Due to the poor quality of the source document, a number of words in this article were illegible.
Oakland Tribune, April 29, 1914, page 8:
STOCKHOLDERS SUE COMPANY OFFICERS
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Conspiracy Is Alleged in the Carrying Out of Contracts.
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Dissatisfied stockholders in the Pacific Telephone Herald Company have filed suits in the Superior Court, demanding damages in the sum of $200,000 from certain of its officers and from the United States Telephone Herald Company, together with its agents, alleging conspiracy in the carrying out of contracts entered into by which the local concern took over patents and patent rights from the United States Company, the original concern.
While all the officers and the Pacific Company are made defendants in one of the two suits, the actions are directed in particular against C. C. Balassa, agent of the parent company, and C. J. Ward and S. H. Whisner, stock promoters, whom it is alleged contracted with Balassa contrary to the best interests of the plaintiff corporation.
The suit against the United States Company et al. alleges that plaintiff contracted for operating rights in twenty-one states, provinces in Canada and in [two text lines missing] stock in the Pacific Company. The contract was made between Balassa, representing the parent concern, and Ward & Whisner, last October. It is alleged further that Lord & Whisner conspired to share the money payment with Balassa in a irregular manner.
In the deal was included the taking over of the rights held in a number of counties in this state by the California Telephone Herald Company which involved [$10,000] in cash and a promissory note for [$13,000]. That the entire pro- [one text line missing] Pacific Company is concerned, are the grounds upon which plaintiff asks for and [] Ward & Whisner from [getting] any more [] an accounting of the payments which have been made for patent rights, the return of the [] and the [] held by Ward & Whisner.
The Pacific Telephone Herald Company was incorporated by a large number of [] to carry on the [] business of [] entertainment [] telephone [] installed in homes and business places for [] by rentals.