The Evening critic., 1882-10-05
MR.. JOHN HANCOCK
Makes Answer TO the Bill Filed by
MIR. and Mrg. Reid.

Mr.. John Hancock, his wlfo and the other
defendants havo filed thoir answer, through
their counsel, Mr.. Il. d. Hay, TO tho equity suit
against them by Mr.. Samuel O. Reid and
Josephine X. Reid, In which the latter alleged
that Mr.. and Mrs. Hancock had been guilty OF
transferring real estate that did not belong 10
them. Mr.. and Mrs. Hancock deny that any
acquaintance existed between them and tho
plaintiffs prior to tho negotiations, and claim
that the'fact Of n relationship existing between
John Hancock, tho defendant, and an older
brother has nothing to do with the subject,
except that II was inserted and extensively
published for malicious purposes. They deny
that they requested the plaintiff, Josephine Il.
Reid, TO purchase tho property, 1O17 Connect.
cut avenue, and claim that Samuel O. Roid
made tho first inquiry. When Mrs. Reid drow
her check for tho first installment OF tho pur-
chase money, tho defendant John Hancock,
assured her that the legal titlo was still
In William Thompson. They deny that they
ever earnestly induced Mrs. Reid to purchase
tho property, or represented that Mr.. Hancock
was owner OF tho same and compelled to sell
It at less than Its market value to pay on GER
tain liens that had matured. The installment
OF $1,000 was paid by Mrs. Reid with the
knowledge Of tho agreement made between
Augusta Hancock and Fitch, Fox Il Brown, and
the deed from william Thompson to her. The
bill Denies generally tho allegations made by
the plaintiffs, and claim that they understood
oil tho arrangements in reference to the en-
fully explained. They ask the court to com.
pei the plaintifrs to carry out tho original
agreement and complete the purchase.
Mr.. William Thompson In his answer stato5
that he was the owner OF lot o, square 10i on
July 1, 1889, he sold IL, through his agents,
Messrs. Fitch, Fox & Brown, to Mrs. Augusta
Hancock for $500. Tho terms were $1,000
cnsh and the balance payable In slX, twelve
and eighteen months, with interest Mt per
cent, secured by notes and n deed Of trust
upon tho property. Mrs. Hancock had until
July 81 to pay the ~, 800. He left the city and
went to the Virginia Springs. During his abb
sencc, and on the 31st Of July, Mrs. Hancock,
through her husband, paid to the atlantis
agents the cash payment of -, 800, and they
prepared n deed conveying the property TO
Mrs. Hancock. Tho deed was sent to Mr.
Thompson to execute, but not liking clause
In It he withheld 1t until he came back u the
city. He denies that either Mr.. or Mrs. Han
cock procured or tried to procure from him
permission to fnd purchaser for the prop
orty.
He denies that no ever offered to restore to
Mrs. Reid the $2,500, and he could not, II ho
would, without robbing himself OF the com.
missions paid out OF II to his agents but he
did tell her that he had nothing to do with
her matters; that tho title TO tho property was
good in Mrs. Hancock and that everything was
straight and correct up to her and that II was
no AFFAIR OF his whether she made $500 or
$1,000 in selling the property, as she had a
perfect right to do so. Ho further says that
the sale OF the property to Mrs. Hancock on
July was a fair, honest and legitimate trans
action, and she has compiled with the terms
Of the sale.