The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-06
A WIDOWS HOTEL WAR.


sEY 4 CRAWFORD couNrEEMARcuxs-yuDGE
GILBEnTs PRoTocoL-THE LINE or RATTLE
IN RICHMOND COUNTY.
About midway between Tompknsville and New
Brighton, on Island situated point looking
GU. on the Bay OF New York and still further soawar1
Is tho former residence OF Mr. August Belmont Some
wears since Mr. Belmont ceasing occupy tho build.
inc as a residence and II being OF size CON,
tanning over ono hundred rooms, II rented by
Oscar De Camp and Furnished by him US a summer
hotel In 1873 Mr.. De Camp shufiled or this mortal
COLL leaving the furniture and his good VIII Of tho
place TO his widow Ohvia who, for about three years
thereafter continued to run the establishment IN
March, 1876 she sold the furniture 10 John J. Demp
sey and Matthew ). Crawford, both Of whom had been
employed in tho hotel by her husband and herself
This sale was made for the sum Of $4,000 $1,000 Of
which was paid down cash. and notes given for tho
balance each for 81 ooo payable tho LIST OF August
OF each year. and to secure payment Of which mort
gage was given on the furniture Tho contract OF sale
contained clause 10 tho effect that II the hotel was
mot opened tho LIST OF May IN each year tho urn-
ture to revert TO her on the nrst dcmuit 10 SO
open, and Dempsey Crawford were to forfeit all they
had already paid account Of IT, Tho present owner
Of the building is MI. George Q. Tallmap, and from
him Mrs. Do Camp had i've years. lease, with tho
privilege OF renewal at 900 year, and she suble
10 Dempsey Crawford by the year at the Same rate.
The rent according to the conditions oil tho lease was
payable in instruments OF S. 900 lst OF july
ST. 500 tho LIST Of September, and So $50 the Isl
or November OF each year The proprlotors paid
tho first inslament Of ST. 900 completing their con-
tract for tho furniture and the first note Of 600 IN
August last They also paid directly TO the landlord
the rst and second annual instruments for rent, and
in relation the third nstament OF 81 500, payable
IN November last agreed with him 70 let It run ovcr
until THIS season.
When the lyt OF November arrived Mr. Dempsey waa
living in New York Tor the winter, and Mr. Crawford
his partner, working here, going 70 staten Island
but once week. In the hotel the family Of Mr. Craw
ford was residing, and at their table Mrs. De Camp
who continued 70 occupy room IN Ihe hotel, partook
Of their hospitality unquestioned they living together
as one family. When the November rent fell due Mrs.
De Camp. without consulting Mossrs Dempsey Il
Crawford went directly 20 sho owner Of the building
the party who rented from him. the owner was Obliged
to accept. On the day following she went before JUS
dspossess warrant against Messrs. Dempsey Craw-
ford for non-payment OF rent 10 her. This she is
alleged 10 have without having made any personal
demand on either of Thorn Tor the payment OF Tho
rent The warrant was served on some member
OF Mr. Crawford's family thcL living in the hotel and
neither he his partner know anything Of the pro-
ceedings until OF the day on which the warrant
wus returnable aud then they discovered that judy
ment mad gone in favor Of Mrs De Camp two hours
before Being already IN the house. Mrs do camp had
t.ic trouble IN getting formal possession under her
lord vito and Children one Of the latter II Is claimed
being sick At the time With matters In this condition
Mrs. De Camp found herself again. as she supposed,
owner OF the furniture and possessed OF the $4,000
pad on account OF IT, II would be impossible Tor
Dempsey Crawford to open on the LIST oi this May,
according to the conditions OF sale, hotel
which the law had smut them out. With this impress
sion also tho thus summary dispossessed tenants
rested in sadness aud regret January last when
they consulted brace oil lawyers OF this city. Under
their advice Mr.. Crawford went Immediately to Staten
"a .or mi - n
furniture The lady refused 10 DO interviewed
A COUNTER MOVEMENT.
On the following day, under legal advice, no went
again with wagon and men - remove tho furniture
This II was supposed, would bring Mrs. De Camp from
her hiding place. and II did, when formal demand Tor
possession made She, oil course, refused, and on
this refusal action was commenced Tor conversion
Of the property damages oeing iala q. Szo,ooo An,
IN money Tor what she had eaten AZ MI CrawiordS
table, and sought TO pay as they say by insratitudc
Sne then applied to the supreme Court la this city and
got an Injunction restraining Dempsy Crawford
from interfering with the property This Injunction
case was argued February last, and has now boon
decided against tho woman. simultaneously with the
commencement their SUIT for conversion OF tho fur
review the proceedings before Justice Corblt,
under which Mrs. De Camp had such .
sudden transition from tho position oil guest
10 that of proprietor OF tho hotel. Tho ground
on which tho JUSTICES judgment was sought To DO set
aside was that proper demand for tho rent mad
been made on the tenants preceding the application
for the dspossess IL is further claimed that,
had sucn demand been made, Messrs Dempsey "
CraWIOfQ wore
was argued in Kings county, and decision has Just
boon rendered in the Supreme Court OF that county
setting the proceedings to dspossess, with costs,
and issuing writ OF restitution 10 the Sneri oI Rich
mond county, directing hum TO put Messrs. Dempsey
Crawford in possession OF the no ell and furniture.
JUDGE GILBERT's PROTOCOL. NA
Yesterday the plaintiffs accompanied by one Of their
attorneys proceeded 10 the hotel Tor the purpose OF
being put IN possession by the Sheriff. The Sheriff,
whose regular force consisted OF two deputies.
was confronted at tho point OF attack by constable
and Jour deputies Not only was the latter IN CON-
mand Of superior force, but lie had auxiliary ut his
command IN tho shape OF three days stay OF pro-
ceedings from Judge Gilbert This stay, IL was repre-
sentcd, was granted with Wow 10 allow Mrs. Do
Camp to perfect appeal from the decision setting
aside dspossess proceedings although the oppo-
site party thou ht Tor tho purpose OF allowing
her time to get quietly Whatever may have been
the motive tho effect OF the order OF Judge Gilbert
was 10 restrain tho Sheriff from attacking tho con-
stable and his host insure three days truce and.
for that period at least, the peace Of Richmond
county.
STATUS QUO
In the meantime Mcssrs Dempsey y Crawford have
advertised open the hotel The Is; OF next month,
and SO has Mrs. Olivia De Camp, tho latter possibly
assuming that IL ''hod the iorr' until alter
tho LIST of May and prevent the former from opening
that day the condition OF the sale Will be broken
and she can keep tho hotel.