New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-12
SERVANTS SUING FOR WAGES
THE VICTORIA HOTEL AND THE STEVENS
ESTATE.
CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF HOTEL EMPLOYEES AND
THE ESTATES TRr-srEEs-TIIE LATTER De
MAND ALL OF d. NJ. sTANFIELD'S

CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF HOTEL EMPLOYEES AND
THE ESTATES rRrsrEEs-THE LATTER DE-
MAND ALL OF d. NJ. sTANFIELD's
AssETs-150 SUITS TO BE BEGUN.
One hundred and fifty suits will be brought dur
ing the next few days against Joseph C. YOuenes.
the lawyer as assignee Of the estate Of Douglas
NJ. Stanfed, late proprietor of the Victoria Hotel
The $50 plaintiffs want many amounts. due
them for during the time they were engaged
as chefs. walters chambcrmals beliboys and IN
other capacities the hotel. The aggregate
amount claimed is 81 100. and though the assignee
of Mr. Stannelds estate is perfectly willing 10 pay
their demands. the servants have run against a
snag in the shape OF the Paran Stevens estate.
which claims all the assets OF Mr.. Staniled. to the
exclusion OF every other creditor.
When Mr. Stanned failed in business ana the
Victoria was closed the servants heard that there
was no money to pay wages. They held an indlg-
nation meeting in the hotel. and resolved TO re-
tain Emile Beneville of No 30 broadway. as their
counsel to take steps to recover their wages from
the assignee OF Mr.. Mansfelds estate MI Hene-
vile made formal application for the servants
wages to the assignee. asking for fun payment tho
law recognizing claimants for wages as preferred
creditors.
Then came the claim OF the Stevens estate, put in
by Burrlll. Zabriske Burrill Of No. q Broad-st.
counsel for Charles Stevens and George F. Rich
ardson. the trustees which will. If allowed, swa-
low up all Mr.. Stanfeld's assets
All, the trouble arises out o. lease signed by
Mark NJ Stanfeld April j. 1890, which was to
expire May /, 1895. and Indcr which he agreed 10
pay the Stevens estate annual rent OF $Svo
and to keep the hote. and furniture In good re-
pair Mark NJ Stanfeld died on May 90 1890 or
a little moro than month after opening the
Victoria leaving the business TO his son. Doug
lag NJ Stanield and s6J.OcD in cash on deposit In
the Knlckerbocker Trust Company for the benent
OF his heirs
When the hotel was sold out this spring at auc-
ton the furniture realized only 5000 The stevens
trustees have filed claim OF Sl27.0cO against the
assignee OF Doug.cs Stanfelds estate. made up
of $1,000 for OF rent and 10000 which they
claim as due them for depreciation OF the property
due 10 Mr. Stanfe.ds failure TO keep 1t In proper
repair in accordance with the terms of the lease
The assignee. Mr. Yoaenes consulted his coun-
the servants wages out OF Douglas " Stanned's
share of the fund OF $4,000 left by his father
and was surprised later TO learn that the stevens
trustees claimed not only Mr.. Stannclds share OF
the s65 600 but the entire amount Coudert brothers
advised him that the question would nave 10 be
Sc filed by the courts. and there were no other
available assets Mr. BeneVille has already pre-
pa red papers in forty-eght suits against the as
sgnee to recover the wages due 10 the foriy-eght
servants. He is daily preparing more papers In
more suits OF Ike character "a fast as he hears
from the other l0o servants In the organization.
most OF whom are now employed at various summer