St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-12-16
CHARTER OF
THE BENNETT STORES, INC.

PARISH OF 81.
BE 1T KNOWN, That on this
fourteenth day of the month of Nov
ember, in the year of our Lerd, One
Thousand Nine Hundred and Six
i teen, 1916, before me, W. r. Lacombe,
a notary public, daily commissioned,
qualified and sworn, in and for the
parish and state above-written, and
in the presence of the witnesses here
matter named and undersigned, per-
sonally came and appeared: b. K.
Eastman, B. Bennett and Fred E.
HoIlier, all residents of the city OF
Opelousas, parish of st. landry,
State of Louisiana, the several per-
sons whose names are hereunto sub
scribed, and who declared that avail
ing themselves OF the laws of the
State of Louisiana relative to the
formation, conduct and operation OF
corporations and especially of Act
No. 267 of 1914; they have agreed
and hereby agree and bind them
selves, as well as such other persons
as may become associated with them,
and their Successors, to form and
constitute a body polite in law, for
the objects and purposes and under
the conditions and stipulations con
tanned and set forth in the following
articles, to-wit:
ARTICLE T..
The name, style and title of this
CORPORATION shall be THE BEN.
NETT STORES, NC" and it shall
exist for a full term and period OF
n~inety-nine years from date hereof
unless sooner dissolved and liquidat
ed as hereinafter provided for.
ARTICLE II.
The domiciIe of this company shall
be in the city of Ope1ousas, parish OF
st. Landry, State of Louisiana, and
all citations or other legal process
shall be served upon the President ot
the said corporation, or in case OF his
absence or inability to act upon the
vice-President, and in Ease If the alb
sence or inability Of both the Pres
ident and vice-President, then upon
the Secretary-Treasurer and Man
ager.
ARTICLE III.
The objects and purposes of this
corporation shall be to engage in the
business of buying and selling fol
profit general merchandise and L
/ establish and operate in tho city O
i Opeiousas, and in other cities, towr
and villages In the State OF LOUISIANA
or in any other STATS Or states shouit
this corporation so desire and de
termine stores, places and plans FOL
traffic and trade, and more especial.
to purchase and operate tho going 70
tail clothing and general dry g DDS
merchandise store of b. Bennett
known as "BENNETT'S BARGAIN
STORE" and o continue to operate
the same under the said name an6
style, or any other name and style
which this corporation may deter
mine; and, in further pursuance Of the
objects and purposes o fthis corpora
ton it shall have the power to &C
duire real estate and buildings, as
wen as lease for a term of years
though the acquisition of real estate
and buildings as well as leases shall
be only to the extern that the same
are medicinal to or necessary for the
operation and growth 0 fthe business
of this corporation as del;neated
above.
ARTICLE w.
This corporation may sue and be
sued in it's corporate name, and by
and through it's President or in his
absence through its Manager, who
may appear and act in court pro
ceedings for and on behalf of this
corporation without the necessity OF
any further authority from the stock
holders or directors thereof; AND
through its Board of Directors this
corporation may sell, mortgage, hypo
thecate, pledge. lease and suitcase
real estate and personal property
though this grant Of authority shall
in no way curtail OF interfere with
the authority of the managing officers
to carry on the ordinary business @
the corporation and 10 make con
tracts respecting the purchase OF
sale of merchandise ,sEd the manner
of payment therefor, to borrow
money In ~furthcrance of tie objects
and purposes of this corporation AMI
to make contracts Of mortgage ant
pledge TO secure the same; to make
use of a corporate seal and the isant
to break and alter at pleasure; tt
name and appoint such managers
directors, officer agents and clerks
as the interest or convenience O
said corporation may require.
ARTICLE ".
The Capital Stock OF this corpora
i ton Is hereby fixed at Ten Thousan.
Dollars, $4,000. o0l, represented b,
one hundred shares. fio0), of a pal
value of One Hundred Dollars. $500.
66), each, and it shall be divided iii
to preferred and common stock, O
which there shall be ~seventy-avt
Hundred Dollars, ($7. 1000. conif1oI
stock and Twenty-Five Hundred Dol
lars. (s2,5 0 .00J, preferred stool
The preferred stock shall entitIe thu
holder to cumulative semi-annua
dividends at the rate OF eight pei
centum per n and no ffore. the
same to be paid or set apart before
ANY SHdi1 DC pdtu VI 81
apart for the common stock: and IT
case of LIQUIDATION. the proceeds O
liquidation shall be first applied II
the raymept of fhe holders of fhs
preferred stock of the ..s,.n Of One
Hrrdred Dollars nor share. and an.
ansuad or unpaid H:tLs1I- thnrann.
ard the balance remaining thereafter
shall be divided among the holders .
common stock in nronortior to theii