Ward

These are appeals from orders denying motions for change of venue. The actions were brought in Butte County, and the corporate defendants moved to change the place of trial to the city and county of San Francisco, where they have their principal place of business. The cases were consolidated as they involve identical issues.

The complaints are quite lengthy but it is only necessary for the purpose of this appeal to refer to the facts involving venue. The actions are for recovery of damages for fraud. It is alleged that the Western Canal Company was a corporation wholly owned, operated and controlled by the Great Western Power Company, a corporation, and that the two corporations were public utilities for the purpose of furnishing water for the irrigation of lands within the area where lay the lands of the two' plaintiffs.

The alleged fraud consisted in inducing plaintiffs to make payments of money to defendant Western Canal Company on the alleged false and fraudulent representations that defendant Western Canal Company was a mutual water company, and that plaintiffs could not get water from the company except by purchase of its capital stock, the same to become appurtenant to…