The San Francisco call., 1909-09-28
nfNSnAW SEEKS
TO GUST RIVALS
Defeated Oil Magnate Renews
His Fight for Control of
Palmer Properties

Nursing Its wrath FOR week and
keeping it piping hot, the defeated
Henshaw faction of the Palmer oil
company yesterday observed the first
week anniversary" OF it's i'll starred
encounter with the Frank l.. Brown
Charles Ladd faction by bringing a
suit against the successful party. Will
liam G. Henshaw sued the elected di-
rectors of the company-Frank L..
Brown, II. c. Stratton, Victor Engin-
ger, j. c. Kemp Van Ee and Lewis HI.
Hilborn-asked that the court set aside
the election of Monday, September 90,
at which the above named were chosen
-officers, that decree be entered de-
claring the plaintiff Henshaw elected
director and that the defendants be
enjoined from directing the affairs of
the company.
Then, that he might have all the
legal satisfaction that is coming to
him, Henshaw asked Judge Graham
for an order citing Charles Ladd,
Frank L. Brown, II. C. Stratton and
Lewis Hilborn for contempt of court
for their alleged violation of a re-
straining order issued by the court last
Monday, September %, to prevent them
from holding the election. Judge Gra-
ham set the hearing of the contempt
proceedings Tor OCTOBER ..
Attorney j. j. Lerman appeared in
the suit. Gavin McNab is attorney for
the Brown-Ladd group.
or the defendants in the action filed
yesterday, Brown is president of the
company, Lewis A. Hilborn is vice
president and III. c. Stratton. J.. c..
Kemp Van Ee and Victor Enginger
complete the board of directors. Kemp
Van Ee and Enginger have been un-
derstood to be on the Henshaw side of
the oil fight, but Henshaw treated
friends and foes alike in his suit.
The Palmer oil company is a $4,000
ooo corporation. with wells in the
Santa Maria district.
BURDEN OF COMPLAINT
The complaint filed by Henshaw YES
terday recites that the annual meeting
or the oil corporation was held on
september 20, with Charles E. Ladd
president and II. c. Stratton secre-
tary. 1t alleges that Frank L. Brown.
Stratton and Hilborn conspired with
Charles E. Ladd to control the election
of officers. Then the history of tba
trouble retraces it's steps and tells
what is reputed to have happened on
september 8. 1t asserts that on that
day Ladd and Stratton wrongfulIv is
sued to Hilborn a certificate for 10 117
shares of stock in the corporation. mr.
ported to be in lieu of stock registered
in the name of Gustav Baumaun and
wrongfully issued and without the
proper surrender of Baumann's stock.
Hilborn, 1T is alleged, had no financial
interest IN the stock and voted it at
the meeting as directed by Ladd.
On September IL, it is further al
legged, $500 shares of stock were issued
to 0. 7. Zinns by Ladd and Stratton.
purporting to be in lieu of shares in
a M M A
and w. III. Metson. wilbrand is said
In the suit to have been the record
owner of stock and to have sold l5. 900
| shares prior to the meeting. 1t is also
said that Charles Newbold, owner of
5000 shares of stock. died on Septem-
Der 10, 1908, and that Garrett T. Rich
ards was administrator of the will.
"NAMED FAVORABLE PROXIES,
Harking back to the acrimonious
meeting of September 20, the complaint
says that Ladd called 1t and appointed
committee on proxies favorable to
carrying out the combination and the
conspiracy The plaintiff tells how he
protested and demanded that the prox-
les be selected by the stock holders
present. This request was denied. it
is claimed. Brown and Stratton, 1t is
asserted, held the proxies for wiibrand
and also voted the proxies of w H
Metson and Garrett T. Richards, al
though Metson revoked his proxy at
the meeting. But the tellers, 1t is al
legged, would not allow Metson to cast
his vote. And so the defendants were
elected ands Henshaw has brought suit
to have the whole business set aside
and himself put in as director
The meeting, to the proceedings Of
which Henshaw has so energetically
objected in his suit, was attended by
his brother, Supreme Justice f. w.
Henshaw, and was made interesting by
several wordy passages between the
justice and Attorney Gavin McNab for
the Brown people.
Lhdd is a prominent banker of Port
land, Ore, and former president of the
company. Brown is q local capitalist
and investment man. Henshaw is an
Oakland banker. On the day follow
ing the trouble with the Palmer oil
company there was similar row over
the management of. the. Oil Mission oil
company, a subsidiary concern.
WILL GIVE MINSTREL sHow-Tne Academy
tract Improvement club will give dance
and minstrel entertainment the night Of
October in Excelsior hall, Mission street
and Onondaga avenue. for the benent Of