Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-27

STOCKHOLDERS OF THE OLD NATIONAL cLeB-
ATTORNEYS ATTACK THE TITLE OF Mr.. SNOW
AN INVESTIGATION TO DE MADE
It may be that there will be some delay in
the purchase Of site for the new Government
Printing Office, at the corner Of G and North
Capitol streets, because OF an alleged flaw in
the title Of Chester A. Snow, who offered is for
| sale. A letter was received this morning by
Judge Batcheller. Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury, from the Law firm OF Cook and Suth-
| erland OF this city calling the attention OF the
overnment to the fact that there is now pend
ing before the courts Of the District cl ,im
brought by Laura Il q. Robinson contrasting the
validity of the title to the land in quest on,
This is the weli-known claim, brought by the
daughter Of the late Il. c. Hewctt against her
brother, Walter Hewett. ind Others to re-
cover money obtained frdin the sale OF this
property. which the claimants father
had, during his lifetime, used as a
base ball park. Tho claim alleges an i'm.
perfect title on the part Of Snow. who bought
1t Of Hewett. because OF the assertion that the
price paid was not a fair one, and that the
| other heirs to the estate were not consulted
as to the pr.priety OF the sale. 1t is a ques-
ton as to how far this will affect the recent
negotiations.
REFERRED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
The government is bound to buy only in the
event of discovering the title to be perfectly
clear, and the Attorney General will take steps
today or Monday to determine the condition of
things. The letter from Mrs Eobinsou's at
torncys will be forwarded to him. and the case
will be investigated for the purpose of
showing just how far this claim will
affect tine ti!le OF MIR. Snow; should it be APP
parent that there is no foundation for the claim
as to little steps may be taken TO push the con
sderation of the case in the District courts so
that the delay may be as short as possible.
THE NATIONAL BASE BALL cLUB's CLAIM
This morning Messrs. Cole 4 Cole and Mr.
Sutherland, signing as attorneys for NJ. B. Scan
Ion and other stockholders and creditors of the
old National Base Ball Club. sent Secretary
Window and his associates on the site commits.
sion n letter. in which they said: you are
hereby notified that by virtue OF lease and
| contract bearing date the 9th day OF February.
1886, made 10y Vim. n. Gait and wife and
Thomas W. Smith and wife, the then owner,
OF the real estate III the city of Wash.
| ington. District OF Columbia known as aH o.
| original lots numbered three 90. four a.. FIVE
(5), six 90, seven Cd and eight 49,. in square
numbered six hundred and seventy-eight t675
in the city of Washington, ID. c.. &,
| the Washington National Base Ball Club
recorded III liber Fo. lI6S, at folio 81
one of the land records of the sain
District; an interest in and right to purchas
said real estate was vested in said base bal
club. which is corporation. and that W.
claim that said corporation has never beeI.
Invested thereof, and that the pretende,
! assignment and transfer of said ieas,
and right to purchase said real estate.
purporting to have been made b.
said corporation TO Chester A. Snow, on TIL
9th day of September, 1889, and recorded il
Liber No. 1426, at folio 81, another o
the land records Of said District. was
made without any legal authority from saiu
| corporation and in fraud of its rights
and that the same and all subsequent
conveynnces of said real estate are unauthor-
! lied, fraudulent, null and void, and that SAID
Chester A. Snow has no title or right to dis
pose of said real ertate, for reasons set forti
III greater detail i'll equity cause No. 1862
Scanion ct al. VS.. Hewett ct al an,
equity cause of Robinson by he
next friend. vs.. Hewctt ct al. No 1851
pending in the Supreme Court of the District
OF Columbia to which you are respectfully re-
fe erred, and it is our intention to contest sal,
Shows title in said suits and such other lcga.
proceedings as may be found necessary an
proper for that purpose.
CAN PROCEED BY CONDENSATION.
These notices from attorneys were presentct
at a meeting of the commission today. One o
the members Of the commission said that il
event of the claims being found to be of q char
acter 10 affect the title the commission coull
resort to condemnation proceedings and ac
quire the property without delay. In sucl
event the money would be paid into cour
and the legal Controversy would be over thu
money Instead OF over the ground.