The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-15
LEGAL BATTLE FOR MILLIONS

original only in phraseology.
LEGAL BATTLE FOR MILLIONS
Frick-Carnegie Contest WIN be One
OF the Century's Greatest
Pittsburg, Pa, Feb. 1.-THE announce
ment in the papers today that the long
threatened clash Of the steel kings had
been finally precipftated by H C. Frick
filing the widely -heralded suit against
Audrey Carnegie and the Carnegie Steel
company. praying for an equitable ac-
| counting of the ex-chairman's stock hold
ings in the giant steel concern. created
a sensation in financial and manufactur-
ing circles here, and was the principle
topic throughout the city. The suit is re-
garded as the most important ever filed
in connection with the steel business, and
1t is said more money is at stake than in
any legal proceedings ever brought in this
country in which all the parties were sim
ply citizens. Steel manufacturers view
the trouble as bitter personal struggle
70 rsupremacy. and are watching each
move with intense interest
/ The legal talent called into action BY
/ the suit is an array of the giants OF the.
profession in this state. with probable
luminaries of national repute yet to be in
Guided. On Mr.. Frick side are John G.
johnson Of Philadelphia, who stands at
the head of the equity lawyers, of the
| city and, perhaps, of the state. and who
mas been engaged in some of the greatest
| legal battles of the country; David T.
/ Watson of Pittsburgh an attorney scarce
4y less widely known, and whose prowess
In the civil courts Of the state have been
proved time and again, in cases where
vast fortunes were at stake, and finally
Willis F. McCook. for years the personal
counselor and intimate friend OF Mr..
F'rick, whose ability in handling the af-
fairs of big corporations has put him in
the front rank of the Allegheny county
har
Strangely enough, Attorney Watson is
the man who originally drew I'D the now
famous "ironclad' agreement for Andrew
Carnegie and which he has now been re-
tanned to find a flaw in and have declared
invalid. 1t is said that Mr.. Watson spent
the best part of three months in drafting
this instrument and when finished de-
clared that 1t was the strongest paper Of
the kind he had ever formulated
AS yet little has come to light of the
plans made by Andrew Carnegie to de-
fend his company's interests, although it
is almost certain that Dalzell, Scott &
Gordon have been at work for days in
the Carnegie Defense Congressman John
Dalzell, the senior member of this law
firm, is not in Pittsburg. and so far has
attended none of the conferences which
are reported to have recently taken place
with Mr.. Carnegie's adherents and repre-
sentatives IN the steel company, but he
will likely take hand before long Other
prominent lawyers of both city and New
York are mentioned as having been re-
tanned by Mr.. Carnegie, but Just who will
really be opposed to the legal array on
Mr.. Tricks side cannot certainly be as
certained until a day or two has passed
and answer is made to the BILL
Attorney McCook said today that he
confidently expected the suit to come to
trial before midsummer and probably
much earlier.
At noon today no notice Of the suit had
been served upon the defendants or their |
counsel SecretarL Moreland of the Car
negie Steel company, said that he had |
not seen the bill and refused to talk about |
it. When the company had anything TO !
give out, he said. it would come through |
the regular channel. Dalzell, Scott & |
Gordon, the defendants counsel were |
equally reticent. President c. NJ. Schwab. |
who is looked upon as Mr. Carnegie's per
sonal representative during his absence |
from the city. left for Washington, d. c..
last night. 1t is supposed that he Is on |
his way to see Mr.. Carnegie. who is at |
Dungenness. Fernandina, visiting his sis
ter-in-law. Mrs. Thomas NJ Carnegie. |
George Lauder director and consulting |
partner in the Carnegie company, and |
who stands very close to Mr.. Carnegie,
was also out of the city, he having left /
for the south few days ago. He is sup
posed to be with Mr.. Carnegie at Dun |
genness.
A call on Mr.. Frick and his counsel.
Willis F. McCook, elected nothing new.
both gentlemen declining to say anything
at this time.
Late this afternoon the papers in the
suit were served on the attorneys for the
Carnegie company. Dalzell. Scott & Cor
don. The defendants hawke fifteen DAVIS
in which to file a demurrer or an answer
to the bill. The attorneys for the com
pany were unanimous in their refusal 10
discuss the bill, and say that nothing will
be given out for publication until after
their papers are fled.
From one Of the attorneys interested the
statement was had that the action of Nr.
Prick precludes the possibility Of the case
going to a higher body than the supreme
court Of Pennsylvania. There Jurisdiction
ends, so far as known at present, ard
that body win probably decide The cor-
troversy finally.
1t was intimated today by one on the
inside that the basis Of the defense viii
be that the ironclad agreement IS 4 legal
and binding document; that the book
valuations Of the holdings Of the different
gross earnings OF the company are great
sr. the book valuations are exactly what
the properties would bring with the mort
cages cleared of and other obligations
settisd-
Fernandina. Fla. Feb. at vas def
litely ascertained today that Andrew Car
legis IS with his sister-in-iaw. Mrs Lucy
Carnegie. at Dungenness, on Cumberland
slsnd. An effort made % see SIR Car
legie failed. Colonel Page. manager Of
Mrs. Carnegie's estate. Informed the re-
porter that Mr. Carnegie positively de-
,Iiued 10 be interviewed relative 20 the
'ui- Aled against him IN PIttsburg by II.
= Frick- Mr. Carnegie Is visiting here
~ rest and remuneration ara - a rf~aa- I ,