Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company

TELEGRAPH SUIT.

Western Union Cited to Show by What Warrant

It Purchased the B. & O.

PHILADELPHIA, PA., December 31, — Sheriff Krumbaar received from Harrisburg to-day a writ of quo warranto commanding him to summon the Western Union and Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Companies before the Dauphin County Court to answer for an alleged violation of the constitution and the laws of the State. The writ, which is returnable on January 29, was served this afternoon on the principal officers of the company here.

The paper filed by the Attorney General, which forms the basis of the suit, sets forth that the Western Union Company, on October 5, 1887, in violation of the constitution of Pennsylvania, purchase the entire stock, and thereby a controlling interest, of the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company, and still hold the same — 88,750 shares of the capital stock of the par value of $3,875,000 — and paid therefore $5,000,000; that the Baltimore and Ohio Company was a competing line in this State with the Western Union, and that its stock, line, and franchises were by reason of the sale forfeited to the State. For the same reason the Attorney General claims a decree of forfeiture and escheat of the line, property, and franchises, and property of the Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company of Pennsylvania because of such purchase and consolidation.

The recent triumph of the Garrett interest in the election of the new Baltimore and Ohio President is believed by many to account for the suit, but it is stated on authority that the Attorney General has take the step of his own free will, and would have moved in the matter over a year ago had he been in possession of positive proof.