The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-04
COL. R. G. INGERSOLL SUED
FOR DAMAGE 70 FURNITURE IN 4
HOUSE HE RENTED.

stntuary Was Hurt by Washing 1t with
Soap and Water, Plaintiff Says-Bust of
Dickens Broken, Too-S4.5 90 Article Of
fered In Its Place Scornfully Rejected.
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll figured as the de-
PENDANT yesterday in a suit brought in the
Sixth Municipal District Court by DIR. Elias
NJ. l.. Bristol. The latter rsnte1 his house at
30 Madison avenue to the Colonel for four
years and the suit Is TO recover damages al
legged to have been done to articles In the
house during the Colonels OCCUPANCY. A
bust Of Dickens in a badly shatteie ed condition.
a broken vase and several articles OF furniture
were exhibits in the case.
Col. 1pgersoll's occupancy Of the house
ended last November. whom he moved away.
declining to pay an increase OF $1,000 n year
In the rent. Soon afterward DIR. Bristol pre-
scented to him a claim for damages. The claim
was produced in court yesterday along with
the bust OF Dickens. This was valued by the
doctor at S75 and the vase Mt so. The doctor
also claimed damages to chairs and other ar
ticles Of furniture. including n 5000 clock.
Other alleged damage was to statuary caused
by washing it with SOAP and water. Col. In
gersoll offered to replace the bust. but tho
doctor refused 10 ACCEPT a substitute Tor 1t.
and the suit for damages resulted.
Col. Ingersoll was In court with his wife and
daughter. He was represented by Clarence
S. Brown. his son-in-law. II. b.. Ketchum ap-
peared for the doctor. The latter was the first
to take the stand. He said that the bust OF
Dickens had belonged to his wife and had been
purchased In England. He valued It at $50.
although he wanted $40 In his claim for dam
ages. The doctor said he considered him self
something Of an expert on such things. as he
ha bought from $1,000 to $4,000 worth Of
statuary in::he course of his life. He had re-
fused offers Of $50 for the bust many lines.
The vase was n Japanese antique and was
worth SO. When the Colonel left the house.
The doctor said. an inventory was made and the
damage estimated. Upon finding. the broken
bust Of rt Dickens iHI he a, the he Colonel &c lon to look
Col. Ingersoll broke Into the doctors. testi-
mony at this point TO ask him to tel, the:Court
clock in the house had been allowed to run
down and had cost him 81 to have 1t fixed. 1t
Cross-examined. DR.. Bristol said that he had
moved into the house on the dav, the Colonel
moved out. He wished to have the inventory
wanted it done on Monday. Most OF those
SoW Doctor" said the Colonel. rising at
Dickens,
' y he look like the bust?" asked the Colo
Yes. 1t was the best bust I've ever seen OF
'"Apd yet you only saw Dickens once was
Charles Barr. an insurance agent. followed
the doctor. He admitted that he had told
Mrs. Ingersoll. after making theinycntory.
that the house was left ina very good condl-
ton except for the several missing articles,
value OF the statue aud vase. He considered
them worth $50 and $50 respectively.
The first witness for Col. lngersoll was Ed
mpnd:F. BonayS11tn ne. an r. art na dealer he was
Il guess I'll AFFIRM he said. and the spec
Mr.. Bonaventure said he considered the
bus bI To Tnn s about t.. SIN one a tik It I Tss b an w imlt ssRSS.
Carried around by peddlers In the street. I
have" replied the witness. L wouldn't have
Miss Maud i; Ingersoll. q daughter Of the
handed her the Bible. but she pushed it aside
and raised her hand to, affirm. She testified
that Bari. had told her that things were salts
R~ersolls. said that the ,statuary had never been
washed with soap and ytter. We used tepid
water with a cheese CLOTH, she EXPLAINED
affirm. What's the use, troubling the, Al.
mighty with such q mall matter as all this,
good condition sxcep. for a few articles;
Il offered to give the doctor $50 Tor these.
he said. "$l5 for the statue and 50 FOR the
vase. Ny daughter found on a shoppinG tour
bust could never be replaced,. The other ar,
ticles for which he claims damages are al
after thoughts. They were not mentioned
until long after the trouble arose over the
bust"
Justice Martin took the papers, reservinl
his decision.