National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-18
EAST CAPITOL BLOCK.
Statement Of Captain A. GRAM

VI NopldAA M NAoAs'
To the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: In consequence Of the frequent and re-
peated Misrepresentation of those representing
the Pkenix Mutual Life Insurance Company
and others, through the public press and other
wise. rome time since asked for suspension oil
public opinion until could produce evidence In
the courts to satisfy the community Of the great
injustice being done me by the attempt made to
obtain unlawful possession OF my property on
East Capitol street.
lam now able to present the facts by reason Of
. new suit commenced BY said company, by my
answer to Q rule to show cause why receiver
have clearly shown that there was no cause for
the appointment Of such receiver, and that the
property ought to remain in my hands during the
tendency Of this litigation. have also estao-
lished, BY positive proof Of the highest character
the following facts, via:
l. That the property on which the SAID com
East Capitol street. has cost t514 II, without
builders profits each house averaging $So, 400
2 That the amount OF valid liens OF saia COM
furher shown that this, with all the other claims,
had been paid under the terms Of q contract en-;
tered into March /, 1878, whereby eleven OF said
houses were sold to said company.
& That the property while Under my charge
was kept in the best condition and repair, and
was 20 delivered into the hands Of Receivers L.
B. Pierce and r. Ross Perry November II, 1874;
that during the four months this property was in
their hands It was damaged to the extent OF many
was made on their part to rent the same, making
1t apparent that their sole object was to obtain
The property at auction, as they atterWard OBJ
tanned an order so to do from the court.
4. That notwithstanding the false verbal asser.
tions and afhdavits made By the company aAd
others that never put dollar, and do not now
own a dollar, in said property, have clearly
shown that have put into It over $4,000, equiv:
alent to cash; and that the fifteen per cent. Of
building profits amounts to about 81, 900, making
q total Of $2OO, Oof which have in my eWn right
in said property.
failure to rent these houses since August, 1873,
and that it was their fault alone that they had
not been productive, and that has been in conse-
Quence thereof loss Of about $4,000
These facts clearly demonstrate that the COM
paDy had no right, either in law or equity, to
take the property from me and place IL in the
hands of receivers but, anxious that it should be
made Immediately productive, voluntarily pro-
posed to place ten Of the houses in the hands Of
the court, only to be rented for term not TO ex-
coed three years, reseTVing two for my own oene-
1T and use. To this the court assented, and
authorized each party to select rePresentatlVe
we'll known citizen, and thoroughly competent
for the trust while they insisted upon their agent
Mr.. L. B. Pierce, whom considered as totally
unoualiied and objected to- agreeing in his stead
to accept DR.. E. ID. Gallaudet, one Of their d.
rectors. Yet they insisted on Pierce. The court
then appointed Deputy Marshal Phillips and Mr..
Jesse III Wilson who all will agree are RESPONSE
have also shown to the court that this insur-
ulatioD, for the purpose Of obtaining large in
terest-ten per cent.-besides usury Of fromtUo
to ten per cent, which was paid as the advances
were made, My large capital was invested in
good faith, and the enterprise would have proved
remuneratYe but for the fact that the public i'm
provements in progress on that square from Octo-
Der, 1871, to August, 1878, prevented either the
sale or rental Of the property, entailtng loss
which the company should bear equally with my
self
About March, 1878, made q contract with the
company to sell them eleven Of the houses-they,
among other things, agreeing to pay all Of my in
debtedness, and they did advance the funds (0eing
part purchase money! to pay all of my debts ex-
cept q few thousand dollars. During the hnan-
cisl crisis they repudiated this contract, and at
tempted to sell the property under deeds OF trust,
before any of the notes for which said deeds were
given were due, and in violation of the express
stipulation that the notes were to be returned to
! have also shown that from January, 1873, to
March, 1874, when the court dismissed the case Of
Carter ct al. vs.. Grant ct al, thereby annulling
company, with certain creditors and their attor-
neys, have rcsorted to every conceivable device
to get unlawful possession OF the property for the
purpose of selling II at auction and buying It in
themselves, thereby making at least 100000.
have made them separate offers Of compro-
to refer the whole subject to three disnterested
persons, all Of which they have refused.
claim that Gy their action the TeP5sssntatTsf Ives
done me a great wrong, but also the policy hold
ers, who are the stockholders, and suggest to
under the laws Of the several States, the company
has not forfeited its charter, or by the illegal acts
Of its officers subjected them to immediate reno
val9 for the laws Of Connecticut prohibit more
than one half the value Of the property under the
sworn appIaisement from being advanced as
loans on the same, yet the records Of the court
show, by their sworn statement, that they have
advanced the full amount Of the value Of this
property, and that have no interest in it. They
are also amenable to the usury laws Of the Dis
trtct. They have, by their failure and refusal to
rent the property, involved the company in loss
Of at least OOO they have, by their refusal TO
submit the case between us to arbitrator, in
volved the company in extensive litigation and
costs.
In the case Of Carter ct al vs.. Grant ct al,
have only to say that 1t has been used to aid the
Phoenix company In their proceedings against me.
1t was instituted by an attorney, representing
balance Of 3 judgment amounting to $40, In
which fifty -four creditors were made unwilling
defendants, asking that property costing over
$4OO, coo should be sold.
might add considerable to this but what is
given above will clearly show that have been
imposed upon, and merely expressing my deter
mination to contest the case until my rights are
guaranteed, l leave the ease with the public
among whom ! have been a busy worker for
some years and with whom expect to pass the
remainder Of my life. A. GRANT.