Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-06-25
SUES ASPHALT TRUST.
Ami Lorenzo Barber Begins Ac-
ton Against Trust of Which
He Was a Part
WANTS SUM OF 100000
Former Head of the Trust Says Since
He Has Quit the Combination He
Has Been Made the Subject of Nu-
merous sIanderous Attacks-sensa-
tionaI Revelations Are Expected.

New York, June 25-John NJ. Mack,
asphalt king, a reform ward boss of
Philadelphia, and eleven millionaires of
New York, Boston and Philadelphia,
constituting the trustees of the Gem
eral Asphalt Company, otherwise the
asphalt trust have been served with
papers in an action for 100000 dam
ages brought in the supreme court of
New York by Amzi Lorenzo Barber,
former head of the trust. Since Barber
quit, he charges, he has been made the
subject of attacks by Mack and others
both in print and out. Every business
reverse which affects the trust, he de-
clares, is blamed on that man Bar
ber.'
1t is predicted that BARRIERS suit Will
disclose much startling information
gathered by William j. Calhoun of
Chicago, who spent several months in
Venezuela as a special commissioner
for President Roosevelt.
The retirement of Assistant Secre-
tary of State LOOMS and Herbert w.
Bowen, United States minister to Ven
ezuela, preceded Calhouns dispatches
to South America. Calhoun's report,
which is known to be lengthy, never
has been made public.
On May Is of this year, over his
name, attached to the annual report of
the General Asphalt Company, Mack, 1t
is charged, accused Barber of having
misappropriated $537,3S9 in the promo
ton of the New Trinidad Lake As
phalt Company, limited, in 1897. Bar
Der declares this statement is malici-
ously libelous, false and intended to
hid him up to ignominy and con-
tempt. He enters into no explanation
of his conduct, but leaves the way OPP
en- to the defendant to make good il he
can.
Barber further declares that in this
annual report Mack and his associates
charged Barber with having secretly
sold his asphalt stocks and bonds In
1901, while he was chairman of the Ma
tional Asphalt Company: that during
the receivership. while still nominal
ly chairman, he undertook to develop
rival asphalt company in Mexico; that
Barber entered into conspiracy with
President Castro and others to rob the
New York and Bermudez Company, of
it's property in Venezuela; that Barber
was in possession of the property of
the New York and Bernludez Company
and made overtures to the General As
phalt Company for the sale to it, 'of its
own property" BermudeZ lake, which
was confiscated by the Venezuelan gov
eminent because of the trusts aid to
the Matos revolutionists four years ago.
unique feature of the suit is that
the voting trustees Of the General AS
phalt Company are made codefend-
ants in the action. Their purported re-
sponsibility in the matter is derived
from the fact that all the stock of the
General Asphalt company, except the
directors qualifying shares, is deposit
ed under voting trust agreement with
these trustees.
The plaintiffs attorneys hold that the
trustees are responsible for the acts of
the men the choose to manage the af-
fairs of the company.
The action by Barber will bring to
light much inside history of the dis
indignation, reorganization, and re-
juvenation Of the asphalt trust.
Barber now is president of the A. l..
Barber Asphalt Company, which sup
plies paving companies with natural
asphalt. He has not been associated
with the trust since 1901.
The anual report of the General As
phalt Company for the year just closed
shows loss in paving of $378,S7S, COM
pared with the year preceding. This is
all blamed on Barber.