The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-15
TRUTHS Daughters Entitled to
Property Worth 100000
ASKED TO SIGN TO CLEAR TITLE
Then They Dscousr That a Large Piece Of
Land at Atlantic City Belongs 10 Them.
Statute Of Limitation Does NOT Apply.

Camden, n. j., Oct 15.-It was a happy
day which took Mrs. Vene z. Eltonheao
OF Chicago, 10 Atlantic City last summer
for while she was there she picked up a
nice strip of property which is worth a
cool million as il staEds today and she
and her sister. Mrs. Vail OF Wenonah,
Gloucester county, are the rightful own
-ers of it.
Robert Truitt. the father Of these two
young women owned great strip of
seashore 40 years ago. 1t was not worth
much in 1861. but in 1900 IT is that part Of
Atlantic City stretching along Maryland
avenue, from Pacific avenue TO the
beach
In 1861 Mr.. Truitt transferred this prop
erty from his wife and children 20 Chas
J.. and Sydney Bowen, and two years
later John +. Bennett attached il and
bought IL in.
Bennett has since sold much OF the land
I'm parcels. and IL has been built on by
careless purchasers who did not take the
trouble 10 find that there was cloud
upon the title.
When Henry Baldwin. one OF the pres
ent owners however, undertook To nave
his title insured by title guarantee com
pany he was told that the company
would have nothing TO do with IL unless
the daughters Of Truitt, who are ms
rghtful heirs. signed a release.
"Oh, that will be easy" said Mr. Bald
win. He made some inquiries and found
that Mrs. Eltonhead, one OF the daugh-
ters was a guest of one OF the Atlantic
City hotels.
Supposing that Mrs. Eltonhead would
have no objection TO signing release
and not knowing that she really had a
better claim to the property than he, the
guileless Mr. Baldwin called on the lady
md preferred his request Mrs. Elton
head turned white. She had heard her
mother speak sometimes of the property
her father once owned, but had paid no
attention TO IL. here was that property
staring -harl the face
..You will pardon me-" she said with
futtering heart. ''but would like To look
into the matter | don't like TO sign pa
pers until know what IL means.
"Oh. II Is a mere formality, said Mr..
Baldwin, wishing he had not called, and
beginning to realize that a clouded title
may be better than a disputed one.
''If you will call tomorrow, L have no
doubt that can comply with your re-
quest" said the lady.
But when the morrow came Mrs. Ell
tonhead had consulted with a lawyer and
received the astounding information that
she and her sister had claim to a million
dollar property.
Proceedings were at once started TO set
aside all titles and give back the property
to its rightful owners. Baldwin's lawyer
claimed that he and his grantors had
been in notorious adverse possession for
20 years. and therefore, could not be dis
possessed, but the lawyer of the heirs at
law pointed out that in New Jersey the
statute of limitations does not begin TO
run against a minor and as Mrs. Elton
head is only 81 the statute cannot be in
voked against her for 10 years more.
In fact, the case looks so bad against
the present holders that they are making
big offers for compromise, but none so
far have reached the demand of the
young women, who have Unexpectedly
found fortune.
Among the owners involved are John
Young. owner OF the big pier; Stewart
McShea, William Bell, County Clerk
Lewis p. Scott, Walter Il. Edge, Henry
Baldwin, George Allen. the Philadelphia
ha.ter. and the Rutter estate.