The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-09-23
UNDER An old LAW
1t Seems to Have Author
lied Some Queer Pro.
CeedingS.
PHENOMENAL BOARD BThLs
Mrs. .Harriott's Ideas assto How the
Boys Should be- Given Hnme.
1t was Found Out West.

Vice Chancellor Green this morning
begun the hearing of complicated suit,
which arose out of a sale of property in
this city under an old statute, which Mr..
Gilbert Collins said, during the progress
of the suit, was passed in 1890 for the
purpose Of permitting testamentary
guardians to sell timber on the property
of their wards.
George Harriott some years ago kept
liquor store at Provost and Tenth streets.
He owned the corner and adjoining lots,
comprising plot 5Ox1O0 feet, upon which
was erected two buildings.
Harriott died in 1872 leaving widow
and three sons by former wife. He also
left will in which he beq9eathed the
realty and most of his property to
the sons and left the widow certain
rooms in one of the buildings and the
household furniture so long as she kept
home for the boys. She was appointed
their guardian, and was also made execu-
triX of the estate. She was at loss to de-
termine what was meant by providing
the boys with home, but concluded to
charge their board against the estate
Finally she sent two of the boys to
Illinois and bound them out to a farmer,
while she continued to board the
younger.
BIG BOARD BILLS.
She collected the rents for the apart
ments in the buildings, conducted the
business and, by what Mr.. Collins desig-
mates as exorbitant charges, brought the
boy into debt to her for board. There
was mortgage on the premises
and under Mrs. Harrioct's management
the rents appeared hard to collect and
the property was running behind. Upon
making these facts known to the Surro-
gate she obtained an order for the sale OF
the premises under the old 1890 statute,
the existence of which, Mr.. Collins said.
is known only to a few OF the old lawyers
of today. Under that order the property
was sold in one parcel to DR.. Adams.
Mrs. Harriott's physician, for a small
sum over the amount of the mortgage.
Dr. Adams transferred his purchase to
one of the tenants, who then sold 1t back
to Mrs. Harriott.
In June, 1878, the Erie Railroad laid its
tracks from the main line to its elevator
south of Pavonia avenue. so near the
curb of the Harriott property that the
widow declared that the road tresspassed
upon her easement, and she commenced
an cjectment suit against the company.
This hung fire for some time, and finally
the Erie Company purchased the entire
property for $4,000.
MADE DISCOVERY.
When It's counsel came to search the
title it discovered the methods whereby
MIR. Harriott, who by this time had be-
come Mrs. Donaldson, came into posses
sion of the land, and the company refused
to pay the money until the three boys
had signed quit deeds. Two of them dids
this under what they now claim was mis-
representations on the part of Mrs. Don
alason, but George. the Oldest, refused to
sign. The company secured possession
of a mortgage on the property which
they transferred to William D. Southland.
clerk in the Office of CORTLAND e. r.
Wayne Parker, counsel of the Erie Rail-
road. Mr.. Southland began suit to fore
close the mortgage and Messrs Collins %
Corbin filed answers for the boys and be-
gan suits against Mrs. Donaldson and
the Erie road for the purpose of recover
ing the property.
It was these suits that occnpied the
attention of the Court this morning, the
time being taken up by the reading of
the pleading in the cases upon motion
TO consolidate them. Mr.. Donaldson was
represented by Judge Barcalow and Mr..
Deane, of Paterson, and Messrs. Court
land, r. W. and Courtland Parker, Jr.,
appeared for the railroad company.