Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-03-20
TURKEY KNOB ORCHARD
GETS INTO LITIGATION


It does nearly half million dollars, has
been filed in the circuit clerks office
OF Frederick county. The plaintiff is
Artemus Ward, ulti-millionaire con-
cessionaire. with national reputation.
and others of his associates, against
Christian E. Gudebrod.
The suit involves the Turkey Knob
Orchard. Inc, whose principal office |
is in Winchester, and whose orchard
properties are situated in Shenandoah
county, near Mount jackson. The
corporation are owners of the original
Turkey Knob tract of about IT'S acres
and in addition they acquired by
purchase large tract of orchard land
from Strathmore. the Wissler home in
Shenandoah.
The principal plaintiff in the suit,
Artemus Ward, is the owner OF the
orchards in the suit, and not C. E..
Gudebrod, as has hitherto been sup
posed to be the case, according to the
| OAh AiCo III Tic Sull.
In fact, the bill AYERS that Mr.. GUIDE
Drod was only an employee, or manage
er, OF the orchards at a salary of
$500 per year, and a five per cent
commission on the net profits from the
orchards up to $4,000
The suit is brought to have re-
ceiver appointed to take over and op-
crate the orchards, to determine what
amount of money is owing by the or
chard corporation, and to whom it is
due, and for an order restraining
Gudebrod from interfering in any way
with the directors and particularly with
the newly appointed manager, Albert
. B. Clark.
| The plaintiffs aver that the corpor.
alton is hopelessly in debt and that in.
stead OF making large profit each
: year off of their apples. the corpora
ton has been operated at loss, with
the exception of two years, when 6
small balance was shown.
1t is set forth in the bill that in 1911
Artemus Ward and Mr.. Gudebrod en-
tered into an agreement in New Yorl
City to 60 into the commercial orchart
| business, with Gudebrod as manager
/ The paid in capital stock was $50, 900
E of which Mr.. Ward paid in cash $40. 400
andis the owner of 494 shares C. E
Gudebrod was the owner of one share
Mrs. Sue H. Leake of one share, VIII
liam B. Nesbitt, one share, an,
George NJ. Clarke, of three shares.
Subsequently, after the origina
tract of orchard was purchased il
Shenandoah county, Mr.. Ward mad
advancements to the corporation unit
they owe him at present $3.50, Sl4. IS
exclusive of the $49,4 due him OF
capital stock. These advancement
. were made, the bill AYERS, to cover tn
losses incurred in the operation OF thu
orchard properties and also to buy tn
l Strathmore place
AT meeting of the board of di
rectors held in New York City thi
year, it was decided to retire Mr.
Gudebrod as manager and to this en-,
, a meeting of the directors was hel,
and he was deposed. Albert B. Clarl
, was elected manager in Mr.. GUIDE
brod's place, but on March End ans
several days subsequent thereto, wher
MIR. Clark went to the orchards to en-
ter upon his duties, the bill declare.
, Mr.. Gudebrod refused to recogniz,
him as manager and refused to relin
quish his duties TO Mr.. Clark.
The plaintiffs allege they have suf
Tered great loss by reason of the man
agement of the orchards by Mr.. GUIDE
brod and they ask, as stated above
that he be restrained from interfering
with the duties of Manager Clark or in
any way molesting the directors in the
. performance of their duties.
i The court is further asked TO wind
up the affairs of the corporation and to
direct distribution of the proceeds
from the sale of the properties amoue
the creditors entitled thereto.
| One of the defendants named in the
bill is the Handley Board of Trustees
Iof Winchester, to whom the Turkey
Knob Orchard, Inc. owes the sum OF
s25, 600, secured by mortgage on their
property.
| Ward and Larrick, attorneys, of this
Iclty, represent the plaintiffs in the
suit, while New York City lawyers and
lawyers in Woodstock and in Winches-
ter will appear for the other litigants
and interests involved in the suit.
One OF the unusual circumstances in
connection with the suit is that since if
was instituted, the principal plaintiff.
Artemus Ward, has died. His death
occurred suddenly in New York City
few days ago. Mr.. Ward was
nationally known figure. He held
concessions for all the advertising an.
pearing in the trains of the subways
and elevated service in New York and
for the vending machine concessions
at railroad and subway stations of the
subways in New York.
In connection with the announce
ment of his death. the New York news.
papers devoted columns of space con-
corning his life. He paid one million.
eight hundred thousand dollars an
nually for the vending machine !