The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-05-16
CENTENARY COLLEGE
An INJUNCTION AGAINST IT'S
REMOVAL.
Bishop keener and Other Trustees Viii
Appeal too the Courts-Pleadings
Have Been Drawn--Are Ready.

stir in Methodist circles throughout the
State. with bishop on each side, is at
last about to find its way into court.
The peladings have all been drawn up,
and in a day or two Attorneys |. ID.
Wall of Clinton. La, H. H. White of
Alexandria. and John A. Woodvlle of
New Orleans will file a petition in the
Twenty fourth Judicial District Court,
Parish of East Feliciana, in behalf Of
John c. keener. s. s. Keener. |. d..
Wall, Emmett l. Irwin. Charles {. Mil
Ter, Edward L. McGehee, N. F. Joiner
and George +. McGehee. members Of
the Board of Trustees of Centenary
College. directed against the other men,
bers of the board and the Louisiana
Annual Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. South, alleging SLAM
der of title. and praying for a judgment
quoting title, an injunction to prevent
the interfering with or disposing of any
property of said College. and if neces-
sary the appointment of a receiver to
Iiquidate it saffairs. Messrs. Wall and
White arrived in town Friday morning
and at a conference in Mr.. Woodville' S
office that night these steps were de
cided upon, and the pleadings prepared.
Bishop keener was sworn to the peti-
ton Yesterday and everything is now in
readiness to file in court.
The petition is lengthy one, filling
eight typewriter pages. After setting
forth the circumstances of the founding
of the college. under charter granted
by the State of Louisiana. the value of
the property owned, aggregating over
100000, and the chain of titles by
which it was acquired, the petitioners
allege that none of the property. real or
personal, of said Centenary College, OF
Louisiana, under terms of said charter,
can ever be appropriated to any other
purpose or use than the establishment
and support of an institution of learning
at Jackson, La.
practitioners further allege that from
time to time J. c. Keener, Judge Ed
ward McGehee. late of Wilkinson
County, Miss. and many others did
themselves give, and induce others to
give. large sums of money, upon the
supposition and belief and with the un-
Outstanding that the said Centenary
College would be maintained and ope-
rated as it existed then under its char
ter at Jackson, La.
Your petitioners, to-wit: George T
McGehee. Edward L. MeGehee and
Isaac D. Wall, represent that they are
heirs of the original donors and incor-
porators of the said college. and in case
any dispositions should be made of the
property and assets of said college con-
trary to the terms and provisions of the
said charter. have. an interest in its as
sets aggregating more than the sum OF
two thousand dollars to each of said
named parties.
"Petitioners further represent that
the Louisiana Annual Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South =
u have in their conference proceed
ings, held at Lake Charles, La, begin
ming on December J, 1904, and held on
succeeding days slandered and
cast cloud upon the title of the Gen.
tenary College by claiming the owner
ship thereof and demanding that same
be turned over to it; that the have fur
|ther slandered said title by threatening
the institution of suit for the purpose of
obtaining title in themselves, and by ap-
pointing committees. and by attempting
negotiations with certain parties in the
city of Shreveport. State of Louisiana,
and elsewhere, looking to sale or dis
position of said charter, and contrary
to the intention of the donors of said
property as hereinbefore mentioned, and
that committee appointed by said Con-
ference, consisting of H. c, Morrison,
W. w. Drake, w. w. Care, Henry N.
Pharr, Briscoe Carter. all of whom ex-
|cept Henry N. Pharr went to Shreve-
port, and purporting to act under au-
thority of this contract entered into an
illegal contract, by which they assured
the Progressive League and citizens of
Shreveport that all legal obstacles to the
removal of Centenary College were re-
moved, and they did accept the propo-
sition in the name of said Conference,
"a proposition from said Progressive
League and citizens of Shreveport to
sell the property belonging to said COL
lege at Jackson, La, and to use the pro-
ceeds of same in establishing another
college at Shreveport
After charging Bishop H. c. Morri-
son, who presided at the Conference,
with sending out circular letters which
cast cloud upon the title of the prop
erty and constitute a SANDER of title,
the petition continues:
Petitioners further represent that the
Centenary College of Louisiana has en-
joyed long and honorable career Of
usefulness as an educational institution,
it being the Oldest existing Protestant