The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-20
SUING THE CHURCH.
Chancery Suit Against the
Rev. Mr.. Scudder's New
Consolidated Society.
TODAY's COURT PROCEEDINGS
The South Bergen Reformed Did
Not Pay for Decorating Its
Interior.

The Rev. John l.. Scuddnr appeared in
q new role this morning. He was a
WAtness in the Court of Chancery in the
case of Louis F. Darmstadt, Cornelius
Darmstadt and George Scott, partners as
Darmstadt & Scott, against the minister,
elders and deacons OF the South Bergen
reformed Church and George NJ. Craig.
Darmstadt & Scott are painters and
decorators, and when the edifce of the
South Bergen Reformed Church was built
the hrm decorated the walls, for which
they rendered a bill for $453. The church
at the time was in financial straits and
the firm could not get it's money.
Previous to this the Henry Huber Co.,
wholesale dealers in plumbers supplies,
obtained a judgment against the church
for material furnished, and in virtue of
that judgment ohm ]. Toffey. the then
Sheriff, old the church building, and it
was bought by n Craig, who was a
member of the church consistory for $21S.
While this was going on William C.
Cudlipp, for Darmstadt & Scott, brought
suit in the Circuit Court for the FIRMS
claim, and this suit was pending while
the Huber Company's proceedings were
In progress. Mr.. Cudlipp charges in his
- (AtS kA<AAS VI tLAS L
fer of title to said George M. Craig nor
at any time thereafter has there been
any change in the possession or use of
the property, but thai the church has
continued to use the property for hurch
purposes. Nor did Mr.. Craig, who was
a member of the Consistory of the
church, make any claim to the owner
ship of said property or make any at
tempt to use it, but on the contrary gave
the members of the church to understand
and believe that the title of said property
remained in the church.
The bill then sets out the particulars
of the negotiations for and the sale of
the South Bergen Reformed Church to
the First Congregational Society of Jer-
sey City.
The bill charges that Mr.. Craig through
out the entire proceedings acted as agent
for the church, and he should be di-
rected by the Court to pay the claim of
Darmstadt & Scott.
In his answer Mr.. Craig claims that he
was the lawful owner of the property
afterwards purchased by Sherif,s sale.
He admits he sold it to the First Con-
gregational Society. as he had a perfect
right to do, being its lawful owner.
Mr., Cudlipp called Mr.. Scudder to the
r1@N ~A0 PcAAtA - tAAC S9oSs liz
asked him to tell about the negotiations
between his people and the South Bergen
building Mr.. Midlige. who represented
the defendants in the case, objected on
the ground hat Mr.. Scuddder, being only
the pastor of the church and holding no
official position, could not answer the
question of his own knowledge.
Yes I am simply an employee of the
Scudder, land there as preacher simply.
Unlike other churches, that does not
make me a member of the governing
board or civ me any. official position"
The Vice Chancellor here said that he
thought the First Congregational Soci-
ETY. of Jersey City should be a party to
the suit. In case a decree was granted
in favor of Mr. Cudlipp's client they
would be better off if it was against the
CONGREGATIONAL Society as well.
Mr. Cudlipp accepted the suggestion and
the suit was suspended right there to
allow Nj; Cudiipp to amend his bill by
making the First Congregational Society
which is the technical name OF the Tab
ernacle, a defendant. Mr.. Scudder was
then formally presented to the Vice
Chancellor and left the court room SEEM
lngly pleased with his escape from a
long catechiEm.