The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-02
HAS THE JOURNAL NEW OWNER
It Is Rumored That Hoke Smith Has
Sold His Interest.

Sold His Interest.
The city has been full of rumors for
the past few days of the sale of a con-
trolling interest in The Atlanta Journal.
1t is known that Hoke Smith owned the
majority of the stock in the paper, and
the rumor had ii that he had sold 1t to
H. NJ. Atkinson q. /. others. The associ-
ates of Mr.. Atkins n are said to be Nor
ris Brandon and r. Gray, everyone oil
the three purchas1Gan equal interest.
The Journal wa S,ytabIished in 1888 by
the late Col. E: F.,.Epge, purchased sub
Ohio, and in 1887 I,~ ownership passed
into the hands of MIR. iloke Smith and
others who now hold it.
What otht Papers Say.
The Macon Tele1 tpa Published the fol-
lowing special from yts Atlanta correspon-
dent: ~
Atlanta. March,, iI-It is verv Seher
ally reported Eere Today. and is known
to be a fact. that Nh. Harry NJ. Atkinson,
representing party OF $50: ton capitalists
The Atlanta Journal, buying out Mr..
Hoke smiths holdings in nat paper CIV
ing hlm .hree for 7 Tor MS slOck, anu
that Mr.; Atkinson y, offered the minor,
on their shares OF stock n The journal.
Mr. Atkinson Is in t3oston. and could not
be seen WITH refcre ,:e 10 the repoft. Mr.
biuiluol, -liS attorney. WIlcl dShrb Nii'it
he knew Oi the reported change IN the
ownership If The Journal. said that he
knew nothing about the matter, mat Mr.
Atkinson was out of the city. lie ad-
mitted that there was. or had been, II
trade ON between Mr.. Atkinson ana MT.
Smith. but WAS unable TO state how iar
the proposed trade had progressed. Mr
Smith was not in his once TINS AFTERNOON
when The Telegraph correspondent caH-
ed To See Tim. and none Of the Office force
We're able 10 say where he could De Icdtlo
tion, but could not vouch Tor It's correct-
ness. The Journal this AFTERNOON coI-
tanned no reference either to the SAFE OF
To the rumor in circulation. 1t Is report
ed that the minority stockholders when
offered two and half for one ol tnIll
holdings yesterday Kicked aSdlilsI w W
price. claiming that their stock was "olt'
as much as Mr.. smith :. IT., .,it,, hi.
Another rumor in connection win thl9
reported sate IS 10 the cIl"ts 'hat WI, VIZ
Mr Smith was usked about it yesterday
he admitted that the trade had nerIi
made. but that for private reasons ne ut"
not want the transaction To get lillo 'ii'
papers ....,.,,i,r NJ
Atkinson is representing the Ola colony
Trust Company. Of Boston. whlci %pIpoI,
alton owns the Collins Park and Bell l'dil-
way Company. the opposition Sllcet az
system to the Atlanta RallWdy S"hl11
pany and the Atlanta Railway anu
Power Company. said 70 pe sep5rn,c
companies, but both of which are opera
ted by icrrest Woodruff. manager. VINO
represents Joel Hurt and the old Consoi-
idated Street Car Company people.
Savannah Morning News.
The correspondent OF The Savannah
Morning News has the following to say;
Atlanta. March lit was the talk oi
the town today that Tho Atlanta journal
had been sold to Mr.. II. Nj. Atkinson. Inc
price paid was alleged to bc $2io,Vo"
when asked about the matter, lloh'
Hoke Smith said that he still owned a
ma iority of the stock and that wnen ne
disposed of it he would notify the patrons
Of The Journal of that fact through us
columns.
when asked if negotiations were pend
ing for the purchase ne declined 20
answer. lie left the impression that u
was a private business matter not ripe Tor
public discussion.
From trustworthy sources there como"
pretty strong indications that deaf mas
been pending and it is pretty gencrally
believed that the purchase has been
agrcod uron. II is said that a business
matter between the present management
and certain parties was temporarily post
pnncd because the new owners might De
The parties t. negotiate with. 1t was also
stated that Mr. smith. under the deal,
would receive over $5o,C0o for his stock IN
the paper