HARVEY V. RALEIGH & G. R. CO.
115
matter of fact, is carrying on business in the district in which the federal court is sitting; (2) that such business is transacted by some agent or officer appointed by and representing the corporation in that district, or at least in the state; (3) the existence of some local law making the foreign corporation generally amenable to suits therein as a condition precedent, express or implied, of doing business in the state. U. S. v. American Bell Tel. Co.. 29 Fed. 17; Barron v. Burnside, 121 U. S. 193, 7 Sup. Ct. 931. The allegations of the complaint show that one at least of these essential conditions does not exist in the case at bar. It is distinctlv stated that this defendant is a corporation of the state of New York. It is also stated that it has no office, officer, or agent in the state of North Carolina. This being so, the service of process on a director of the corporation on a transient visit to the state is not service on the corporation. It is supposed, however, that this difficulty has been removed, and that proper service of summons has been waived, by the filing of an answer in the state court. Had this answer been filed before the removal, this position would have been perfectly sound. This cause coming here in the same plight in which it was at the time of the filing of the petition for removal, and coming over with an answer, the motion to dismiss on the ground stated would have been too late. There is an answer in the record. Examining it, it appears that it was filed after the state court below had ordered the removal, and after this action of the lower court had been reversed by the supreme court. Necessarily, the state court would go on and try the cause. The defendant was right in filing this answer, and its petition with bond having been submitted to the state court, and the prayer for removal finally refused, the defendant can go on and defend in the state court without prejudice to his right to remove. Insurance Co. v. Dunn, 19 Wall. 214; Removal Cases, 100 U. S. 457. The action of the state court in refusing the removal cannot affect this court. Nor can the action of this court in refusing to remove affect the state court. The trial in both courts can proceed. The final decision of this court can be reviewed in the supreme court of the United States, and the final decree in the state court can go by writ of error to the same tribunal; this motion to remove being a federal question. Railroad Co. v. Koontz, 104 U. S. 5; Oakley v. Goodnow, 118 U. S. 43, 6 Sup. Ct. 944. The complaint as to the Roessler & Hasslacker Chemical Company for these reasons is dismissed.
HARVEY v. RALEIGH & G. R. CO. et a1. (Circuit Court, E. D. North Carolina. September 12, 1898.) No. 199. 1. JURISDICTION OF FEDERAL COURTS-AMOUNT IN OF ALLEGATIONS.
A bill against a corporation and certain of its stockholders to set aside alleged purchases of stock by the latter with corporate funds, and to enjoin the voting of such stock, filed by complainant as a stockholder in behalf of himself and all other stockholders who desire to intervene, and which alleges that complainant is the owner of "divers shares" of the
116
89 FEDElIlAL REPORTER.
stock of such corporation, but from which the amount or value of his holding does not appear, falls to show that the amount in controversy Is sufficient to give a federal court jurisdiction. 2. PARTIES-STOCKHOLDERS IN CORPORATION-SALE OF STOCK.
A bill filed by a stockholder against the corporation and certain directors alleged that the latter had illegally purchased the shares of other stockholders with funds of the corporation, allowing the same to remain, however, in the names of the former owners for the purpose of giving them greater voting power under the rules of the corporation. Held, that the bill was not demurrable because the sellers of the stock were not made parties, It being alleged that they had parted with their entire interest therein.
On demurrer to the bill. W. L Marbury and Stiles & Holladay, for complainant. Wm. A. Fisher and Watts & Hatton, for defendants. SIM:ONTON, Circuit Judge. This bill is filed by George B. M. Harvey, claiming to be a stockholder in the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad, in behalf of himself and all other stockholders in said company whomay intervene and claim the benefit of this suit. The defendants are the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company and the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company, citizens of North Carolina, and resident in the district, R. C. Hoffman and Louis McLane, citizens and residents of the state of Maryland, the former being the president of these two companies, and the latter a director therein, and Legh R. Watts, a citizen and resident of the Eastern district of Virginia, who is also a director in these companies. A plea to the jurisdiction was filed in behalf of Messrs. Hoffman, McLane, and Watts, and sustained, except in so far as they were officially bound by a decree against these companies, of which they were officers. The bill sets out: That the Seaboard Air-Line System, composed of many corporations, among them the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company and the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company, is practically under the domination and control of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company, and that the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company is in every respect under its control. That the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company has issued in stock $200,000 first preference, $44,200 second preference, and $1,144,200 common stock. That the voting power of such stock is by the person in whose name the shares of stock stand on the books of the company, he being, for this reason, deemed the owner thereof as regards the company; and that there is a graduated system of voting, to wit, one vote for each share of stock, not exceeding 20; one vote for every two shares of stock exceeding 20, not exceeding 200; one vote for every five shares of stock exceeding 200 and not exceeding 500, and one vote for every ten shares of stock exceeding 500; and that provision is made protecting the company from any so-called stockholder who offers to vote upon any stock represented by him which he does not own bona fide, or which has been transferred to him with intent to give more votes than is allowed by the provision set out above. That Messrs. Hoffman, McLane, and Watts had been elected directors at the annual meeting in 1896. That for the purpose of maintaining their position and influence in the Seaboard &
HARVEY V. RALEIGH &; G. R. CO.
117
Roanoke Railroad Company, these gentlemen purchased upwards of 2,000 shares in the stock of that company, held by and standing in the names of many individuals, of whom seventeen are mentioned, the other names being at present unknown to complainant That this purchase was made secretly, fraudulently, and illegally upon the credit securities and moneys of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company, or of the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company, by these gentlemen, or one of them, out of the corporate funds in their charge. That neither of these companies has any charter, power, or capacity to invest its means in the purchase of any stock in the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company, or to hold any such shares, or to vote the same. That since said sale and purchase, which was made about March, 1897, none of the stockholders so selling have had any interest, legal or equitable, in said stock, and that the beneficial interest therein is in the corporation which purchased the shares. That, however, in order to conceal the purchase and at the same time enjoy the power in the votes of the shares, no transfer has been made on the books of the company, by which it would appear that these shares still stand in the name of the original holders and that Messrs. Hoffman, McLane, and Watts propose to vote them in the names of such nominal holders in meetings of the company, and that these votes will be recognized and received by the inspectors and judges of the election. That the amount in controversy is more than $2,000, exclusive of interest and costs. That complainant has for more than two months been a stockholder of record on the books of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company, bona fide, absolutely, and with no intent to evade the grad· uated system of voting. That an injunction has been obtained against his voting on his stock in a local court of Virginia, which, however, had no jurisdiction over him, and with whose injunction he has not been served. '['he prayer of the bill is: (1) That defendants be required to answer, not under oath. (2) That on final hearing it be decreed that neither the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company nor the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company, has any charter power to purchase, own, hold, or vote upon any shares of stock in the Seaboard & Roanoke Rail· road Company, and that the purchase of the stock as alleged was an illegal misuse of corporate funds. (3) That Messrs. Hoffman, McLane, and Watts, and any substitutes for them, and all officers and agents of either of these railroad companies, be enjoined from voting upon said stock at any meeting of the railroad company, and that the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company, and each and every of its agents of every description, be enjoined from receiving such votes at any meeting, whether said votes be offered in the name of either of the said companies or of any of the parties who sold these shares to them. To this bill the defendants the railroad companies interpose a demurrer: (1) That upon complainant's own showing he is not entitled to the relief prayed. (2) Because the alleged vendors of the certificates of stock are not parties. Complainant alleges that he is a stockholder in the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company. He nowhere states the amount of stock held by him in that company. On the contrary, he seems carefully
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89 FEDERAL REPORTER.
to avoidf,l!D.;}f statemenbof that nature. All that he says is that he has been "an owner and holder of divers shares of the common stock." It is true that he avers that he is acting with associates who are also large owners and holders of the common stock. But the amount is not stated, nor do they in any way appear on the record so as to be bound by the order of this court. The facts giving jurisdiction to this court must appear in the record, especially the fact that the case is within the jurisdictional amount. It may be that a positive statement to this effect is not necessary. But it must clearly appear from the matters set out in the complaint or bill that the amount in controversy exceeds $2,000, exclusive of interest and costs. The averments of this bill give no information on this point. The complainant is said to be the owner and holder of divers shares of common stock in the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company. By the averments of the bill, in this company are shares of first preferred stock to the amount of $200,000, of second preferred stock to the amount of $44" 200, and of common stock $1,144,200. His interest-the amount of his interest-is in the divers shares of common stock. ",Vhether these be two or more does not appear. Clearly, therefore, upon the face of the bill the jurisdiction of the court has not been established, and the first ground of demurrer must be sustained. The second ground of demurrer is not sustained. The bill avers that certain stockholders of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company have sold to :M:essrs. Hoffman, McLane, and Watts, who pur· chased in the name of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company 01' of the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company, one or the other; that these vendors parted with all their interest whatsoever in this stock; and the bill attacks the sale as ultra vires. The demurrer admits the first allegation as to the sale by and the relinquishment of all interest in their stock by the vendors. So, by the admission of the demurrer, these parties have no further interest in the stock or in this suit. No decree is asked against them, and no decree can be made affecting their interest, for confessedly they have none what· ever. With regard to the conclusion of law that the purchase was ultra vires, this is contradicted by the acts of assembly of the state of North Carolina of August 15, 1868: "Any railroad within this state shall be at liberty to take or purchase stock in or lend money to or purchase bonds of this or any other railroad company in this state, or any adjoining state." And by the act of assembly of the same state of February 21, 1885: "Any railroad or transportation company may acquire and hold or guarantee or endorse the bonds or stock of or may lease any railroad or branch railroad or other transportation lines in this or an adjoining state connecting with it directly or indirectly." Laws 1885, p. 159. Thus, by the admissions of the demurrer, the stockholders sold, and by the provisions of the law of North Carolina-general enactments-the alleged purchaser could take. Thus all right, title, and interest of the vendors passed and no longer exists. 'l'he first ground of demurrer having been sustained, the bill may be dismissed.
TAYLOR V. ILLINOIS CENT. R. CO.
119
TAYLOR v. U,LINOIS CENT. R. CO. PRICE v. SAME. (Circuit Court, D. Kentucky. September 12, 1898.) JURISDICTION OF FEDERAl, COURTS-DIVERSITY f)F CITIZENSHIP-ADOPTION BY STATE OF FOREIGN CORPORATION.
The jurisdiction of a federal court over a suit to which a corporation of a different state is a party, on the ground of diversity of citizenship, rests, not upon the citizenship of the corporation, but of its corporators, who are conclusively presumed to be citizens of the state where the corporation was organized. Hence Ky. St. § 841, which requires foreign railroad corporations owning or operating any railway within the state to incorporate therein In the manner prescribed, and provides that upon compliance with its requirements such a corporation shall "become and be a corporation. citizen and resident" of the state, does not affect the jurisdiction of the federal court over a suit brought by a citizen of Kentucky against a foreign railroad company, which has complied with the statute, nor the right of the defendant to remove the suit from a state court.
On Motions to Remand. M. L. Heavin and Rowe & Felix, for plaintiff. Pirtle & Trabue and H. P. Taylor, for defendant. BARR, District Judge. The motions to remand in these two cases present the same question, and the motions are upon the theory that the Illinois Oentral Railroad Oompany is, under the facts presented, a Kentucky corporation as well as an Illinois corporation, and, being a domestic corporation of the state of Kentuck.y, has the same citizenship as the plaintiff. It appears from the record that the negligence charged in each case arose in the operation of the defendant's road running from Louisville to Paducah, in the state of Kentucky, which road was owned and operated by the defendant company; and it also appears that before the said accidents the Illinois Oentral road had complied with the provisions of section 841 of the Kentucky Statutes. The provisions of that section are as follows: "Ko company. association or corporation, created by or organized under, the laws or authority of any state or country other than this state, shall possess, control, maintain or operate any railway or part thereof, in this state, until by incorporation under the laws of this state, the same shall have become a corporation, citizen and resident of this state. Any such compan3', association or corporation, may for the purpose of possessing, controlling, maintaining or operating a railway or part thereof in this state, become a corporation, citizen and resident of this state by being incorporated in the manner following, namely: By filing in the office of the secretary of state, and in the office of the railroad commission, a copy of the charter or articles of Incorporation of such company, association or corporation, au· thenticated by its seal and by the attestation of its president and secretary, "and therenpon and by virtue thereof, such company, association or corporation shall at once become and be a corporation, citizen and resident of this state. The secretary of state shall issue to such corporation a certificate of such incorporation."
This section is followed by another, which provides that any company, association, or corporation which shall possess, control, maintain, or operate,a railway, or part thereof, iu this Rtate, without becom.ingincl)rpQrated as a corporation,citizen and resident of this state,