Atkins v. Wabash, St. L. & P. Ry. Co.

The Wabash, St. Louis &, Pacific Railroad Company is a consolidated corporation, owning lines of railway in several states on both sides of the Mississippi river. In the latter part of May, 1884, in form, it filed its bill in the circuit court of the United States for the Eastern district of Missouri against the trustees in the general mortgage covering the corporate property, and against certain railway corporations whose lines it was operating under leases. Upon the filing of this bill the court at once assumed jurisdiction of the entire property of the corporation, and, without notice,…