The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-09-14
FOUND LOTS OF TROUBLE
But Not the Fortune He
Came to the United
States to Seek.
SAMUEL LANNON'S STORY.
What Has Become of the Family
lie Left in England Thirty
two Years Ago.

"
rhe m old English gentleman, who
for several years has conducted a jewelry
and furniture business on the INSTALL
ment plan. at No. ia Newark avenue, is
incarcerated in the prison attached to the
Third Police Precinct Station House in
Oakland avenue.
The facts leading up to Lamton's incar-
c~eration is a somewhat interesting story
involving the vicissitudes of an English
watchmaker's life. who left his family
in England thirty-two years ago
to come to this country, the
danger of an attempt to axe advan-
tage of American law on the part of the
Englishman, the taking of law into her
own hands on the part of an American
amazon, the eviction of a number of ten
ants of property located in upper Newark
avenue, the fidelity of even a common cur
to his master while in prison, and at the
same time revives the facts pertaining to
an almost ancient scandal.
For Lamton's story, though told in all
sincerity to a NEWS reporter through the
bars of mis- prison cage last night, is not
to be taken without a grain of salt. He
is decrepid. and when the reporter for
The NEWS was announced he hobbled to
OAO CaSO 0OQ4 WILL q OduC1 dAo SCSHlOQ
anxious to greet a press representative
into whose ears he could pour his tale OF
woe. His dog Dan, whe mad followed
him to prison, and when allowed, acted
as a guardian outside the door, was not
about when THE NEWS representative
called. None of the prison keepers knew
what had become of him.
To give Lamton's story in detail would
occupy several columns. Briefly summed
up it was to the effect that he left his
| wife and four children thirty-bwo years
G in England to seek his for
in this country. Twepty-three years
ago he worked at the Marion watch fac
tory. A good portion of the time since
then he kept store at Providence. R. I.
He arrived in this city while the great
blizzard OF March, four years ago, was at
its heighth. He set up a jewellers shop
in upper Newark avenue and for awhile
prospered. He dealt in furniture also.
and his business at first ~prospered, but
finally fell off. Rheumatism caused him
to neglect work, and he found it impos-
sible to meet his obligations.
I HIS o LON FAITHFUL.
he lived alone. His dog Dan was his
only companion. He explained his fnan-
cial embarrassment to a friend near Mar
ion, who, while Lamton was absent On
a visit to Newark four months ago, re-
moved his effects to a store at No. ia
| Newark avenue. He was told, and in
fact, he received instructions to the effect
that he must pay rent to no one, because
a suit involving the ownership of the
property was in chancery. He felt, how
ever, that it WAS only right to meet the
| demands of negro Janitor Thomas Moss
Tor Ellsworth as he is called in the court
papers) and flip him an occasional 50 bill
or ten cents, according to pressure. This
| property in a paper with which Lamton
was served along with other tenants, ia
Guiding Timothy Enright, William
O'Donnell. Robert Johnson. Thomas
Flynn, Thomas Ellsworth (also call
Thomas Moss) AS the result of Supreme
Court proceedings notifying them to va
cate the premises. described as follows:
Beginning at a point formed by the
intersection of the northeasterly line of
West Newark avenue. with the south
easterly line of Ferris street; thence
southeasterly and parallel to West New
ark avenue, TO %northerly line of lot No. 3
on said map: thence southwesterly along
the northeasterly line of said lot No. 3 to
Newark avenue: thence northwesterly
along the northeasterly line of West
Newark avenue to point of beginning.
This property enl brances several houses.
A MATTER OF OWNERSHIP.
1t is the ownership of this property
that revives an almost forgotten scandal
in the line of present events. Lamton,
the prisoner, was recently dispossessed
personally by Mrs. Annie d. Roe, who
claimed possession of the property. II
my information is correct. and it was
carefully sought, this m was
the wife of Northrop Gilman,
dealer, whose heirs. rather than to allow
a breath OF scandal, decided the property
mentioned above TO Mrs. Roe or Gilman.
But Mrs. Roe or Gilman, it appears. af-
ter becoming involved in debt, to escape
the loss of her property. daeded it over
| IN TlNi6nof n ~ pniprr xnh4 &c hnffnxyo1 g.
bea myth.
The property. however, appears to
have been mortgaged by Bridget Dun
ping. The matter reached the Court of
Chancery and the Chancellor set the con-
yeyance of Mrs. Roe Tor Gillman) aside.
Michael Curley and Counsellor William
~Dougherty. An action for ejectment
from the Supreme Court was brought last
month returnable early in August.
H PRISONERS STATEMENT.
But it appears from Lamton's story
that Mrs. Roe (or Gillrnan). recently
swooped down upon him. and while he
sat d helpless invalid In a chair, told
him that she would show him who
was owner OF the property. According
to Lawton's story the woman. with a
male companion, appeared with carpen-
ter's tools and W and hammered the
shelves from their places and nailed them
across the front door of his store.
Il asked them,' he said, TO give ma
time TO move my things. Some OF them
did not belong to me, but had been left
with me for repair. went ont later and
secured a room in the rear of No. 702
Newark avenue with a view to removing
my stuff. Then | secured the services Of
two men to help me move my stock.
When l returned I found some OF my
furniture in the street. / went to a side
door and begged Mrs. Roe to let me in
and at least remove certain goods that be-
longed to other people. She refused. I
secured an entrance in the evening. l
was assaulted by Mrs. Roe. but / secured
lots Of my material and goods left with
me for repair. Two watch cases and q
chain were missing when / looked for
them the next day. / think have wit
nesses who will prove that Mrs. Roe, her
hrother and Tom Moss were seen crossing
Sheney Park with valises apparently
loaded with my Stock
Mrs. Roe. it appears. lived In New York