The Jersey City news., 1899-12-02
TALE or TAYLOR
Difficulty Over the Demoli-
ton Of the Old Hotel
Brings Up Ancient
History.
MECHANICS Lien CONTENTION
Dawson Brothers VS. the AS.
gociates of New Jersey
Old Bill Of Particulars.

The contention between the purchasers
of Taylors Hotel and the owner of the
adjoining houses that if the party wall
dividing them be interfered with during
the demolition of the former building, a.
collapse might result, has brought up d
very interesting history.
AS far back as 1859 there was fight
over these houses. The ground originally
belonged to the Associates of the Jersey
Company and that corporation contracted
to sell five lots to one Oliver Dawson at
s2 $50. on which Davison's brother Eras-
tus was to erect five stores; the owners OF
the land to take mortgage on eaeh TOT
the price and $1,000 more TO be advanced
as the work progressed.
Liens against the work piled up and the
Associates refused to make any further
payments. Oliver Dawson induced the
Associates to procure loan for him on
the security of a mortgage to be assigned
to Mr.. Southmayd, treasurer Of the New
Jersey Railroad Company This was TO
be used in extinguishing the lien claims
These monies were to be expended unoer
the direction of Job Male. then superln-
tendent Of building operations for the AS
sociates. The loan was $500, and the
liens for work done and materials FUR
nished were discharged.
oliver Dawson never completed his con-
tract on the buildings. His protner
Erastus was a sub-contractor under him,
but not recognized as such by the Asso-
cIates.
1t transplred that when the Associates
agreed to convey the lots and take
mortgage an agreement reciting these
facts was drawn on May o. 1858. None OF
these papers were ever delivered to Oliver
Dawson. but remained in the hands OF
Dudlev S. Gregory on the express under
standing that they were not to be de-
livered until the fourth story OF eacn
building was completed. Dawson. how
ever, was permitted to take copy OF the
agreement, but it was stipulated that II
was not delivery. 1t was further agreed
that if the completion Of the fourth story
did not take place before June Is, lSo9 the
Associates could cancel the papers On
December 5, 1883, by an endorsement on
the agreement by Oliver Dawson. It was
agreed that Gregory should give up the
papers to be cancelled and a new agree
meut was made between Oliver Dawson
and the Associates
This agreement stipulated that when the
buildings. then two-thirds up, were COM
pleted before May IS, 1859, the Associates
should convey them to Dawson for $22, 600.
with interest, and to be secured by full
mortgages, one on each lot, payable in
five years from that time for 5000 EACH
The building were not completed accord
ing to contract and no deeds were de-
livered to Dawson. On July 80, 1853,
Erastus Dawson filed a lien claim for
IS, ,O56. .25 against his brother oliver as
owner of the buildings and against the
Associates as owners of the land. The
total claim was s12 1926. but there were
credits amounting to s4,410 leaving
balance of sS.O5e.z5. The jury awarded
SC, 6,A67O An appeal was taken, and sub
sequently the Court of Errors and Appeals
reversed the verdict.
The bill of particulars is an interesting
one, and was for work and material for
five stores, commencing at the banking
house of the Mechanics and Traders
Bank and running easterly.' Some of
the items were:-