Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-14
RECEIVERS STAY.
Judge Whitehouse Refuses
TO Remove Them.
Affairs Of the "0w|'s Head R.
R." Aired at Hearing.
Three Bills in Equity Are Instituted ..0ne
Is Still Pending.

An imnortant hearing was held in the
grand Jury room Of the county court
bouse Saturday, with Associate Justice
William Penn WhitehOuse of the su-
preme judicial court presiding. The
hearing began at 10 o'clock in the fore
noon and it was nearly o'clock in the
afternoon before it was concluded.
There were in attendance a number of
Ruckland attorneys and others inter
ested in the cause in hearing.
The hearing was on three DillS IN
equity among other things to authorize
the issuance Of receivers certificates to
carry out the completion Of the Rock
land, South ThomastOn K Owls Head
Railroad. a corporation duly organized
under the laws Of the State of Name
and intended to operate and maintain a
railroad in and about the places con-
tanned in the official title of the cor
InratiOn.
The first bill was brought by Michael
Serrcto a prominent contractor OF BoS-
ton. through his counsel, to have the
rectivcrship dissolved. Mr.. Serreto held
the contract for the building Of the
road and whatever progress mas Deeh
made on it, he has had charge of the
X. -
sold On an execution obtained by him.
The second bill was instituted by me
Federal Trust Co. of Boston, trustees.
who asked leave to forecloSe and also
asked for the removal Of the receivers,
who are Arthur S. Littlefield ana ). L.
Kirnbail Of Rockland. The third bill
was for receivers certificates as above
set forth.
After several hours i'm hearing, Judge
Whi:ehousc handed down his decision
and refused to order the removal of the
receivers The bill in equity instituted
by SerretO's attorneys was dismissed
without costs. A further hearing will
be given on the issuance of the receiV-
er's certificates which are sought with
a view to completing the building of
the road.
The postponed sheriff's sale of the
property and franchise Of the Rock
land, South ThOmastOn Z Owls Head
Street Railway took place at Rockiand
last Tuesday afternoon. The only bid
der was Michael Serreto, the contractor
vino had charge of the construction.
The property was sold to him for $l',-
1922. which is the amount. including
costs allowed Mr.. Serreto by the SUI
preme court in his suit against the cor
poration for unpaid services. 1t is
claimed that the sale is a mere for
mality.
A brief review of the railroads some
what complex history is as follows:
Early in the spring of 1902 a charter
was obtained from the railroad COM
missioners and under the direction of
James W. Sewall a survey was made
in order to get a right of way accept
ed by the commissioners. This line fol-
lowed the highway from Mechanic
street in Rockland to the Keag Village
and from the Head of the Bay to Owls
Head ard was regularly approved by
the railroad commissioners.
The corporation was organized with
Dudley Watson Moore president, IL. f.
Bailey vice president. c. f. Meservey
clerk. George Il. Sewall treasurer, and
these with J. II. Sewall, j. a. Barber
and F. NJ. smith, constituted the board
of directors
Arrangements were made with BoS-
ton people, and c. T.. Meservey became
president and J. IL. Dalton OF Boston
became treasurer under this arrange
mcnt and subsequently ]. l.. Donoiiut
WAS made clerk.
The contract for the building of the
road to Crescent Beach was let 10 Mi
chael Seretto of Boston and IN Aprii
1904. ground was broken at lngrahani
Hill
The wet weather in April. the delay
in receiving the rails and other mate
rial. and the cut at lngraham Hill. de-
layed the work and carried everything
beyond the time at which it was cX-
pected to have the road in operation. In
July Mr. ScrettO having trouble III
making settlement for work already
dohe took off his crew and operations
We're suspended. Following this some
work was done by John Il. Berry OF
Rockland, with Il small crew of men
so that in September cars were run It
"Cripple Creek" near Crescent Beach
and the road to that point was accepted
by the railroad commissioners.
Mr., SerettO through his counsel
!. brpuglw suit and made several attach
~ This sSrit was finally determined
- ne law court in favor of Mr.. Secret
IN order to clean up the various law
lsuits and save the road as far pos
Nsib!e. it was determined by the bond
holders and the creditors to put tn
road into the hands Of receivers. Ac
cordingly two bills in equity wer
brought one in behalf of the bondhold
ers and one in behalf of the creditors.
These were heard before Judg
Whitehouse at Augusta a. S. Little
field and s. 7. Kimball were appointe
receivers and at once took possessio
of the road and oil p,,tar;als an ham
1t is now confidently believed tia
the road will be completed and put
operation by the receivers. Estimat,
as to the possible cost of completir
the line to Crescent Beach and buildir
the line from the innctin,, To L,s,.x ";