The San Francisco call., 1905-04-04

John Hays Hammond. the Well-knoWn
mining engineer and representative OF
the Guggenheim syndicate. on the one
hand and Banker Will Crocker and
Fred ". Bradley. Hammond's former
protege, and their respective business
associates on the other. The fight has
been over the control Of the Orovine
Gold Dredging and Exploration Com
N pany. which owns a valuable tract of
dredging land near the town of. Oro-
Vile. and involves many other promi-
nent men on both sides Of the country.
Hammond came West several weeks
ago with the avoWed purpose of fight
ing Bradley and Croker to a finish.
and that he carried out his intentions is
shown in the fact that he has sue
ceeded in oUsting Bradley from the
presidency of the company and reor-
ganized the corporation with his own
friends at its head.
The trouble between Hammond and
Bradley and CrOcker started about fif-
teen months ago, when Hammond, who
vas then in the East. suddenly learned
that BTadleT was preparing to get con-
troll Of the dredging company. Although
Hammond and his friends held control,
Bradley. II was charged. violated an
agreement set forth in the company's
minutes by calling a meeting Of the di-
rectors and disDosing Of 1000 shares
4
self and selling the other 10000 TO ]. W.
Goodwin and Joseph Holden. By this
means Bradley was able to re-elect
himself president and general manager
Of the property, positions he held until
yesterday afternoon.
DOOLITTLE LENDS AID.
Through J. E. Doolittle, the we'll
known local mining expert. Hammond
and his Eastern friends Immediately
-rrFe
der enjoining Bradley from using the
alleged fraUdulently issued treasury
stock and in this suit VIII Croker,
the banker, and several Of Bradleys
friends were made cOdefendants The
Injunction. after a bitter fight, in which
some Of the most prominent local at
torneys participated was denied by
Judge Sloss. who. however, recon-
mended that the case proceed for reg
ular trial Since then the case has been
pending. awaiting the arrival Of Ham
rnond from the East. When he came to
San Francisco three weeks ago he was
ACCOMPANIED by Ernest A Wiltsee and
Chester A. Beatty. two Of his business
conddants, who are interested with him
in the dredging property, but il was
supposed that their presence here was
IN connection with other properties in
the north.
The fact has since been revealed.
however, that hammond was negotiat-
ing with Goodwin for his 1000 shares
% stock A deal was effected and late
last week Hammond quietly arra nged
with his attorney. Jesse W. LiIienthal.
and J. r DoOlittle for a neat little
coup. Hammond departed for the East
Saturday, but just before his leaving
call for meeting of the stockholders
Of the company was issued and yester-
day afternoon found DOolittle and
Lilienthal, armed with bundles OF
proxies. seated in Bradley's Office,
awaiting the opening Of the stockhold-
ers' meeting.
VOTED BRADLEY OUT.
In less than ten minutes time theZ
had voted Bradley out of the presi-
dency and installed Doolittle in his
place. elected Lilienthal vice president
and selected a board of directors OF
their own liking.
Later the company's books were
moved across the tenth floor Of the
Croker building TO the offices Of Doo-