Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-05
BRINGS SUIT TO
GAIN MILLIONS
CLAIMS HALF OF IMMENSE
POWER PLANT
Charles p. Baker Of Seattle Seeks to
Restrain Transfer Of Stock Of
the snoquamle Falls
Company
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Nov. 4.--Charles P. Baker
Of Seattle, Wash. filed a bill in the
United States circuit court here this
afternoon for an injunction to restrain
securities of the Snoqualmie Falls and
White River Power company of the
state of Washington Baker, who
claims a half interest in the plant,
said to be worth millions, alleges in
his bill that he received only $465.
Baker is the son of William T. Baker.
now dead, former millionaire financier
and stock broker Of Chicago.
The latter furnished the money and
the complainant, the bill AYERS, the
skill and brains for the development of
the plant. The complainant alleges
because of the relations naturally ex-
listing between father and son no con-
tract was ever reduced to writing.
However, the bill says verbal agree
ment was made, the father agreeing to
furnish the money IL the son would
develop the power plant, each to enjoy
half the profits. Howard w. Baker.
brother of the complainant, is adminis-
traitor of the estate of the father and, 1t
Is charged, by alleged manipulation of
more than $2,000,00O worth of stock In
so the complainant cannot get what he
claims as his; that all he received was
the $465.
Baker in his bill for an injunction
also asks an accounting with his
brother and all other properties of the
father and N. w. Harris & Co., and
Dexter Horton & Co., bankers, who
hold the stocks known. In addition
he asks a decree of the court giving
Ut l..tn To-,
sions of his father, having to do with
the power plant.
The complainant was a civil engi-
neer, but. without means, according to
the story set up in the bill. He dis
covered in 1887 the possibilities of TAX
ing power from certain water falls in
the state of Washington and furnish
ing electrical power to surrounding
cities. He worked over his plan for
ten years, when he discovered the
great power sources in the Snoqualmie
Falls, with which he interested his
father, the verbal agreement then be-
ing made. When Baker had succeeded
thus far he planned to extend the
plants through western Washington.
AS result of his efforts, Baker al
leges, he established a large cheap
electric light and water plant, which
furnished power to thousands of per-
effort he secured a franchise to fur
nsh power in Seattle Although there
We're officers in the companies he had
formed, he was in complete control and
had power of attorney from his father,
that he could spend his fathers
money. He did all these things, he
declares, with the full knowledge and
consent of his father and with the COM
plete understanding that some time in
the near future he would be given a
half interest.
When his duties became too great he
hired Thomas T. Johnston, a civil en-
gneer of Evanston, ILL.,, to aid him.
In 1898 he purchased the White River
company at Pierce, Wash, q corpora
tion with capital stock of S1.500,000. 9th
er companies were formed for dis
posing of the power in cities and
towns and We're combined under the
name of the Snoqualmie Falls and
White River Power company. Baker
declares that in developing the water
q power plant at the falls and making
other vast Improvements money was
being realized, but still his father had
failed to draw the contracts. Without
warning to the son. on October G,
1903, the father died. Baker alleges
that his brother was made administra-