The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-10
A SOUTH cove MIDDLE.
Complexities of the Fight
over the Corwin Estates
Seventy-two Lois.
LEHIGH VALLEY WANTS THEN.
Row Mrs. Brooks Got Her Title
Mrs. n. L. Corwin's
Vague Claim.
LEHIGH VALLEY WANTS THEM.

by the officials of the Lehigh Valley Rail-
wsy made a sensation among ths heirs
and the railway people The latter espe-
cially were annoyed because their effort
was disclosed to procure possession Of the
seventy-two lots situated in blocks Nos.
265, 266, 267 and 2os in South Cove. The
endless contradictory denials that ensued
only served to bring new facts OF public
interest to light.
No taxes have been paid on the property
in years and they now amount 70 some
$50 900 overdue. They will be adjusted
by the Martin Act Commissioners next
week, and IL Is said the Lehigh Valley
officials viii then, through Counsellor
Record, endeavor TO purchase the prop
erty from all who claim shares 10 Il.
There are several claimants. Mrs.
Brooks, Wife of Superintendent Brooks Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. is one. She
was formerly Mrs. James CorUin.
Another Is Mrs. L. NJ. Corwfn ana n
third is the Rev. Z. Tanger Corwin of
Mrs. Brooks Is regarded as having
almost perfect title. Counsellor Record
has Informed Mrs. l.. nj. Corwin that she
will be ignored In the purchase IL she
does not establish her right in the prop
erty. On the other hand, Mrs. Corwin Is
possession OF the property and fence 1t In.
Some interesting Developments are ex-
pected at q very early date.
ORIGINS OF THE CONTEST.
The complications over the ownership
of the property began a great many years
ago. When the Corwin estate was settled
up, all the money and property was equit-
ably divided except these seventy-two
South Cove lots. James Corwin, eldest
son of Z. G. Corwin, deceased, was an ad-
nlfnistrator of his fathers estate. A
goodly smount Of cash was left to be
divided among the heirs, but for some
peculiar reason James Corwin thought It
advisable to sell the South Cove property
and settle up the debts OF the estate with
the proceeds. The property at that time.
1856 was under water, only three lots be-
ing taxable. But James Corwin, evil
IDENTIFY far seeing man. discovered that
the property in short time would be
worth its weight in gold to some railway
corporation. So he got the consent OF his
brother, z. Tanger Corwin, the other ad-
ministrator. to sell the South Cove lots.
E. Tauger Lorwin IL now a minister In
Rutgers College. He WAS then young
and inexperienced man. The property
was put up at auction and James Gopsill.
deceas a brother1n-iaw of James Cor
win, acted as auctioneer. The property
was knocked down to Jesse Wandeil, or
the Heights, for 5000. Subsequently 10
was learned that Wandell never COM
pleted the purchase of the lots, He made
over his contract OF sale to Mrs. james
Corwin NOW Mrs Brooks, at her nus
bands solicitation, and she took title
from the trustees OF the estate That is
where her claim to the ownership OF the
lots had its origin.
One important formality was neglected
In the transaction, however. Wendell, 10
is alleged, wes not made pay 81 or more
rr,f ha NJ
been done, eminent lawyers say, the sale
could not be broken. If it can be proven
that It was not done they think the sale
may perhaps be set aside-that is, If all
assaults on its validity are not outlawed
by the fact that it has remained for thirty
three years undisputed.
MRS L NJ CoRwIS's CLAIM.
The person who now proposes to attack
1t is Mrs. l. NJ. Corwin. She claims an
interest in twenty-four of the lots. and
this is how it arises.
After the sale just described, Chancel-
lor Zabriskie set aside twenty-four of the
seventy-two lots to Mrs. Corwin,
dover right. E. Tanger Corwin, one
of the administrators, does not figure
as a claimant TO any of the lots until the
death of his mother, and his claim and
Mrs. 1. N. Corwin come 10 together.
Mrs. E. C. Corwin, on her deathbed drew
up what she intended for a will. but
which Tanger Corwin claimed was only a
few 'wishes" Mrs. L. NJ. Corwin main
tained that it was will. The wishes"
were to the effect that the twenty-four
lots in South Cove should be equally di-
vided between her and Tanger Corwin,
and II the latter did not want the pro-
perty 1t should go to George Corwin, son
of Mrs L. NJ. Corvin. Mrs. L. NJ. Cor
win was Tanger's sister, She marie d
her cousin and so did not change her
name Tanger Corwin was shown the
will, and as it was witnessed only by an
aunt, he INN ediately. it Is alleged, tore it
up as worthless.
This was the start of one big family
fight 1t is claimed that the destruction
OF this paper left Mrs L. NJ. Corwin with
out precise evidence of her right 70 the
property, intended for her by her mother.
who. by the way, let so her original title
and at the time OF her death was in
possession only of tax title to the TWEEN
ty-four lots.
WHERE THE RAILWAY CONES IN
The widow of James Corwin sold, a
few years ago, portion of the property
to the Central Railway for 5000, subject.
however, to the tax title OF Mrs. Z. e.
Corwln, portion of whose strip was in
cluded in the lots sold 10 the railway.
Notwithstanding this reservation in the
title Mrs. l.. NJ. Corwin put in claim
for a share Of the 81 900. The claim was
never allowed.
No action was taken In the matter for
several ye ars and 10 one paid the taxes,
which were destined to eat up the lots
The Lehigh Valley Railway surrounded
the property with tracks and tried 70
purchase the rest Of It, but refused. IL is
said, TO accept the titles which were Of
fered- Mrs Brooks then made propcsi-
tion. il is alleged, TO the company to sell
the seventy-two lots, with clear title,
for $40. 600. outside the taxes, which will
exceed $50, 900. Mrs. l.. NJ. Corwin heard
of this and at once placed the matter In
the hands of Spencer Weart Mr.. Weart
worked diligently on the case. but ac-
complished very little.
In the meantime Tanger Corwin, who
heard Of the course his sister was pursu-
ing, sent on a paper turning over to her
ali his right aud title in the property.
The document was read over and declared
valueless and useless A proper transfer
was then drawn up by Justice Puster,
who was drawn Into the case. aud
sent on to Tanger Corwin for his sigma
ture and that Of his wife. The document
was never again seen.
The case remains In just that position
now, where each party is waiting for the
others 70 make a move In order to jump
IN, and block IN