The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-14
LOCKED W. f. D. STOKES OUT
PROPERTY OWNER ASKS TO HAVE
ms J1NIToR ARRESTED.

He Complain, That the Builder of His New
Apartment House and the Jnnitor Are
in Collision and Won't Let the Tenants
In or Give Up the Ksys-Peace Tempo
rnrily Restored by Surrender of Keys.
W. +. d. Stokes, whose numerous aud pro-
loneed lawsuits with his cousin Edward 8.
Stokes are still remembered. rushed into the
West Fifty-iourth street police court yesterday
afternoon just before closing time and told
Magistrate Flammer that he had new $780,
OOO apartment house on West EiRhty-h fifth
street near Riverside Drive but 1t wasn't doing
him much good because his Janitor and the
contractor were in collision and wouldn't let
him have the KEYS. He asked for a warrant for
the arrest OF the janitor. William Won der Abe.
Unjust have those keys before night" ex-
claimed Mr.. Stokes. Il have already leased
eight OF the twelve apartments, but my new
tenants cant get in and they will sue me. Mrs.
Thomas and her two daughters occupy one
apartment. They went there last night after
the theatre. expecting to stay all night for the
first time. But they couldn't They were shut
out by the jantor and the contractor and had
to hunt UP hotel at that time OF night"
Magistrate Flammer gave Mr.. Stokes sum
mons for the Ianitor and promised to keep
court open until the difficulty could be adj
justed.
Mr.. Stokes and his lawyer went away. but re-
turned In ten minutes and repeated the re-
quest for q warrant. This time they got
1t and sailed forth with Court Policeman
Jordan to serve 1t. They had not been gone
long when Won der Abe. the janitor. walked
in. He lntimated that he had suspected there
was trouble in the air. and had come to meet
1t half way. While he was explaining this. the
searchers returned and reported that the jani-
IN nd had lab ont
NO. they haven't" said the janitor. stepping
forward Then turning to Mr.. Stokes. he vol
unteered to explain the whole matter. Il
haven't got your keys at ALL" he said. Mr. II.
j. Collyer. the contractor. demanded them
from me. and as he said that the building was
not completed. gave them up"
Your Honor" said Mr. Stokes. Il employed
this janitor on the recommendation OF Mr..
Colyer. Then found out that they were the
best OF friends. Won der Abe and his daugh-
ter live in my house aud Mrs. Colyer
lives there with thsm-in my house. mind
you. that l can't get the keys for. The
janitor's daughter is an opera singer; she
has beautiful voice she sinEs gorlously. I'll
admit. Why when went up there to see what
the hitch was about these keys l found some
Of my barred-out tenants standing on the side
walk. almost obllvious OF their own troubles.
so entranced were they BY the beautiful sounds
that were coming from the throat Of this
janitor's daughter And she was in the base
ment, too.
This contractor 10 OF the Arm OF Collyer j.
Weeks. formerly OF 1873 West Twenty third
street. They were six months behind on my
house. They admitted to me that they were In
financial straits and have advanced money
from time to time for the sub-contractors.
When l went to demand the keys Collyer took
me into q room and said: Now I've got you
where want you. You can't have your keys
unless We have money. We haven't got any
and We need IT, l told him that would 60 TO
court. and then Collyer went to Jersey. tthis
Janitor Won der Abe hasn't got the keys then
Hugh Mckenzie. Collyer's boss workman. has
them. and III have him arrested"
Won der Abe assured the magistrate that he
hadn't the keys. He added that there was
more money still due Collyer on the house and
that the building was not completed
A telephone message was sent to Mckenzie.
sum ing him to appear. and the court took
a recess for half an hour to wait for him. Nc
Kenzie came in out OF breath. but with $25
worth OF outside and inside door keys janRling
In his pocket and a firm determination not to
surrender them. He was inclined to be dra-
matio.
Your Honor" exclaimed Boss Mckenzie,
Throw mo lutO pTlbOu III you must, Out spare
Won der Abe. He IL an innocent man. l am
an innocent mar. too, but cannot. will not give
UP single key. They were given to me in
trust by my employer. Mr.. Colyer. He has
gone to Long Island. He will return to morrow
morning. Let Dir. Stoksr and his tenants wait
until then"
Turning to the complainant Mckenzie con-
tinued: Mr.. Stokes. you are millionaire:
am poor man. You would not have me betray
my trust. would you?"
Give me those keys" replied Mr. Stokes.
1t was getting late. and the magistrate was
becoming I'm patient. as a solution OF the DIM
Guilty still seemed remote Observing this.
Mckenzie became less dramatic and finally
consented to a compromise. He agreed to 20
away with Mr.. Stokes and be good enough to
let him have the outside door keys and the
hall keys to the apartments. 1t was mutually
agreed that the boss workman should retain
possession OF all the small keys TO closets and
wardrobes until the return OF Mr., Collyer The
case was then adjourned and Won der Abe was
paroled.
There was no trouble at the new apartment
house last night. Mr. Stokes got his keys from
Mckenzie and then stationed a special watch
mall In front OF the house for the night. jan
tier Won der Abe with his daughter retained
their rooms in tho basement but none OF the
new tenants came to take possession Of their
apartments.
SCHLEY MAY GET SEA DUTF.