The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-01-17

e first matter taken up was e.suit G
e Matthew Jefferson against the People
< Traction Company. The complainant
e was represented by J. W. Wescott, Will
E. P. Budd, F. B. Leaning and Howar
Flanders appeared for the defendant.
' The complainant is practicing lawyer
} with an Office in Camden. He was solici
tor of several townships in Cape Ma
/ county, and now has a residence at Sc
Isle City, where he also edits the Cap
May County Times Mr.. Wescott sal,
i the Peoples Traction Company wanted t.
establish line through that section. ant
they sought the assistance of Mr.. Jeffer
son in accomplishing their purpose be
cause of his ability and character. H,
agreed to do so much work for consid
Grafton of $1,000, with extra compensa
ton for additional services. In May
1908, the complainant started in ant
worked for fifty days. "The company
: failed, said counsel. ito supply his client
with cash to cover actual expenses and he
put up some of his own money. Mr.. Jeffer
son accomplished the work he agreed tc
perform. When the company saw bet
ter opportunity to make money, they sold
out, refusing to pay Jefferson cent, and
resorting to all sorts of devices to cheat
him. l ask you. gentlemen, to render q
verdict in his favor for 81, 000."
Mr.. Jefferson then took the stand Isaec
ii. Sweigard, he said. was president OF
the company for which he worked in May,
1903 His services were engaged in his
office by two officials of the Peoples Trac
ton Company George A. Aldrich an
William W. Benson-who wanted to know
if Mr.. Jefferson could get them the right
of way to pass through several townships,
and he said he thought he could, the idea
being to construct road from Millville
to Sea Isle City. The two gentlemen met
Mr.. Jefferson in South Jersey ten or fifteen
times in regard to the work on hand, for
which these agents agreed to pay him
81, 0OO 1t was considered that the work
of securing rights of way would take two
months or more. Mr.. Benson agreed to
pay Jefferson more than $1,000 if his
work exceeded certain time, and to
furnish him with money to pay his ex
penses. He worked from time to time
from the latter part of May to the latter
part of September, carrying out the pro-
position which the company wished to
advance, the work being very exacting.
The company did not pay Jefferson his
actual expenses or his $1,000. He re-
ceived nothing but promise to pay. The
Peoples Traction Company sold out to
the New Jersey Rapid Transit Company
On cross Jefferson said
that he was invited over the telephone to
meet Mr.. Benson in his Office in Philadel-
| phia, where the latter and Mr.. Aldrich
said they were going to build a trolley
road. of which Mr.. Sweigard was presi-
dent, and that the Peoples Traction Com
pany was back of the scheme. Witness
never inquired as to the extent of the au-
thority of Messrs Aldrich and Benson,
and never ascertained if they represented
the Peoples Traction Company, taking
that matter for granted. Witness stated
that most of the ordinances, resolutions.
ETC., presented to governing bodies in
several townships were drawn and pre-
sented by others than himself. He had
read, approved, and in some cases made
few alterations in the documents, in the
dual capacity of attorney for the borough
and the Traction Company. He was not
present in council chambers when the Sea
Isle City ordinance was passed.
In relation to the application at Wood
bine, the ordinance, excepting the legal
text, which included the route, was
drawn up by witness, the same containing
about twenty sections. Jefferson at
tended about twenty meetings of council
at Woodbine, which is young, growing
place, requiring the introduction of many
ordinances, which, witness said, would
not require his presence as borough solici-
tor The witness identified a bill which
he rendered to Mr. Benson on August 20,
for $25 for professional services, which,
he said, did not represent the amount due
for the work he had performed up to that
time, but it was for one meeting only.
On redirect examination Mr. Jefferson
said that Mr.. Aldrich had agreed to give
him two $500 bonds of the Rapid Transit
Company to secure his salary of s., 900.
Because of this proposed consideration the
trial of the case was postponed at the
last term of court. Jefferson would not
accept the bonds
Howard Flanders was then sworn. He
said he was not an attorney for the Peo-
pies Traction Company, as there is no
such corporation. Then why are you in
court representing them?" asked Judge
Wescott, and the answer given by witness
was satisfactory. Mr.. Flanders said the
Peoples Traction Company had been
merged into another corporation, but that
he was attorney for the Peoples Traction
Company, when it had existence. Mr..
Flanders had never heard of Messrs.
Aldrich and Benson until this litigation
arose. The merger of the traction COM
panies into the Burlington County Rail-
way Company did not include any rights
in Cape May county
1--WE rest. said Judge Wescott.
After long private consultation Judge
Endicott refused non-suit, and court ad
journed.
After considering all night the request
for a non suit, to which he would not as.
sent at the close of court on Wednesday
Judge Endicott on Thursday morning,
permitted the cause to proceed, and
granted motion, made by Judge Yves.
colt, to reopen his case so that an absent
witness of the day before could testify,
which had been matter of agreement.
Louis Miller, of Vineland, practices
law at Millville, of which latter place he
is the city solicitor. In 1908 George A.
Aldrich engaged Miller to do some work
for the Peoples Traction Company. The
witness presented a number of papers
showing the relation of the defendant com
panY to the construction of the road in
Cape May County. Objection was made
to the introduction of these documents BY
Mr.. Leaning, which was overruled by
the court, who suggested their introduce
ton separately. This was done, and the
only one offered was the petition presented
to the city council of Millville, the Others
simply following as matter of sequence
Mr.. Jefferson was recalled and identi
fed letter, dated June IS, 1908, writer
by him to Mr.. Benson with whom he
made contract to do the work. At thi.