The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-14
DENNY HOTEL SOLD.
Attorney Strafton Bids Ii In for One
hteenth of the Property's
Original Cost

Inc Denny hotel property the u1agnff-
iesHt structure on the hill, which mas so
long been ia litigation. was sold YESTERDAY
20 sheElH sale for the very insignificant
sum of si1.5al. The properly cost in Tire
hefgnDornooa of fifteen times that sum,
ahe purchaser was Judge J. A. Stratton.
Ms safe took place On the trent steps
OF the eaurt house and some half dozen
81 the attorneys and interested parties
were tner9 10 witness the proceedings.
among these were +. S. Pctvin. " II,
isAtimer. r. r. Rlains and Dr 7 \
Prdther. Deputy Sheriff Caiess-hesd made
the sale. Judge stratton's bid covers
sniee items connected with the expenses
OF the long litigation that has entangled
tais property. These are court c0sts
amounting 10 about s2.59g. the claims OF
TIE scHwabacbers and of HILL about
sipa, attorneSs' fees of about $1,000
Though IL Is over eight wears since the
Denny hotel was commenced the build
ing Is not finished. chiefly on account Of
Inc irrigation in which its affairs have
Deem lied UP since soon after work was
begun. When the project for the con-
stFuction Of the big hotel was first talked
OF the enterprise was considered a most
profitable one and it WAS to be a struc-
iure that would be an ornament 10 the
city and the state. The most eminent
and slightly spot in the town was selected
as ii site, while all the public spirited cit
liens took blocks OF stock To help the en-
terprise along There were apparently
ample funds 10 complete the building and
furnish it,
The Denny Hotel Company let the con-
sirucuon OF the building to i. S. Potvin
al Sla%.@a. He went ahead with the work
and after several months, when the
building was partly up. the company ef-
fectesl a loan from the Cornell University
OF siup1o 10 prosecute the work. giving
mortgage to secure the money. Contract
or Po-sin obtained materials in large
quantities and employed an army of
men and continued the work for some
years, at which time on account of diff
neulties arising between the company
and himself he suspended work. Mr..
Potein filed lien fer the amount he
claimed 10 be due him, sl66, 900 while vari-
Gus other liens were filed by those who
had furnished materials and labor These
amounted to about $50.oe0 Actions were
begun to foreclosc these lesser liens and
when they came into court it was held
that they were subsequent to the mort
gage of the Cornell University, but were
good as against the hotel company.
Polvin's claim and the claim OF the
Cornell University Were tried some time
later 10 determine which should have
priority. Potvin had given Dexter Hor-
ton a. Co. orders against the hotel COM
pany as collateral security for advances
which the bank had made him while the
work was In progress. Judge Langley
dismissed Potvin's claim on the ground
that he had assigned his claim to the
bank he had waived any right he might
have had. The supreme court on appeal
reversed that decision and sent the case
back for Il new trial. the upper court
holding that as Potvin still held an inter-
est in the claim his assignment did not
operate as "a waiver
Attorney w. r. Bell was appointed as
referee TO retry the case. His decision
was In nearly every particular favorable
10 the Cornell University and against
Potvin. Exceptions were taken and when
the case came before Judge Humes the
referees finding was reversed and the
priority awarded to Potvin. The other
iien claimants here again demanded that
their claims should be given priority
over Potvin's and their contention was
upheld and they were awarded priority.
The case was appealed by Cornell Uni
Vcrsity and their appeal was dismissed
on the ground or failure to serve all nee
essary parties.
| Action for the final sale OF the property
was commenced in September last and
| tho sale yesterday is the outcome.