New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-07
AN OLD MANS TROUBLES.
HE SUES TO RECOVER HIS SECURITIES
THE MERCANTILE SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY SAID
TO HAVE MONEY 10 WHICH CHARLES

TO HAVE MONEY 70 WHICH CHAELLS
H. SANFORD Is ENTITLED.
Charles II. Sanford. Of No. 81 Chestnutave.. Jer-
sey City, through his attorney, James j. Walsh
brought action yesterday morning. In the Supreme
Court here TO have the Mercantile Safe Deposit Com
psny permit inspection Of It's books. This Is pre-
limnary institutng suit for the recovery Of
money, said TO have been placed In Of It's vaults.
Mr. his friends say that he has placed in
the vaults between $4,000 and 100000 which.
through force of circumstances and adverse techni-
callties, he cannot take out lie Is seventytw0 years
old, and his memory is badly shattered but as
nearly as he remember, his money IS In the Mer
camille Safe Deposit vaults
James ]. Walsh, OF No. 90 Chambers-s. gave this
version Of the story although Mr. sanford retains
full possession OF bis will and mind his memory has
serious lapses. From what have gathered from
him, from Mrs. Butler, at whose home he has lived
for about years and other people and what bavc
read IN some diaries he kept, Mr. Sanford has sold
law books TO lawyers in the larger cities Of New
England New-York State ana New-Jerscy He
bought these BOOTS and then went about the country
selling them. He also bought Old and rare books
wherever he could find them on order. Ills diaries
show that he loaned money also In past years. lie
came from Bridgeport, Conn, about thirteen years
ago with about 81 900 in securities ana placed them
I'm a safe in the Mercantile safe Deposit Company's
vaults. He settled In Jersey City few wears later
and from time TO time, made other deposits. In
June, 1882 he had had securities out Of the
vaults probably TO cut off coupons. and he came TO
New York TO put them back
Late that night he taken home In dazed con-
dition, and aferward went into spasms. lie had
no recollection recovery, OF his doings while in
New-York, has he since bcen able 10 explain
how IL was that his condition such. He was
not a drinking man, did he gamble. He had
been a sufferer from physical infrmities for many
years. and his mind must have given way in cOnse-
a without
OF his box in the vaults and without the securities
he had taken with him. In his wan1erings he fire.
Quently spoke of key, but nothing connected could
ever be learned from him about his adventures on
that day. Before that time all those who knew him
well say he had money and plenty of it. Recently
an effort made by Mrs. Butler TO recover the
securities for him. some of the deposit cOmpany's
officials have denied knowledge OF him. They have
several times admitted, however, that Charles q.
Sanford had a deposit which had not been claimed
for several years. Mr. Sanford explains this by
ing that In Massachusetts and In Bridgeport he used
those mi Gals because there another Charles H.
Sanford In town and at Jersey CITY. lie supposes,
therefore, that he used the assumed initials at the
deposit vaults"
The treasurer of the Mercantile safe Deposit Com
pany at No. 100 broadway, declined to say anything
about Mr.. sanford.
Mr.. Sanford was seen yesterday afternoon at No.
81 Chestnuave., Jersey City. He looks like one who
thin and tall and his speech is frequently interrupted
by q cough which might Indicate weak lungs lie
Is evidently OF some education, and his mind
seems perfectly sound, except that his memory Is de-
fective. He merely corroborated what had already
hoe