The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-22
RYAN DEFEATED
At HIS OWN GAME
Took the Trick and Then Lost
it Again.
INJUNCTION NO GOOD
DISSOLVED THREE HOURS Az
TER BEING GRANTED.
The RYAN ATTORNEYS CHARGE FRAUD
The Seaboard attorneys Denounce the Charge
as False, and Declare That Ryan is Trying
to Wreck the Seaboard in the In
terest of the Southern.
terest Of the Southern.

terest Of the Southern.
Ryan's fight in the Federal court yes
terday against consolidation of the Sea-
board system would have been amusing
great consequences.
To begin with Ryan was represented
by the queerest assortment of counsel
Imaginable. There was Mr.. w. H.
Page, Il young New York lawyer, who
talked much and said little Then there
was Mr.. Lemue Eli Quigg, Platt's man
an New York. Lemmy, as his friends
delight to call him, said nothing. He
was the ornamental piece of the outfit,
brought here under the assumed name of
Rufus A. Morrow, Jersey City," and
installed for the purpose of influencing
the court. Last, but not least, was Mr..
TX. .. Burton, of Raleigh, one of the
States ablest attorneys.
These three, with their stenographer
McsIover, appeared before Judge Pur-
nell shortly before 10 o'clock yesterday
morning and presented IL complaint of
sixty typewriter pages. In addition to
that there was a printed book and ex-
hibits almost without number. IRE
parable damage, they told the court,
WAS about to be wrought by John Skel-
ton Williams and his associates, in a
stockholders meeting, to the benefcent
Mr.. Ryan. They had just learned of
the nefarious scheme, but it was not
too late to prevent its consummation.
A temporary injunction, they told the
IAfa bn ifsin
would be operative only until such time
as Il motion for continuing the injunc-
fion could he fully heard. They had no
objection to the Goth for this hearing.
The bin ON which they based this APP
plication, recited the facts as to the ex
istence of the cooperation and setting
forth the proceedings of the Seaboard
and Roanoke stockholders meeting at
Portsmouth. on December 10Th. 1t al
legged that Williams and his associates
have sold the treasury stocks OF the
company: that the sale was secret and
all information touching it was refused
the plaintiff Ryan, although it dismen-
bers and isolates the Seaboard and Roam
oke Railroad system in the interest of
Williams and his associates. Also it is
commended that the meeting was an adj
journed annual meeting of the stock
holders of the company. held to elect
directors, and had no lawful right to
consider the business had at said meet
inc.
: Ii also appears that it Us the plan
of the said Williams and his associates
at the meeting of the Raleigh and Gas
ton Railroad Company called for De
cember 81, 1899, at 10 O'Clock to con-
summate their unlawful proceedings by
authorizing the Raleigh and CASTOR
Railroad Company to purchase the stocks
of the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad
Company under said resolution of said
last named company, passed on De-
cesnber 18th. which transaction your
orator charges and verify believes was
a fictitious sale made for the purpose
of turning over the said securities of said
syndicate The proposed proceedings. If
consummated by said Raleigh and Gas
ton Railroad Company on the Dist day
of December, will dismember irretrieva-
bly, the system of the said Seaboard
Company and the Raleigh and CASTOR
Company in the interest of the said Will
liams and his syndicates and to the
permanent and irreparaDle injury Of the
minority stockholders of said two COM
panies, among Which is your orator.
who, as above stated, owns substantially
one-hfth of the stock of said Seaboard
and Roanoke Company, and should have
an equity of like proportion in the con-
trolling interest of the stock of the Raj
eigh and CASTOR Company held by said
Seaboard Company, besides his interest
as stakeholder of the Raleigh and Gas
Ton Railroad Company as above stated. :"
On this showing temporary injunction
was asked TO prevent the meeting.
Judge Purnel suggested the propriety
of having something from the other side
touching the granting of the injunction.
''Oh. but it's et matter of such urgent
Importance" they exclaimed. They're
about to meet now, and this injunction
is our only hope to- prevent it. There's
not even time to send out and notify
them. Besides, they VIII have met and
done that which we are trying to prevent,
if YOU delay the matter
THAT being true" said Judge Purnell,
''I'll issue the injrnction with the under
standing that the other side wall be
heard, if they desire it, later; then, if
/ find YOU have no case I'll rescind the
order"
THE INJUNCTION.
Thereupon he signed the order as pre-
scented. which III its main features was
us follows:
l. That John Shelton Williams. John
William Middendorf and Leigh Il. Watts,
the committee appointed by the Seaboard
and Roanoke Railroad Company to vote
the stock held by that company i'll other
corporations, be forever restrained and
prohibited from voing the stock in ia
vor of the acquisition of the Florida
Central and Peninsular Railroad Com
lany, or the Georgia and Alabama Rail
way Company, or the Seaboard and
Roanoke Railroad Company. or the Raj.
eigh and CASTOR Railroad Company, OF
any of the other stocks or securities be
longing to or held by the defendants
Williams, Middendorf or Watts, or III
the sale of which they have any interest
or for the consolidation OF any of these
interests.
>. That Williams and his associates