The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-19
ONE MILLION IN DISPUTE.
AN UNEXPECTED DEMAND FOR VLLUED
MINING PROPERTY.

n.
PuttinG II - Ciaiu-A Secret ~ HrriaGe FeI-
lowed ~ the Sudden Death OF the Husband.
In April 1852, DR.. Charles NJ Graham died
at his residence In Eleventh street. this city.
About a month previous he made his will. by
which. among other things. he devised to his
grandson. Edward Ennis Graham. son Of Chas.
N. Graham Jr.. n farm at Sduan Beach. New
Jersey, and some three hundred acres OF rough
mountain land in Rockaway Township, Norris
County. OF tho same State. The latter was ut
that time supposed to BIO valuable only for it's
timber. which could be turned into charcoal for
use at the forges at Hibernia and Powerville.
Tho tract contained the mine OF copperas works
which had been in use as early as tho Revolu-
ton. but were abandoned in DIR. Graham's time.
In 1858 EDWARD Ennis Graham married Sarah
Jane Maxon. Scotch lady. and in 1883 he died.
leaving a son. Edward Ennis also. who nher-
tied the lands rs sole heir. subject to his moth
er's right OF dover. This child died at tho age
Of 7 years. and under the New Jersey statute Of
descents his mother gained life estate in his
lands. She had. shortly after the death Of
her first husband married ono Thomas Bell
and after the death Of the Graham child
Mr.. and Mrs. Bell took possession Of the New
Jersey lands and. almost Immediately. con-
veyed. by warranty deed. those In Morris
County to Andrew b. Cobb OF Parsippany. n
Judge Of the Morris County courts. a wealthy
landowner and prominent politician. In 1867.
Judge Cobb executed n hfteen-years min
ing lease on the properly to William Scott de
Camp. n mining Spectator. who sold it to Daniel
7, Smock. who assigned 1t to the Green Pond
Mining Company" The ore proved TO be
specially adapted to the making OF Bessemer
steel. and tho Copperas Mine " became known
TO all iron workers. Tho mine proved very
tph Il. n.
different portions Of the vein tho company de-
clared dividends and paid large royalties to the
owner OF the soil until II went into bankruptcy
in 1877, since which time the operations have
been carried ON by Edward A. Wilde. The
properly is now worth at low estimate.
DR.. Graham had two sons-Edward Ennis
who settled in North Carolina, and Charles NJ
Jr. The latter was undoubtedly fast man. for
the Doctors will gave the property which, ordi-
narly would have gone 70 him. to his wife,
him by the Doctors estate should be- cancelled
:, In lsi5 there came TO board in the fam
n al fao% dhSres S M bs G25
distinguished from his father and grand
father by being called Montiose simply; was
On The l2ih day Of July. ls45 Miss Ludlow was
tie to Montrose Graham Of the town OF New
Rochelle. in the state Of New York, as the mar
riage certificate certificate has IT. Dr. drahams grand,
Harlem, and had never lived in New Rochelle;
but tho bride OF that day claims that he was the
groom. and the fruit OF that marriage. Robert
Ludlow Graham OF Jersey City a Pullman car
conductor. claims TO be great grandson to the
CID Doctor; only conS1in and her-at-law OF the
dead son OF Edward Ennis Graham and Sarah
Jane Bell who was tho last owner OF DIR. Ora
hams copperas tract. now become SO valuable.
and consequently present owner OF the fee.
subject to the life estate Of Sarah Jane Bell con-
veyed to Judge Cobb. In u bill in chancery filed
in New Jersey he sets up this claim, and asks
mr. inlunptiOu ha
ing Company and Melvin =. Condit. Clerk OF
Morris County. Edmund d; Halsey a Morris
town lawyer. and Andrew j. Smith n Parsip-
pany miller. who are the trustees Of Judge
Cobbs estate. from working the mines on the
This raised two interesting questions, one Of
fact and one OF law. which are still undecided.
First is Robert Ludlow Graham. the, son Of
Charles Montrose Graham. the third. which in
wolves the question whether or not the latter
was the Montrose Graham OF New Rochelle"
married 70 Corneia Ludlow by the Rev Mr..
Kettle The second Ia, can tenant for life re-
open an abandoned minep
The defence has naturally fallen on those
having tho largest interest in the property viz,
Judge Cobts trustees. and they have pertina-
ciousy disputed both points.
romantic one. She, AYERS that Montrose"
had repeatedly urged her to become his wife;
pointed they quilted his fathers house. and
board n her iather-in-law,s family for
boarded there with her. Then she Quilted
the city and spent several months In visiting
friends in New Jersey. seeing her husband only
twice in that period-once in the depot In Jer-
sey City and once nc the residence Of her uncle
Mr.. Morton. In December she took board at
farm house near Newark. using for the first
time her married name Mrs. Cornelia Graham.
Here. In February. 1913. her son. Robert L.
Graham. was born. A year later Montrose
Graham Joined the Audubon expedition. and
was accidentally killed at Buena Vista. Among
the members OF the expedition when II started
from New York were two sons of John Lori
mer Graham Of New Rochelle, u former Post
master of New York. They quilted the com
pany at the Rio Grande. and were not witnesses
in this case.
Mrs. Cornelia Graham was. shortly after this
recognized Ms MontrOse's widow by his parents
and in 1856 became. with her son Robert u
member of their family. Here she found an
adopted son about the age OF her own boy
called by the favOrite family name OF Charles
Montrose He WIS the offspring Of one Of Mon
trosr's ampurs. and had been purchased Of his
mother for f25. formal bill OF sale being exc
outed.
II is in evidence that distinction was always
made between the grandson. Robert. and the
adopted son. Charles. ana that the mother Of
the former WAS always Introduced as Mrs. Ora
ham by her father law and mothcr-in-law.
Mrs. Belt however. ayers that her letters
were addressed 81 Mics Ludlow" and another
witness says she was Introduced to him by that
name ny her mothcr-in-l NV.
Charles NJ. Graham, Jr.. died in 1869. and
Mrs. Helen Graham in 1874. In her viii she
designates Robert rs hnr grandson, and Charles
as her adopted son. The latter is also dead.
The property ut Squan. n. j.. WIS conveyed
by Mrs. Bell and her husband in the same man
ner rs the copperhs tract. The owners. after
much negotiation pnld the representatives OF
and II is not involved in the present suit. II is
expected that Chancellor Runyon will give a
decision In the case at the next term of the
Court OF CAanrrry.