The New York herald., 1878-03-01
CONTEST FOR A RAILROAD.

SEIZURE or THE BROOKLYN, cASAR5fE AND
BocKAwAY BEACH RAILROAD FOR DEBT
CONFLICT BETWEEN TIE LESSEE AND THE
PROPRIETOR.
The Brooklyn, canars.e aud Rockaway Beach Rail.
road. which connects the suburb Of East New York.
l. l., with the beach, extending 10 direct 10
the shore OF Jamaica Bay, has been taken possession
OF by Mr. Dewitt C. Lttlejohn, and all srafic on the
line has been stopped since Tuesday night. The
circumstances that have brought about this state
Of affairs may be briefly stated as foilows:-The
road was built 1865 IL was projected
by DR.. Hopkins. who that time Health Officer
OF the port oil New York. Dr. Hopkins. who died be-
fore the work executed. married early In LIE
Miss Littlejohn. sister Of Dewitt Q. Lt,lejohn, OF.
Speaker Of the Assembly, and cousin OF Rev. A. N.
Lilejohn d. D., bishop OF tho Protestant Episcopal
Diocese of Long Island Dewnt G. Littiejohn
OF the deceased, and. accord.
ance with .he wishes Of Dr. HOPKINS. he took up the
the railroad and carried IL 10 completion.
He operated the railroad until 1871 when he executed
lease oil the road TO William Rc1ardsou. President
OF the Atlantic Avenue Railroad Company. Mr..
Richardson, SIX months after receiving the lease,
assigned II 10 Mr.. II. L. Reid. who has since con.
Quoted the route. Mt. REID has had the lease
OF Tho Howard House, ut East New YORK. aud
the Bay view House at Canarsic. he showed much
enterprise IN the homogeneous Of the road shortly
alter taxing possession be increa~od the carrying
laciilties Dy puttipg new aud engines, aud
paced two steamboats, on the bay. Tho sumner
travel was largely increased; but tho Increased
facilities by rail- and steamboat for reaching Rocgaway
So Affected tho receipts oil thc road that Mr. ksid
was compelled TO ask Mr.. Littejobn Tor reduction
In the terms OF the lease. This Mr. Littlelohu de.
cnod do, Mr. Reid became indebted ior rent to
the amount oil So, 0O0 thereabouts On tuesday
Mr. REID was served with summons requiring b. IN
to pay up and then remove mis- property from the
line immediately Mr.. LitticJohn, however, wanted
the money paid before the rolling stock was taken
away. He came down from oswego, N. ", where
he resides, anu with Of 100 laUorers kept care.
tul guard over the road.
TEARING UP THE TRACK
Mr.. Reid, on Tuesday night, attempted to move his
roiiinI STOCK from he engine ana car houses 10
Canarsie lor The purpose OF taking them up TO East
New York. large iorce OF men accompanied him 10
Canarse TOR the purpose. steam was gotten up on
the locomotives ana they were out OF the depot
with the cars attached. There three trains 10
ALL They had not gone tar when lights we're dis
covered on the track aud tho eng nccrs slowed up
1t WAS then found that Littl,johp's worklncn were
hard at work tearing up the track and that u woaid
be impossible 10 proceed The rails had already
been removed Tor considerable distance. Mr Reid
ordered tho desisi, ng tnat had psr
ect right TO take his cars and engines away. rho
workmen assumed defiant mir and gathered IN
crowd, iacng number OF tho engineers. brakemcn
ana fishermen from Canarsie. who evidently
Inclined 10 compel them 10 stop their work Of
destruction. Threats were freely used and high
words passed between the parties. bloody collision
was imminent, wnen Mr. Reid inter.ercd ana hrs
tho houses which they mad lett. Tho workrnen
pioyed by Mr. Llcjohn resumed their work. by
morning succeeded IN destroying the TRACK for
diutance vi 800 yards.
Ine rolling still at Canarsie Il bcng impos
8 BILE 10 II until the road is repaired. Mr.
Litlejohn insists that he Will hold the property coa
sistipg OF three engines and eight excursion cara.
until the rent Is paid.
COUNTER SUIT.
Mr.. Reid commenced suit yesterday in the So.
preme Court against Mr. Ltilcjohn ana the Brooklyn
Canarsie and RocKawuy Beach railroad lor the re-.
covcry Of The cars and engines aud other properly
now he,d by then, ana Tor damages In 50, ,OOU Tho
complaint Was served ou Mr. Lii,cjonn during tho
uff