Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-08-25
RIG LUMBER COMPANY
 IS IN THE COURTS

:, and at the first annual meeting of the
 stockholders and directors they re- fused to allow the plaintiffs to hold office except that John r. Rutherford
 was elected 8 director in the com- pany, which defendants were power les to prevent; but at said meeting, they elected themselves directors of
 the company so that the directors consisted of J. B. York, Robert York and J. F. Rutherford. The directory has since continued in that way. They have since elected J. B. York president, and Robert York secretary and treasurer.
 | Over their protests, the plaintiffs say that Robert York was appointed general manager of the business of the Bluff City Lumber Company. He assumed the duties, has full control of the affairs and refuses to allow l the plaintiffs to have any voice in l the management of the company af- l fairs.
 The plaintiffs charge that Robert York is inexperienced in the business and incompetent; that he is actuated in his conduct as manager by an in- tense hatred and ill will toward the plaintiffs and purposely manages the business so as to damage the plain tiffs and further the interests of him. self and his father, J. B. York. That over the protests of John F. Ruther- ford, J. B. and Robert York have loaned large sums of money to var ious parties and companies, far in ex- cess of all reason and safety, with out adequate security therefor, which is greatly to the detriment of the Bluff City Lumber company. One of the loans cited is that of $1O0,000 to the Bastrop Lumber Company in which J. B. and Robert York are largely interested. Another is loan of $23,000 of the campany's money to D. M. Richardson, of Memphis, d of $80,000, far in excess to which he is entitled; that they have made loans and advances to various others, some of whom are kinsmen. The charge is made that J. B. York and Robert York have in their efforts to defraud and ruin the plaintiffs, colluded with one Burt Mccartney, and formed a corporation known as the Grant Lum- Der Company, and under such name have entered business on their own account and have sold the output of the Grant mills to the Bluff City Lum- Der company at exhorbitant prices, instructing their employees to receive all shipments without proper check ing or other businesslike methods.
 That while John F. Rutherford was managing the affairs of the Bluff City Lumber company, he made a contract with the Grant company to furnish its entire output to the Bluff City Lumber company for $9.5O per thous- and feet; that Robert York, since be- coming manager, has paid prices from s11.50 to $12 per thousand feet.
 That Burt Mccartney is employed as manager of the Bluff City's plant at Anderson, though he devotes most of his time at the Grant plant, that the defendants caused the Saline and Anderson railroad to build a spur to the Grant plant to haul lumber at a 1 loss to the railroad, which is owned by the Bluff City Lumber company; that they permit the Grant company to use the Anderson mill without charge; that they ship large consign- ments of lumber to Harvey York at Memphis, for which he should re- ceive 50 cents per thousand feet for selling same, but in reality they al low him several dollars per thousand feet, an exhorbitant and secret charge not carried on the company's books; that Harvey York is nephew of j.. 1 B. York. -
 The plaintiffs further charge that
 
 the Yorks loaned the Bluff City Lumber Company large sums of money at an exorbitant interest rate; and that if they are not prevented by the court, they will eventually wreck the Bluff City Lumber Company financially ah- sorb it's assets and convert them to their own use for the Grant Lumber Company.
 The plaintiffs say they have de- manded that the business be closed up and liquidated, it's debts paid anl pro- perty sold; that each stockholder be awarded his interests, but this the
 Yorks refuse to do.
 Because of the failure of J. B. and Robert York to economically conduct the affairs of the company, the plain tiffs say they have lost more than