The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-05-26
COUNTY SEAT LETTER
An Old Shenandoah Case to
be Unearthed.
CREDITORS LONG FIGHT
Have Been Fighting Ten Years to Recover
the Building in which the Famous
National Polo Club Covered Itself with
Glory-A Complicated Case.


Special HERALD correspondence.
PoTTsvuLE, May 2G.-On Monday next
there will be called for trial at Pottsville
a case of complicated facts which will
bring into court the ghosts of the old
skating rink days in Shenandoah and the
National Polo Club, of the same place,
which not only met and beat polo clubs
from all parts of the anthracite region,
but also took the scalp of a famous
Canadian team. The Nationals became
famous, but from the facts given here it
does not appear that they became rich.
The suit is one in which W. ID, Seltzer,
Esq, trustee for George w. Beddall &
Bro, George f. Leitzel and others, cred
itOrs, is plaintiff, and IsaaCher Robb MS
John Grant, Owen C.. Thomas, Abner
Powell, John Morrison, William Matters
Harry Stein and James Whalen are de
PENDANTS. The case was first instituted in
the spring of 1856.
1t appears that some time in October
1884, Isaacher Robbins leased to one
Robert NJ. Neal, of Huntingdon, Pa, the
piece of ground at the corner of Lloyd
and Bowers streets, where the incandes-
cent electric house now stands and upon
which Neal erected a large building in
which'he proposed to conduct a skating
rink Upon the heels of this the National
Polo Club was organized, the members
being all the defendants above named ex-
cept Robbins.
in the construction of the buildings
purchase of skates and other material
connected with the rink Neal expended
considerable money and had many credit
ors besides. Some months after taking
the lease from Robbins, Neal re-assigned
the lease to the owner, with the buildings.
Neal at or about that time also made a
transfer to George f. IenZel and Harry
TOLL hot FNf Il l1nh Of g
his (Neals) interest in the lease and the
buildings. Against Neal one David Will
Jams had obtained mechanics lien and
upon this lien Meals interest in the place
was sold by the Sheriff and bill of sale
given to w. ID. Seltzer, Esq, as trustee
for Meals creditors. On this bill of sale
Seltzer tried to obtain possession of the
buildings, but he was defeated in the
lower court and also in the Supreme
Court. This was in 1856. Mr..
Seltzer then, as trustee, brought
an action of eiectment against
the National Polo Club and Mr..
Robbins and also an action for damages
On arbitration in this suit in 1886 in
which Mr. Robbins was represented by
Congressman Reilly and the late NJ. NJ
L'Nelle, Esq, of Ashland, Mr.. SeltZer
obtained an award of $1,000 in damages.
From this award an appeal was taken by
the polo club and since then has been
ANPS"SSNAg A-NSu AOl VI lllS DuO just tS Olltu
continued. In the present trial Mr..
Seltzer and eX-Judge Ryon will represent
the creditors and NJ. NJ. Burke and John
f. Whalen, Esqs, will appear for Mr..
Robbins
The case also brings to life a controversy
which originated way back in 1884 between
Leitzel and Ball and Robbins and Neal as
to the ownership of the rink property and
which was supposed to have been long
since forgotten.
Neal is credited with having made some
money in the skating rink business in
Shenandoah and with having so success
fully manipulated his connection with
the rink buildings that only sorrow came
to those who had put their money into
them. Neal, early in 1885, made an as
slgnment to George f. LeitZel of all his
right, title and interest in the rink in
consideration of Leitzel paying off all the
debts that then existed against the rink
property, among which were a number of
labor claims. Neal thus unloaded him
self upon his own creditors by
placing Mr.. Leitzel in his shoes for
the purpose of satisfying more debts
than either the rink property or business
were able to bear; and, besides, Neal had
left the title of his own lease and the buid-
ings in such a complicated shape that the
question which now arises ten years after
the transaction is whether Leitzel and the
other creditors really had any interest in
the rink at the time he accepted Meals
papers.