It introduced Gray as the original inventor of the telephone, and ordered its lawyers to take action at once against the Bell Company for infringement of the Gray patent.

This high-handed action, it hoped, would most quickly bring the little Bell group into a humble and submissive frame of mind.

Every morning the Western Union looked to see the white flag flying over the Bell headquarters.

But no white flag appeared.

On the contrary, the news came that the Bell Company had secured two eminent lawyers and were ready to give battle.
The case began in the Autumn of 1878 and lasted for a year.