The Cryolite Suit

THE CRYOLITE SUIT.

                              PROGRESS OF THE GREAT SUIT TO RECOVER SIX

                                     HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM WILLIAM

                                     E. DODGE OF NEW YORK; INTERESTING

                                     PARTICULARS OF THE CASE.

PITTSFIELD, MASS., MAY 28. — The great suit to recover $600,000 from William E. Dodge of New York, by the Lenox Plate Glass Company, was re­sumed before Judge Ames this morning. Waldron J. Cheyney, the original owner of the cryolite patents and inventor of the art of making opaque glass from cryolite, was the first witness. He testified to numerous meetings with Mr. Servin, then Treasurer of the glass company, and who now brings this suit, at which meetings the value of the new discovery, its possibilities and difficulties, were discussed, and Mr. Servin was given full information. These conversations led to an experimental use of the cryolite by the glass company, and subsequently to making plates of it for the American Hot Cast Porcelain Company, of which Cheyney was Presi­dent. This was to show that the glass company knew all about the cryolite by instruction and by practical experience, and could not, therefore, have been imposed upon by Mr. Dodge’s representations about it or been deceived and cheated, as alleged. Cheyney further testified that Dodge was only a stockholder in the porcelain company; had visited the works but twice, and had do reason to doubt the profitableness of the business, as he was assured that it was profitable, and if he did represent to the glass company that it was so profitable, he did it believing it to be so. Plaintiff asserts that at the time Dodge represented the business of the porcelain company to be very remunerative he knew the patents were worthless and the business ruinous. Cheyney testi­fied that its manufacture was profitable, but the money was sunk in costly experiments to develop the value of the cryolite. Hon. Galusha A. Grow, ex-Governor of Pennsylvania, was President of the porcelain company when the negotiations were made which consolidated it with the glass company. He testified this afternoon to the steps which led to the consolidation, and exonerated Mr. Dodge from any share or part in them except to take the stock it received from the glass company and pay the debts of the porcelain company, at a cost to himself of about $70,000. The case is attracting great attention in Berkshire. It will close with arguments by Sena­tor Dawes and ex-District Attorney Stearns on Thursday.