter ard - appoint q receiver 50 that
the interests of al parties might Be con
served
Ii 81 not too mnch 20 say that ire peo-
pie II Tacoma vii be somewhat amazed
AZ the turn affairs have taken. Some q
them ana doubtless the city'E legal rep
resentatlves In It's nght with Mr.. Wrieat.
win say that the present application
for a receiver IS sutterfgEe 70 defeat
the collection OF the judgment Mr.
wlcAervharn VAS not present 81 The hear
ing Yesterday ard n Mr.. Hurley and
hls attorneys had figured on stealing q
march On the city they doubtless did rot
take the pains 10 notify Judge Wicker
char. q their contemplated action Mr.
Hurley and Judge stiles and Mr.. shackls-
ford arrived here Monday evening ana
registered A. the Batter. They transact
81 the business they had In hand and
leyf last night CT the Flyer for Tacoma.
Afr SbackleforH bearing the order whseh
wul prevent sheriff hffiiS from auction
irr OK tbe gas eogapany's property as re
had tnfsn so-i doing.
Ultimately Ii IS expected that Judge
Fsanfefa VIII ~ called On - settle tue
psles between TIRE city and the Gas com
pauy.