The Portland daily press., 1900-05-22
Petition to Transfer Jurisdiction
Prem Maine TO Mass.
Case Goes to Mass.
Court For Decision.
Hon. T. b. Reed, George F.
Williams and Others Appear.

Had the roof Of the United States court
fallen at any time yesterday afternoon
after three O'Clock it might have blotted
out of existence the most imposing array
of counsel that has gathered within its
walls for years. Not only were some Of
the ablest lawyers of Portland and vi
cinity gathered within the bar but there
were as well distinguished legal lights
from Massachusetts,, New York and Bos-
ton including the Hon. Thomas b. Reed,
George Fred Williams Of Dedham and a
dozen or more others whose regulations
have shed lustre over the political and
legal world during the past decade.
The case was that of the Eastern Trust
and Banking company and John Cassidy
of Bangorl and the Phoenix National
Bank of Hartford who petition the Unit
ed States District court of Maine that the
John p. Squire company, corporation
organized under the laws OF Maine be
adjudged bankrupt. This case involves
many millions Of dollars. 1t will be
remembered that as long ago as last De-
cember the John p. Squire company was
forced to make assignment for the ben
eft Of its creditors. Its assets in round
numbers amounts to over four millions
of dollars with the assets Of associated
corporations and individuals swelling the
amount to two millions more.
There has already been filed in the Dis
trict court Of Massachusetts, petition of
involuntary bankruptcy while several In
tervening petitions were filed in the
District court of Maine. Yesterday the
case was assigned for a hear ing before
Judge Nathan Webb and the lawyers
came into the city by the dozen to look
after the interests of their clients in this
most important matter.
The corporation Of John p. Squire COM
pany, against whom the petition was
brought, was represented by Elder, Waite
and Whitman of Boston, Coy. II. B.
Cleaves, Symonds Snow and tCook of
Portland.
Ex-Speaker Reed associated with Chase
r. Hughes of New York and
Charles Warren of Boston rep
resented the interests Of the Maine
Provision and Cold Storage company,
John Il. Towle s. company, the New
Hampshire Provision company, the Hol-
yoke Provision and Cold Storage COM
pany and the Lake Champlain Provision
company, corporations and firms who
are allied to the John p. Squire COM
pany.
George Fred Williams of Dedham repre-
sented the estate of Margaret kueber,
the Second National Bank of Haverhill,
the Somerville National Bank Of Somer-
vile, Mass, and John II. Sheridan and
J. Emile Kueber all of whom have filed
intervening petitions.
Moorfield Storey of Boston and Hon :.
C. f. Libby of Portland represented the
Old National Bank and others who are
creditors of the John p. Squire compa-
ny.
John G.. Coombs of Boston and Mr..
Leonard of Boston associated with Clar-
ence Hale, Arthur F. Belcher and Fred
Hale of Portland and Brandeis, Nutter
and Dunbar of Boston represented the
petitioners.
senting Carver Sc Blodgett of Boston,
counsel for John W. Gates of that city
and the Broadway National Bank.
Intervening petitions In this case had
been filed by Stedman g. Redfleld of
Hartford, Produce Exchange Trust COM
pany of New York, Charter Oak Nation
al Bank of Hartford and Windham Ma
tional Bank of Willimantic, Conn, by
Bird and Bradley who were associated
| in this case.
George Fred Williams opened the ball
so to speak, by asking to be heard on
petition transferring the case to the Dis
| trict court of Massachusetts, ON the ground
that the convenience of all parties might
be better satisfied there. He argued
and pointed out to the court some pre-
dents in bankruptcy rulings whereby
this had been done. Hon. Il. b. Reed
seemed to favor this transfer Of the case
to Massachusetts on the same grounds
and the only dissenting party was John
c. Coombs of Boston who argued that
the court of Maine had jurisdiction in
this matter but it was not known
whether the Massachusetts, court had 1t
or not. He said that first the John p.
Squire company should be adjudged
bankrupt and then he would not oppose
the transfer of the case.
After long argument which was rem
dered exceedingly interesting because of
the famous counsel who appeared on both
sides of the case and who spoke, Judge
Webb declined to take action on the mat
ter until the Massachusetts, tribunal
should dispose Of the petitions which
are now before 1t.
Moorfleld Storey Of Boston said that he
and his associates represented 90 per cent
Of the creditors, and they desire the case
transferred to Boston.
'That doesn't Influence me particle, 2
replied Judge Webb. Zone creditor is
Is good as thousand. 1t Is my decided