St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-12-30
CHARTER OF
THE BENNETT STORES, INC.
STA nF IsnTIISIANA

EA1e1144 NJ ~
BE IT KNOWN, That on this
fourteenth day of the month Of Nov
ember, in the year Of III Lord, One
Thousand Nine Hundred and Six
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-
sonal1y came and appeared: E. K.
Eastman, B. Bennett and Fred f.
Hollier, 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 q
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 we'll 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 /.
The name, style and title of this
/, corporation shall be 1.-THE BEN
! NETT STORES, NC" and it shall
exist for q full term and period OF
! ninety.nine years from date hereof,
unless sooner dissolved and liqudat-
ed as hereinafter provided for.
ARTICLE II.
The domicile of this company shall
be in the city Of Opelousas, parish of
st. Landry, State Of Louisiana, and
all citations or other legal process
shall be served upon the President OF
the said corporation, or in case OF his
absence or inability to act upon the
-vice-President, and in case If the alb
sence or inability of both the Pres
ident and vice-President, then upon
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and Man
ager.
ARTICLE III.
The objects and purposes of this
corporation shall be to engage in the
business Of buying and selling for
profit general merchandise and to
| establish and operate in tho city Of
/ Opelousas, and in other cities, town
and villages in the State of Louisiana,
or in any other state or states should
this corporation so desire and de-
termine stores, places and plans for
traffic and trade, and more especially
to purchase and operate the going re-
tail clothing and general dry 81 DDS
known as "BENNETT'S BARGAIN
ISTORE," and o continue to operate
the same under the said name and
style, or any other name and style
which this corporation may deter
niue; and, in furher pursuance of the
objects and purposes o fthis corpora
ton it shall have the power to &C
quire real estate and buildings, as
well as lease for a term of years,
though the acquisition Of real estate
and buildings as we'll b leases shall
be only to the extern that the same
are medicinal to or necessary for the
operation and growth o fthe business
Of this corporation as delineated
above.
ARTICLE w.
This corporation may sue and be
sued in it's corporate name, and Oy
and through its President Or in hts
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 it's 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 curtaif' or interfere with
the authority of the managing officers
to carry on the ordinary business OF
The corporation and TO make con
tracts respecting the purchase OF
sale of merchandise and the manner
of payment therefor, to borrow
money in furthorance Of the objects
and purposes of this corporation an6
to make contracts OF mortgage and
pledge to secure the same; to make
use of a corporate seal and the tsame
to break and alter at pleasure; K
name and appoint such managers
directors, officer agents and clerks
as the interest or convenience o.
said corporation may require.
ARTICLE v.
The Capital Stock of this corpora
ton is hereby fixed at Ten Thousans
Dollars, ($10. 0o0.00). represented b.
one hundred shares, (1001, of a Pal
value of One Hundred Dollars, (s100.
O01, each, and it shall be divided in
to preferred and common stock, o
which there shall be Seventy-av'
Hundred Dollars, $500. 00), common
} stock and Twenty-Five Hundred Dol
lars, (S2, SOC. 09), preferred stool
The preferred stock shall entttle TIL
holder to cumulative semi-annua
dividends at the rate Of eight pc
centum per annum, and no more, tn
! same to be paid or set apart befor
any dividends shall be paid or Sc
apart for the common stock; and Il
] case of liquidation, the proceeds Q
liquidation shall be first applied t
the payment Of the holders Of tn
r preferred stock of the ss:ln OF On
Hundred Dollars per share and an
. act lGed or unpaid iiyiiaada thereon
. and the balance remaining thereafte
Q shall be divided among the holders c
Q common stock in proportion to thei
D holdings. The first dividend on tn
d rraSarred s+onk shall hn nsvahI Iulv