The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-03

Contestants IN the financial battle being
waged between the Mercantile and the
Mississippi Valley Trust companies for
Virgins Ferry Company stock yesterday
agreed to an armed truce.
They waived the hearing to temporary
injunction suits and allowed the restraining
orders governing the transfer of stock to
continue in effect until final adjustment.
This will take place next week.
Withdrawing from the open field of the
courts. the fight is none the less intense.
Direct blows in the form of evidence that
is intended to show the details of the big
deal give place to strategy.
Every share OF Virgins stock not ac-
tually in the possession of either company
is being skrmished for in the manner that
Generals reconnoiter the enemys position
in order to move forward and gain vantage
points for the charge at the last ditch.
There were two incidents of Importance to
both sides. One was the sale of five shares
of Virgins stock by Joseph G. Holiday,
trustee of the Henry L. Clark estate. The
price paid was sl.00O a share. and the pur
chaser was James Campbell. who is idsn-
titled with the Mercantile Trust Company.
The s. Auguste Chouteau estate holds
fifty shares OF Virgins stock, and the Iues-
tion of its sale came before Probate Judge
Henderson.
1t was shown that one of the trustees Of
the Chouteau estate had agreed to sell IL
to tho Mississippi Valley Trust Company
st $500 q share The Mercantile subsequently
raised the bid to $500 share. and yes;erdly
PRESIDENT Wade requested Judge Henderson
10 permit him to put in another bid to-day.
Robert Mather, second vice president and
general attorney. and N A. Low, general
counsel Of the Rock Island Railway, are
remaining to see the fight through. Yes
telday they attended the court hearings
and most OF the day and until late in the
evening were at work with coats off at the
office Of their agent, the Mercantile Trust
Company.
THE situation is unchanged. so far as
We are concerned" said Mr.. Mather. The
only thing is that this matter of settling
details in connection with our purchase Of
the Virgins Ferry is making a whole lot
of work. But we are In 1t to win
Breckenridge Jones, vice president OF the
Mississippi Valley Trust Company, made
an official statement:
Referring to the statement in which Mr..
Wade, president of the Mercantile Trust
Company, is quoted as saying that I have
the necessary Virgins Ferry stock locked
up IN my vaults / have to say that If he
means a majority of the stock, then there
must be an over-ssue. For / can state
that, from facts within my knowledge. It
is impossible that there could have been
then. or now, q majority OF the authorized
issue OF the company Wiggins) in his
vaults"
In reply to this. Festus J. Wade said:
Mrs. Jcnes's statements do not affect me
or the sale of the Virgins Ferry to the
Rock Island road. This is no more con-
vincing than any Of his other statements"
The disposition Of the fifty shares Of Wig
gins stock held by the s. Auguste Chouteau
estate was brought into Probate Judge An
dersons court by the trustee. Julius l.
Foy, and Miss Eugenia Chouteau. the
guardian of the minor children.
II was shown that Mr.. Foy had entered
into an agreement with the Mississippi VAL
ley Trust Company to sell them the Wig
gins Ferry stock at 5000 a share. subject to
the approval of the Probate Court. which
IS necessary In the case OF minor heirs to
an estate. Miss Chouteau. however. oao
not signed the agreement to the sala
The Mercantile Trust Company mad