New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-02
CONVENT LAND AT STAKE.
.or OLIVER BRYAN ESTATE IN DISPUTE.


-.oprrry OCCURRED BY THE SISTERS OF CORPUS
rvrasu NAY BE FOUND NOT no BE THEIRS.
=. titew weeks expert surveyors and civil
~ have been busly engaged in surveying and
er,yng and anxously comparing notes with
rs.,ous surveys on the old Oliver Bryan estate at
F,, Point near one hundred fifty slxthst. which
80 wears ago vas cut up into city. lots and sold
an large seciioa of which the Dominican Con-
h ., Corpus Christi has been erected con-
w...he section Of the grounds of this convent has
- come Into dispute. Naclay, Davies q Co., OF No.
- proadway who manage the estate of the Equitable
~. Assurance society claim that 10000 square feet
h ..r property adjoining the convent has been In
,.sna IN the convent property and has been built
- with a substantial 12-foot wall.
r. aid oliver Bryan estate, which was one of the
=, bomesteads In New-York, comprises about nine
:, ground with mansion which is yet standing.
,sas John D. Crimmins purchased the estate for
nooo and divided Il into about $50 city lots with
y. ,ptenHon Of selling them of as the Increase in
~,oaon would warrant. This property is now
49,. $3.50 nv the old Hunts Point Road on the east.
..vet,e Road on the north, Tifauy-st. on the west
- spoford st. on the south. II was proposed TO
=, new street to be called Barett0st, from Lafayette
"a through the centre of mis- property from north
% south. -,
-, one.half Of the property to Maclay, Davies
. ca. keeping for himself the northern half
:, the plot running 400 feet north from
u. dividing line. one-half of this section
y. c4mmins in 1883 decided over to the Domnicans
o for the purpose of establishing convent OF their
-, which Va, 10 be branch OF their order estab
,,h.d some years ago in Newark, y. j.
Th,s order is one of the strictest in the Roman
o.,,ore Church. The Sisters after a years noviate
- ssaled UP in The convent for life, not being per
.oS IN 60 outside of its walls and when dead their
,aHss are TO be buried within the convent walls. NO
san can enter the convent except by the special
Emission of the Archbishop, and all communication
us, he through latticed door, while provisions are
,sd through turntabe, so arranged that no direct
rowmunication can be held with the outside world.
n, crmmns was much interested In the establishment
:, mis- convent and was the main contributor toward
A. sTpsnss of hts erection. The building as 1t now
,,pss Is one Of the largest of Its kind. II not tho
hr,est In the United States.
Nv Crimmins has been especially interested in this
nvsnt ON account of the death OF his wife, and he has
,ed an altar in the chapel. Last June the convent
- sealed forever with solemn services by Archbishop
oursran The ceremonies Of sealing the convent were
,,hans the most elaborate and imposing ever per-
rued BY that Church in NewYork. all those witness
M them being profoundly impressed with then
ssmnity.
When Mr. Crimmins divided up the property with
dSr n selling half Of 1t to Maclay, Davies Co.,
1, enrnrpd George w. McNulty and local
.,rpeer william Scldckel. to survey the property,
which they did to the satisfaction OF Mr.. Crmmlns
s.,venson Towle. formerly Park Commissioner, then
su-yeyed the property the second time, and his
surps tailed with the surveys of McNulty,
,nd schdokel. When Mr.. Crimmins decided por-
aon OF The property left TO him after the sale
a, N. southern half to Maclay, Davies Co.
sv.r 10 the convent a mortgage was placed
N .h4 convent property by the Mutual Life
insurance Company, so that the building could be
soupleed Before taking the mortgage the lawyer
O, me Mutual Life searched the title and also ordered
new survey OF the property, which was satisfactory
70 them and the loan placed.
The surveys made by Maclay, Davies & Co.,
.eveyer show that a strip of land 100 feet long
md averaging fifty feet wide belonging to them has
been neluded IN the deed to the convent and occupied
~ H. The survey made by the firms sur
veyor but TO make the matter sure they engaged
An outside surveyor of established reputation, who
dld rot know what claims were at stake. This
surveyors figures tailed exactly with those OF the
TRIMS surveyor 30 that doubt remained In the
minds Of the firm 5 to the ownership Of the prop
cry oocaped by the convent. Accordingly william
c0QnSo, sent note to Mr. Cr1mminS who Is the chsf-
mar Of the convent board of directors, calming ms
GipgrnCn 10 the discrepancy in the surveys. Mr.
C1nmlns has engaged as his lawyer Henry r. Beck
nal. Of No. III broadway. -
When seen last night by Tribune reporter, MI.
CnminS said that he could not understand how there
oglId be a mistake In tn surveys when so many
opstent Surveyor had assured him that the property
isr in the hands Of his lawyer and should act upon
his advice.