The San Francisco call., 1909-09-21
Bitter War for Control of ST.
100000 Palmer Firm Waged
by the Stock Holders
Ladd and Brown Win Out Over
Henshaws After Pointed
Legal Struggle

war was Waged by the Ladd- Brown
faction. headed by Charles Ladd. a
Portland banker. and Frank l. Brown.
a San Francisco banker, against the
Henshaw faction, led by William G.
Henshaw, the Oakland banker, and j.
c. Kemp Van Ee When the injunc-
tions had done popping: when Supreme
Justice Fred Henshaw and Gavin Nc
Nab had broken this this last lances in
a shrewd encounter of wit and legal
learning; when the last share of stock
had been voted and counted, the vic
tory lay with the Ladd- Brown crowd
and Frank Brown won whatever hon
ors go with the presidency of the COM
pany
Justice Henshaw was the able repre-
sentative OF his banker brother. Against
him was pitted that resourceful fighter.
Gavin McNab. There are no keener
swordsmen hereabouts when il comes
to nimbleness of wit, quickness and
sharpness - tongue and legal acumen.
Aside from the big interests at stake
and the swift rush of incidents in the
battle of shares and proxies, Henshaw W
and McNab made ii a pretty scrap TO
witness.
Chiefly the battle-ground was in the
First National bank building. The Of
fees We're filled by some so inter-
ested stock holders and retained at
torneys and two pretty girl stenog-
raphers. around whose golden heads
few the missiles of satire and the more
ponderous threats of the oil promoters.
One of the delicate. points raised in
the controversy was whether the stock
certificate book or the records OF the
journal. stock transfer book and ledger
of the corporation would be the best
evidence of transfer of certain stock
claimed by the Brown people to be in
the name of O. T. Zinns.
I disregard the ledger and ask to
see the stock certificate book, said
William Thomas. one of the attorneys
representing the Henshaw party.
Il refer. the matter 10 Judge Hen
shaw as a justice on the supreme
bench" McNab suavely remarked.
Judge Henshaw referred the point
to Attorney Jesse w Lilienthal, an
other lawyer with his brothers fac
ton. do you believe" he asked. "it
is the duty of the secretary of the COM
pany to produce the books now for
the use of the committee on proxies?''
REQUEST Is REFUSED
Il do replied LilienthaL
-'will you request the secretary. or
advise the secretary that il is his duty
so TO do?1 said Justice Henshaw.
H. C. Stratton. the secretary. sup
ported by McNab. refused to obey Lii
ienthars request.
.'On what ground. McNab.'' asked At
tornes Thomas. do you contend that
the stock journal and ledger ruler
Il contend" replied McNab. that the
decision of the supreme court of our
state middleton VS.. ArastravilIe min
ing company, 14e Cal. 222) in which
the supreme court of which Judge Hen
shaw is member. makes the journal
of voting on all matters for the cor
poration. With the greatets respect
for Judge Henshaw as an individual,
il is my duty as lawyer to have more
respect for him as Judge: and also,
as lawyer. 1 am obliged TO pay more
attention 10 his opinion. expressed
a supreme court decision. than
to his opinion. expressed on the street
And with all delicacy and tenderness
and courtesy l still advise the secre-
tary. notwithstanding Judge Henshaw.s
personal expression of opinion. to stand
by the supreme court of the state of
California. of which Judge Henshaw
is a member"
Attorneys Thomas and Lilienfhal
asked McNab how long he thought it
would take the supreme court to dis
pose OF some of the points raised by
him at the meeting. McNab replied:
well. gentlemen. whether it takes
them a short time ora long time, ii is
well for the laws of California that
these matters should be settled. and
you will be comforting q. duty on the
bench and bar by taking them before
the supreme court.
Il have only one rgeret in this mat
ter-that when they reach there our
friend. Judge Henshaw. whose wisdom
in the analysis Of corporate law is
famous throughout the country. will
be disqualified by his participation here.
and the public win not have the benefit
Of his Judgment because we have OBJ |
tanned it privately at this meeting
Gavin. / think you viii do" re-
marked the judge drily.
WOULD OUsT PRESIDENT
The aTst gun of the fight was fired |
IN the morning before Judge Cabaniss
by Attorneys McNab, r. p Henshafl
and B. NJ Aikens. who fled three in
junction suits brought by Charles E. |
Ladd president of the Palmer oil com
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