The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-10
Report Of the Committee.

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In view Of the many disqueting
and unfounded rumors that are current
concerning the recent death of the late
Mrs. William f. Jones and the causes
which, 1t is alleged. led up to 1t. and
more particularly of the article which
appeared in the Scrantonian, in its issue
of Feb. T. 19OO under the caption. death
was sad" it is only right and proper.
nay. it is absolutely necessary that the
public should be apprised of the true IN.
war6ross of things and informed of the
exact state Of affairs
Tho honest but misguided woman la
boring under a misrepresentation Of the
facts and believing that through the ar
tiiicc. deceit and chicanery of Evan +.
Phillips. her brOther-in-law, she was be-
Ing robbed of her property and unfairly
dealt with. appealed to the several lodges
for protection and assistance. The Ivor-
ties. prompted solely by an earnest de-
sire to see that justice and fair play were
had between the parties, appointed Il
committee, whose names are hereto ap-
pended. to thoroughly investigate the
charges preferred. ascertain the truth or
falsity Of them and present the facts as
they appear of record to the community.
In order that the public may be better
able to comprehend the matter, we shall
begin by referring to the arrangement
entered into between William E. Jones.
now deceased. and Evan p. Phillips, who
were brothers-in-law and fast friends. in
the year 1880.
On the ed day Of October, 1880. the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
Railroad company. by deed bearing the
| same date and duly recorded In the Of
flee for the recording Of deeds, etc, in
and for the county of Lackawanna. In
deed book 76 page 3sl. etc.. conveyed to
Evan u. Phillips. lots No. 1853 and lA of
| plot No. 1. of lands at Taylor. and sit
uate on Pond street, being the same land
In dispute. 1t was mutually agreed that
Mr.. Phillips should have lot No. lJ3 and
! Mr.. Jones lot No. lH. The reason for
! putting both lots in Mr.. Phillips name
Is. he paid the first installment Of $50 to
| j. p. Cooper, agent.
In pursuance Of this arrangement. both
| erected houses upon their respective lots,
! and continued In undisouted possession
making permanent and valuable improve
| ments thereon, and have exercised all
acts Of ownership and control. During
| the same year Mr.. Phillips became in
| volved In some difficulty which is neith-
| er here nor there and has nothing to &c
| with the matter in question except in SC
| far as he decided to convey the said lots
of land to Mr. Jones to avoid compica
| tions that might arise owing to this
Mr.. Jones had advanced all the purchase
money excepting the $50 as hcreinabovs
I stated. tn wit. the sum of $780, Mr.
| Phillips accordingly gave a deed to Mr.
Jones bearing date Nov. |. 1890, and re.
corded in the office for the recording ol
deeds, etc. in and for Lackawanna coun
ty. in deed book Is. page 39i, etc. b,
which he conveyed to Mr.. Jones the sam,
lots of land. to wit. lots 153 and l5i.
AS a condition precedent to the eXecu
| ton and delivery Of this deed, a paro
! agreement was entered into between the
parties, by which ii was mutually anC
tacitly understood that upon the paymen
by Mr.. Phillips Of the sum of $50, which
was one-half of the purchase money %
the said lots, and interest To Mr. Jones
that thereupon he tMr. Jonosl was I,
execute and deliver a deed for lot No. Is
| to Mr.. Phillips. ON Jan. :, 1872 Mr.
| Phillips secured a loan from the Wes
Side bank for which he gave a judgmen
note as security.
On "a day agreed upon Mr. Phillips an'
Mr.. and Mrs, Jones went to Judge Ed
wards Office in Scranton (the judge a
that time acting as attorney for botf
parties. the matter being entirely amica
BILE and friendly. and in his presence
as we'll as of themselves he paid into
the hands OF Mr.. Jones slSl. princlpa
and interest in full for lot No. 1853. ac
| cording to previous agreement For som'
unex painable reason Mr.. Phillips did no
receive his deed, nor had he received 4
up to the time Of the bringing Of th'
action to enforce specific performance o
their parol contract. MIR. Phillips hac
kept and performed his part of thu
agreement to the letter: Mr.. Jones
through some oversight, inattention o.
inadvertence. failed in the performance
OF his.
For eight years Mr.. Phillips believed
that he was in absolute possession Of hi
property. or until Aug. H. 1899. when h
was informed by the West Side banl
that he had no title to the land upol
which he had erected his home. TakinI
counsel of an attorney he instituted pro
ceedings In the orphans court to enforc
specific performance of the parol con
tract made and entered into on Nov.
1870.
On that date his petition was presente,
to court setting forth the facts as here
inbefore mentioned. A citation was is
sued summonng D. ID. Evans. execute
of the last will and testament of William
r. Jones. deceased, Mrs. William +
Jones, widow. and the children. to appea
on or before Oct, 7, 1899. to show caus
why a decree for specific performanc
of the said parol contract according (
the true and intent meaning thereo
should not be made. Upon receiving tn
summons Mrs. Jones, accompanied b.
j her sons Gnmer Reesa and Johu Thonas