The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-20
Sues E. C. Benedict
And Makes Charges
Mrs. Heuel Complains That He
Manipulates Indianapolis Gas
in His Own Interest
ASKS FOR A RECEIvERSHIP
The Commodore and Associates, She
Says, Have UnlawfulIy Received !
$5O0,OOO and Are Holding
Back Dividends.

New. York, Sept 20-Commodore E.
| C. Benedict, Frank 8. Hastings, who
married the Commodore's niece; Mar
tin J. Quinn. Edward Beers. and the
Indianapolis Gas Company are named
in a suit started yesterday in the Su-
preme court by Adelaide M. Heuel for
herself and other STOCKHOLDERS for, an
accounting and settlement of the af-
fairs of the gas, company. Mrs. Heuel
charges that Benedict Hastings.
Quinn, and Beers have unlaWfully re-
ceived money OF the company which
she believes exceeds 100000, and she
asks that receiver be appointed for
the gas company pending the settle
ment of her suit.
Mrs. Heuel is the holder of $40
shares Of common stock of the COM
pany. which is capitalized at $4,000
900. with 10000 shares of $50 par
value.
Mr.. Hastings is president of the
company, Commodore Benedict its vice
president, and Mr.. Beers the treasurer.
Mr.. Quinn Is a stakeholder and
member of the directorate. as are all
the others. Mrs. Heuel says that be-
tween them they own more than half
of the stock Of the company, and con-
troll a lot more Of it, thus having
actual control of the property. They
predominant, accordingly, in the di-
rectorate, and Mrs. Heuel charges that
Commodore Benedict caused the board
of directors to pass a resolution CIV
ing power to President Hastings to
nominate an executive committee of
three, of which he should be one, to
handle the company's affairs.
In 1905, Mrs. Heuel charges, Com
modore Benedict and the others she
names, conSplred to acquire complete
possession of the property, and ac-
cordingly commenced to increase the
company's bond indebte dness, and at
tempted to discourage the minority
stockholders by passing dividends and
striving to reduce the price Of the
stock SO that it might be bought in.
charges, when the company was well
able to pay them, the money being
used instead for useless expenditures.
Some Of the money went to settle
a claim for $250000 which Commodore
Benedict pressed and had settled, says
Mrs. Heuel, though it actually was
without foundation She says, too,
that Commodore Benedict's brokerage
firm made large loans to the gas COM
pany at excessive interest, and that
his firm charged exorbitant rental for
the offices at so Broadway, where the
gas company has it's local headquar-
tiers in Commodore Benedict's Office.
All of the men she names, who are
officials Of the gas company, are also
connected with Commodore Benedict
firm. Mr.. Hastings, Mrs. Heuel says,
besides being related by marriage,
was for years Commodore Benedict's
secretary, and is under his control,
while Mr. Beers is also related to
him, and Mr.. Quinn is a business part
ner.
At the present moment, Mrs. Heuel
declares, the gas company has accu-
mulated earnings which could be turn
ed into dividends were it not for the
policy adopted by Commodore Bene-
dict and his conferes. She asks ac-
cord1ngly that an injunction be grant
ed restraining them longen from with
holding dividends, that an order be
issued actually authorizing dividend, |
and that pending the settlement of J