The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-06
THE AMERlcUs CLUB HOUSE.


TITLE TO THE PROPERTY or THE ONCE IA
NOUS ORGANIZATION IN DIsPUTE-How THE
CLUB WAS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
THE OLD FLUSH TIMES.
BRIDGEPoRr Conn.,, Juno s. 1871
An important trial. involving tho title 10 all the real
and personal property formerly belonging TO tho
Americas Club ut Greenwich, Conn.,. need here
In the Superior Court for this county, before Judge
Hitchcock to-day
CASES AT ISSUE.
There are several at Issue which appear upon
the docket as iollows:-A. b. Mead and others vs.. j.
n d. Mead and others VS. Gage lnseo; James NJ.
Morton va Gage Inslee and s. II. Newman In
brief these cases follows:-in 1872
Keyscr brought suit against the club and attached
the property for bill for gasfttlng. plumbing. &c
aud N 1874 inslee brought for arch-
tect also attached The properly Tho attachments
covered all the property including Tue buildings,
Jugs belonged TO the creditors OF the club On
these Judgment was Obtained in November 1876
executions issued aud threats OF levy we're made
The club ceased TO be IN 1885, Ut the close OF the
tho original lease 10 Tweed expired on the Isl
OF January. 1874; and new lease was gwen at the
latter date to Mr. Charles L. Lawrence. In 1874
the property sold under judgment obtained by
James MacGrogor, and was purchased ey hessrs.
renee In December, 1876, Keyser and lnslee under
took 10 levy the execution previously obtained IN
had transferred all his intercsi) owner OF
the personal property; and Mr. Nelson Mead, owner
OF the land each brought njunctions against keyser
ana Insee TO RESTRAIN lovy OF execution cmporary
injunctions obtained and the question OF right and
title to the properly Is now 70 DC decided me co9n-
r. Hoyl OF greenwich, and X. Sceley, OF this city;
Tor respondents Woodward and Perry. Norwak, andJ
A large number OF documents, including leases
and schedules, wero laid in evidences. The
arly
was to run years Tho conditions OF the
sub.leaso That Messrs Ashman Morton should
pay So 600 por year. On October ., 1879 Mr. Ashman
assigned all his interest in the lease to MI Morton,
who still holds possession Of the place.
TESTIMONY TAKEN.
Mr. Morton testified that they purchased the prop
erty Of Mr. Lawrence, paying for tho same the sum
Of $50. ooo-ss, 900 IN cash and 81, 200 in notes.
with the that he had good title derived
from tho club. Alter The purchase thoy expendod
about $50 600 tho place In putting IN Al ORDER In
which style the house is still kept
Mr.. D. s. Moaa, Jr, OF Greenwich, testified, giving
history OF occupancy OF the point where the club
house now stands all the facts relation tho
lease and subsequent improvements.
rHg oLCB
In the frat place, q few men came there In 1858 or
1853 prospecting, and the following year they came
again, aud by permission they, occupied the
resort or Boss Tweed and other noted men
associated with him in the Americas Club
If Of
natural beauty Of the location being SO very
attractive that they came again and again, max.
ing permanent settlement The hrst house
built by Big Six, as the company was
originally called was IN about tho year 1862 and was
made wood, stories high tho sides consisting
OF boards setting up on end-a most unprclentious
structure compared with that OF later day glory In
1857 the ground was leased to William NJ Tweed, for
the use OF the club, for a term OF seven years.
Mr. Elkanah Mead, OF Greenwich, was called to the
stand and testified concerning tho lease Ut the prop
erty in dispute Mr. Mead Is the guardian for minor
child and acted such In ciIecting tho lease He
made statement OF the transactions relative 10 the
first lease to Tweed and the second to Lawrence; tho
first, he thinks mentioned that the property for
the use OF club, but the second did rot he rented
the ground aud did not suppose he had anything
TO do with the bulldings he know Mr.. Lawrence was
member OF the club and this led hun TO think, per-
haps. the lease Tor the benefit OF the same, but
nothing said ON that score
rNE J. Curtis, Of the counsel, testified that he
Is acquainted with the Amcricus Club premises. and
was there at dinner given by the club
ut their old house, in the year 1900 1861,
at which Mr.. Augustus Mead was present; Mr..
Tweed present and recognized president of
the day. Mr.. Tweed announced 70 Mr.. Mead that he
had been made an honorary member OF the club. and
presented him with cane In Its behalf. Mr..
Mead accepted, and speeches werc made on both
sdes the Substance OF the recipients language being
that the cub could occupy those premises, and that
neither himself nor his heirs would over disturb
thom. This language he did not regard, however, as
any legal transfer OF title in the properly. Case
still on.