The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-07
THE AMERICUS CLUB.

HE LEGAL CONTEST ron THE PROPERTY OF
THE oRnANIzATIoN-A WHEEL WITHIN A
wHEEL-IssUEs OF LAW AND ISSUES OF
FAcr-A CHARACTERISTIC PIECE OF SHARP
PRACTICE.
BRIDGEPORT Conn.,, June g. 1871
The trial in the Americas Club continued
oday The title TO the land be the thing OF
cost imporance-thc thing tho examination is hoped
bring light. The contest for the ownership OF tho
property now pending is sort OF cross IRE the ISSUE
seachIng back number OF years.
In the first place there Is the shcrs sale OF all the
rights the club held in the property the oath Of
yuue 1872 This sale for $l5 0o0 and was to sat
sly execution issued judgment obtained by
lanes McGregor against the club Tor about $4,000.
ihc purchaser being Mr. John Vorh!s, OF Grccnwich,
McGregor's claim being an assignment by Knapp q
Fitch 70 him OF the amount OF their bill. Vorhis
sold 10 s. Foster Dewey; Dewey to Charles j.. Law
'cncc, and he in turn to Ashman l. Morton.
then there comes in the claim Tor Tito
BY Mr. Elkanah Mead as guardian OF the heirs OF tho
late MT. Augustus Mead, who claims TO hold tho
buildings by virtue OF ownership Of the land. The
lease was executed the Americas CLUB in 1867, and
expired January i, 1874 The buildings were erected
during the continuance OF this lease, and whom tho
limo expired, tito TO the land being III possession
Of Mr.. Meads heirs, the improvements, u is con.
tended, belong also to them. The papers are some
what youmiuons and tho testimony some points
conflicting.
THE RESPONDENTS CASE
Tho case for the plaintiffs closed yesterday and
opened for respondents To-day the first evidence
submitted certified copy OF the assignment OF
tho chattel mortgage from Mr.. Charles L. Lawrence
Mr. Dewey, under date OF May O. 1874 the mortgage
bcing the one given by Ashman & Morton TO secure
of fho pniac Tle tta,u nf avid pnr
certified copy OF the bill OF sale from John vor
his to $. Foster Dewey dated June - 1872, IN consd
GRAFTON OF the OF $40 900, tho sale covering all
the right and title he held in tho land ndn build
ings and also the personal property schedule Of
which annexed The third paper laid In was a
copy OF the bill OF sale from John Dayton constable
Of tho town OF Greenwich, TO John Vorhs dated juno
"a 1872, Tor the consideration Of $1,000 THIS was
Eregor Judgment and transferred to the purchaser all
the right and title the clue had in the property
premises real and personal
In submitting these documents counsel for
pondenls denied the validity of the papers, and stated
that he produced them only for the purpose OF show
Ing what kind Of claim Lawrence had 10 the title OF
Tho property IN question. Contrary TO tho general
pracce evidence here goes backward but the pur-
pose OF counsel wus inimatcd begin the other
end and follow the trail back the starting point in
order TO show that no authority existed Tor the sale Of
The fourth paper submitted was the execution issued
James McGregor, dated May 70. 1878, and the nth
the record OF tho McGregor judgment against the
club, which the execution founded. This
Judgment obtained by default, the amount being
offered, showing entries Of suit brought against the
club by James McGrcgor, and the dates when judgment
PIECE or SHARP PRACTICE
The character OF the sale OF the clue property under
the McGrcgor execution seems TO have been Of the
sharp practice sort, such as many members OF the
organization subse quently became Tor and
Is we'll portrayed in the evidence Of James Graham,
who testified that no resides in Brooklyn, and
In June, 1872, he was clerk Tor Mr.. Kcyser
DO attended tho sale or tho Americas Club
property under the McGregor execution on the
I'm day OF June. 1872, in Mr Keysers interest lie
made statement IN writing the same day OF tho events
Transporting on that occasion The paper was shown to
that tho day Of sale he had letter OF introduction
TO Mr.. Dayton, the Sheriff having charge OF tho sale;
business there was to protect Mr.. koyser's
Interest c,a ana put n 4sa The time Key,
showed him two rooms on the first floor of the main
building and said he thought enough property could
he informed Mr.. Dayton that he prepared himself
10 purchase property 10 the amount OF thought
furniture and each building should be sold separately;
previous to the sale offers werc made 10 witness by
Mr. Hall and Mr. MoGrcgor to accept thc lattcr's
note for the amount Of Keyse-'s claim, which
he declAcd; the sale then adjourned until three
O'Clock; witness ieegraphed 10 Mr. Keyscr at South
Norwalk to come 10 Grecnwich; he came, and they
drove TO tho club house; Mr. Dayton went with them
In the same hack and told them that the sale would
take place at the ringing 0i the bell tap Of the drum
be was near at hand, but heard no bells ring nor
drums beat TO announce the commencement OF the
saic several parties were in the parlors waiting for
the announcement 1t was said by some one
Tue CroWo that mo saie nuu oceu IHuue. ana ne
and Mr. Keyser finally discovered up stars In
room SO Mr. Dayton, Mr. McGregor and another
gentleman be did not know Mr.. keyscr asked Day.
ton If he had sold from the schedule and he answered
he had; was not yet three o'clock Mr. Keyser en-
tered protcstaaganst the saio; before the sale
ness heard Mr. Kcyscr tell the Sheriff that he wished
TO purchase property TO the amount OF 49, 00O good
many people the house and on tho grounds at
that time; he Mr.. Keyser and Mr. Dayton
together on tho grounds alter the adjournment the
opening OF the sale In the forenoon took place quietly
in OF the large rooms, and was not announced by
said he learned that the property had been disposed
Tor $4,000 which was 81, 900 less than hc
zed to ofler; the telegram to Mr.. Keyser he by
request or Mr.. Dayton.
Mr.. john II. Keyscr, the respondent in tho case,
corroborated the testimony of the last witness and tho
case was continued until tomorrow.
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