The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-07
MORE OF JOHN sHERMAN's DOINGs.
Why Congress Passed an Act Relating TO the
GIenwood Cemetery Company.

Joseph b. Close. then prosperous dealer
in clothing in this city. but now retired and
living on his ample means at Bergen Point
\. j.. advanced money in 1853 to William s.
Humphreys. the proprietor OF a furniture store
in Chatham street. Mr.. Humphreys was i'm
proving tract OF land on the border OF Wash
ington. ID. c., designing TO make II a fashion
able cemetery. He required capital. being I'M
able to set apart any from his own business.
and applied TO Mr.. Close. Offering the Washing
ton land rs security for repayment. Mr. Close
made frequent and large advances. Mr.. Close
was then made President of the Glenwood
Cemetery Company and upon the failure OF
Mr. Humphreys he gained possession Of the
cemetery as reimbursement for his advances
In 1876. Mr.. Close said yesterday eN-Judge
!. W. BARLEY brother-in law Of John sherman
the de iacto Secretary of The Treasury. request
ed Superintendent Clend'nning to have "a grave
dug in his Judge Bartey'sl lot for the remains
OF his wife. who had Just died. Superintendent
debt to the cemetery to the extent Of about $50.
Tor the improvement OF his lot that the debt
was Of long standing; that difficulty had been
chase price Of the lot and that he Superintend-
ent Clendenning, must enforce the rule which
provides that no lot owner shall be allowed 10
use his lot for an nterment while he is in ar
rears Tor proper charges thereon. Judge Bart
Icy gave tn communication 10 John Sherman.
VINO is hlsC lot owner IN the cemetery, and the
following note resulted;
sn aays Us, heard Of he demand made by you
III vie and ny sister apon hi "w lot, f In "g pw SodS
Cemetery, and hnye requested Mr. Jenner to pay you
notice tina, III be recovered bach from you II The law
& YOU yH are Som mo- cT TnSs n sS ~
eus.dy Of The dead than hyena, BY what right or law
be NY business as lot owner relative, and man 10
Mr.. cLEspEsSise.
After tho payment OF Judge Bartey's debt no
objection was made 70 TIE interment Of his
man caused to BE- offered in Congress an act
purpOrtlng 10 amend the act incorporating the
Glenwood Cemetery Company The amend
nent wus, in substance. u provision for the
election Of five trustees three to be chosen by
me owners Of tho lots IN which interments had
been made. and two by the original owner.
These trustees according 20 the amendment.
were to control the cemetery. without giving
bonds or being required 10 account TO any one.
inc amendment prohibited the original owner
from seeking relief in court. and imposed
penalty Of 800 a day after his refusal to sur
render possession. The act WIS referred 10 "A
committee, through the exertons OF Mr.. Closes
lawyer. and pigeon hOed. At the next session,
however it WAS taken out busted trimmed
bul not substantially altered and then passed.
. me passage OF the amendment suggested to
Mr. Close an examination of his title to the
cemetery lie took tho documents relating to 1t
from the pigrun-hOle in which they had been
growing ycllowand musty for twenty five years,
and found that no company was orgnnzed
under the charter and that he never decided
III" cem"teryto any company or individual. Re-
Gently however. a meeting, Of the lot owners. TO
elect trustees was held in Washington City. Mr.
lose was represented by the Hon. Charles II.
winfield, At the outset Of the baloting for tho
throe all-controlling trustees, Mr.. Winfield ar
gued that Mr.. Close. being the owner of large
number Of lots in which bodies TINT had been
deposited in the reception vault and never re-
claimed wGre inferred. was entitled to vote.
the sense OF the meeting. however. did not
seem 10 he that he could vote. One of the three
trustees elected was Judge BARLEY few days
after the electlon. rs MIR. Close believes. at the
instance OF Judge Barley and John sherman.
two suits We're instituted against him. one being
for the possession Of the cemetery aud the
other To mulct him OF 100000 as the penalty Of
his failure TO surrender possession.