The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-22


The court s order was made on the ap-
plieation of Charles Fl. Bergner and
Jesse E. B. Cunningham, as counsel for
the plaintiffs.
Sterling Company Officers
The officers of tie Sterling company
are: j. B. Whitworth, superintendent;
G. Schoffstall, president; B. w. Fees,
vice presidents; John Pfeiffer, treasur-
er; H. T. Bressler, secretary; A. W.
Long, Pierce Maher and P. w. Shaw,
directors.
The plaintiff concern alleges that the
whole purpose of the defendants, which
the court now prohibits, at least tenn
porarily, being carried out, was to take
over the plant-which the defendants
formerly eontrolled-since it has been
operated recently with more financial
success than before the Sterling con-
Germ went into control.
In the statement of the attorneys
for the plaintiff it is charged that prior
to April 81, 1910, the Williamstown
water system was operated by the Will
liams Valley Water Company, a con-
Water, Gas & Electric Company, of
Camden, N. j. Ninetyfive shares of
the outstanding stock of the New Jer-
sey company, of par value $100 each,
were owned by one P. B. Shaw, of Will
Transport and Philadelphia.
On April 81. 1910, it is charged,
the Sterling company bought 81 shares
of the United stock from Shaw, the
controlling stockholder, for $4,000
and thereupon proceeded to reorganize
the Sterling for the United companies.
The same officers and directors of the
Sterling company, who last week were
ordered to "gct out" and who now are
protesting also were elected to head
the United Water, Gas & Electric Com
pany, of Camden.
The plaintiffs petition makes no
reference to what happened during the
next succeeding five years, but it recites
that the stockholders of the United
company, on April s, last, reorganized
in Camden by electing these directors:
B. w. Fees. John Pfeiffer, H.. T. Bress-
Ter, P. B. Shaw, w. n. Snyder and Lew
is Starr. A week later, the bill sets
forth, these directors elected the fol-
lowing officers.
President, B. F. Fees; vice president,
W. n. Snyder; secretary, H. T. Bressler,
and treasurer, John Pfeiffer. A day
later, the bill recites, the defendants in
this suit acting as stockholders, held
a special meeting of the Williams Val
ley Water Company, the underlying
company in the city of Philadelphia,
(which meeting was held without no.
tice to the directors and officers of the
Sterling Company, excepting Shaw, and
which was held in eontraventiOn of the
Williams Company's bylaws, "the de-
PENDANTS elected themselves directors.
Try to Gust Superintendent
Immediately thereafter the new di-
rectors elected officers as follows: b.
F. Shaw, president; George Parkman,
secretary AID treasurer. AT this meet
ing, it is charged, resolution was
adopted directing the dismissal of j.
B. Whitworth, the uperintendent of
the Williams Valley Company, and fur
ther giving the new president author
ity to take over the company's books,
business and money.
All the time the Williams Valley wa
ter system was being operated by the
Sterling Consolidated Electric Company
as the holding company, yet, it is ALLEGED,
the new president aufnOrlZed Jne
Williams Valley Company moneys to
be placed to the account of the Will
liams Valley Water Company in the
Williams Valley bank, in Williamstown.
Shaw, it is charged, took this step on
April 10, and at the same time also
undertook to oust Whitworth by ap-
pointing one Charles VI. Adams as the
new superintendent. Then came the pro-
tests from the heads of the Sterling
Company and they decided to resort to
legal action.
The injunction the Sterling obtained
to-day prevents the new 'officers
from interfering in any way with the
affairs of the company. Whether this
rule is to be made permanent will be
determined by the Court after the hear