Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-03
Suit Over Affairs Of Chesapeake Bay
Construction Company.
OF AUTHORITY fBE CAUSE
Mr.. Ambrose c. Dunn Petitions for
an Accounting.
L II E OH ARGES FILED

Ambrose c. Dunn, vice president of the
Chesapeake Bay Construction Company the
| successor to the Chesapeake Beach Railway
Company, which is under construction from
this city to Ches apeake Beach, on the bay,
today filed petition in the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia asking that q
temporary receiver be appointed to take
charge of the property, pending a dissolu-
ton of partnership and an accounting. A
conflict of authority has arisen between the
complainant and Messrs. Otto Mears and
Charles Pepper who, with the former are
holders of the stock of the company.
Mears and Pepper are named as defendants
in Mr.. Dunns bill.
After telling of the absorption of the
Chesapeake Beach Railway Company by
the Chesapeake Bay Construction Company,
and his election to the vice presidency Mr..
Dunn says that from August, 1897, to jan
uary, 1899, he lived along the line of the
railroad. Being an experienced engineer,
ne superlntended the work of construction
and cndeavored, he says, to fulfill all of
MS Obligations as a partner in the enter
prise. But, Mr. Dunn says, he has con-
stantly been antagoniZed by the defend-
ants, Mears and PoDOer, neither of whom
Is a practical engineer.
He complains that they have frequently
oVerruled his just and proper directions
and remonstrances, so that the work on
the line of the railway is in many places
detective and unsafe, and he charges, in
particular, the trestles and culverts will
have to be rebuilt. Mr. Dunn says he is
informed, and charges, that the engineers
of the War Department have actually con-
demned the placing of the long and ex-
pensive bridge over the Patuxent river.
Success ImperiIed.
The complainant further charges that the
coil
inexperienced and careless management
have practically thrown away many thous-
ands of dollars that could easily have been
saved to the company. and that by their
want of skill and fidelity they have i'm
periled the success of the enterprise.
Mr.. Dunn further alleges there is a con-
spiracy between Messrs. Mears and Pepper
to deprive him of his just share in the con-
troll and management of the company, and
his lawful proportion of the profits to be
derived therefrom; that they have set on
foot an organized attempt to violate the
partnership agreement between him and
them, and wrongfully eject him from all
authority and interest in the railway with
out any compensation whatsoever for his
services.
Other Charges.
The complainant says that in the eXecu-
ton of the alleged conspiracy Mears
and Pepper, without notice to him, its vice
president, conspired to practically destroy
the construction company by attempting to
organize anew the Chesapeake Beach Rail-
way Company, and transfer the work of
building it, ignoring altogether his rights,
using and voting the stock as if it belonged
exclusively to them, and leaving him en-
trely out of the board of directors. He
charges they are attempting to dispose of
the stock and bonds of the company to the
amount of 100000.
Mr.. Dunn declares he has been excluded
from his rights, and denied access to the
books.
An injunction is asked to prevent the sale
of the stock and bonds, and to prevent the
excluding of the complainant from access
to the books of the company. The other
objects of the suit are the appointment of a
temporary receiver, an accounting and
dissolution of partnership. John P Poe
and Chas. Poe are solicitors for the COM
plainant.
Chief Justice Bingham signed an order
this afternoon requiring the defendants to
show cause July II why receiver should
not be appointed and the other PRAYERS of
the bill of complaint granted.