The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-06-10
FIGHT OVER A HOTEL.
THE POSSESSION OF THE BAYARD
HOUSE IN CHESAPEAKE CITY
DISPUTED.
Interesting Legal Contest Before the
Orphans Court in ElktOn.-An Array
of Legal Talent and Plenty of Wilt
neSSeS.

As had been previously announced in the
Cecil WING the big legal fight for the
possession of the Bayard House hotel, in
Che tsapeake City, took place before the
Orphans Court of Cecil County in Elkton on
Tuesday, the Court setting ana:t IA day
specially for this case. 1t will be remember
ed that Mr. William 7. Harriott on the 10th
day Of last March purchased the hotel at
private sale from John NJ. Thomas, of Phila.
delphin, executor and trustee of the estate Of
Mary Sophia Bayard, for $4,000, This
nece-sitated NJ. Queck, who had for several
years tenanted the property, vhcating the
place in nine days. Mr.. Harriott paid his
$4,000 in cash and on March 20 took possess
ion of the property and at once began to re-
pair and improve the hostelry The eXecu-
tor reported the sale to the Orphans Court
in due form Of law. but objections were made
to the ratification of the sale hy Mr., Ellen
n Bayard. her son, Richard II Bayard, and
her daughter. Ellen H. Bayard. all of BaIti'
more, residuary legatees under the will, upon
the ground of no public advertisement having
been given prior to the sale. and inad"quAcy
of price The executor admitted no public
notice but showed 10y the will that he was
empowered to sell either at public or private
sale at his own discretion
The first witness offered on the part Of the
eycertants was DR.. JOS v Wallace. who
testified that ne had resided i'll Chesapeake
City for Il number of years aud had no
knowledge that the property was for sale.
Walter w. AiEin. ot Warwick testified that
he was prepared to pay $1,000 for the
property ii he couIA get possession aud sign
ed an agreement to that effect; did not know
the property was for sale until Mr. Harrlott
purchased: had he known ne would have
offered - COO for it; license had greatly in
creased the value OF the property. Upon
cross examination said that IL the license
wa. issued to Mr.. HHrriott aud not the hot"!
for "A year he would lot give $4,000 for the
place II he could not get license; had tried to
re.purchase from Mr.. Harriott, but never
tried to buy the property before Mr.. Harriott
had purchased.
Charles Devalinger, of Elktou, testified
that he tried 10 buy the property from Mr..
Harriott: would give $4,000 cash for it:
would give Mr.. Harrott $1,000 if he
would ,eoy. hi. fnrniture in the hotel Upon
hair, cross exemined stated that ne would
No, ,.iva that nrfce if h. could not get Il
linnr.n Nor would he give such a price if Ae
oou,, NOT .,,.t = license before Nav, 1900
George Lum, Of Chesapeake City, said h"
tenupted farm. did not know the property
,.,.. ors,I.
Here the eXceptants rested their case. and
on ,r. nor, of the defenjents Thomas J
CI.ovor ,rn.idant Of tbn Chesapeake 4 Della
,,,o,,. canal 10 ,,,. first called He stated
,ho, J.. had resilal in Cbe.apaake for II
,.o,r-.. i. rroro,t,, owner. knew the propertv
in nnestion which in his estimation was
v,,.,n :, 5oo whom Mr. Hpr-tott purchased.
t,., - ooo ,,.o.. a,, avorhtont rri,r. If. ror-
,I',I., ,,,.., ,r,,,.I. INIT Nr uarriot, ho. inn.
.,,,, ,,,ar..I,. .,,,,, ,oIo,, ~. geon. tb. r,..t
Prov" 1t S''''''' ''0'
place that ever was kept thtf''
Henry H. Brady, yice-president National