The evening world., 1902-12-05
Mrs. Sarah N. Waters, Who Is
a Centenarian, Is in Bed
While Doctor and Lawyer
Strive for Property.
DISPUTE AT HER BEDSIDE.
Struggle Long Waged at Her Home
Transferred to Courts-Applica-
tion to Set Aside appointment
Of Referee.

While Mrs. Sarah N. Waters. who is
said to be one hundred years old, lies
abed at her home. No. I2l West Twenty
FIRST street. childless. friendless and
feeble in mind and body. fight long
wagered across her bed for her money
has been transferred to the Supreme
Court.
Real estate and personality valued at
$500, COO furnish the bone of contention
between her banker and her family
physician. For months they have car
ried on a vicious warfare in and out of
court for control of her estate. The one
least concerned is the aged woman
whose closing hours have been troubled
by the plots and counterplots OF those
about her. Day by day the banker
and the doctor have stood at opposite
sides OF her bed and fenced with one
smother to win from her some feeble
utterance that would make one Of the
other the legal guardian Of her affairs.
The doctor Is fighting in behalf OF the
two DAUGHTERS of an adopted daughter
of the aged woman. The banker is ap-
parertlv icht.ng for himself. lie de-
clares that the three daughters have no
right to the estate. because their mother
was "oniy servant" as he puts Il and
was never adopted by Mrs. Waters
Publicity was given this strange stu
ation when a motion to vacate an order
OF I"srlce Fitzgerald making w B.
Dor! hoe. ir. referee to take testimony
an the legal hattie over the woman's
affairs -''aG argued before Justice Leven-
tritt '"'r atidavlts in the case tell II
story lat reads Ike fiction
Lived n Century.
For n century Mrs Waters has heen
resld?a. 8: Marhattan. and for half
century she has lived at No. i2l West
Twertv-Rrst street Although three
times married she Is ch!!d,e2s. Forty
years % shn ADOPTED a sirl from the
Hon o' the Friar1iess
Wl.ia77 & Conkl.n secretary OF the
FrarNIn SAVINGS Eank, Is the defendant
in tn. s"l; pending re is charged by
Mrs. Waters. through her attorney
witt ravlgg obta!reJ from her deed
to her property in West Twenty-tirst
street when she was not able mentally
to realize what she was doing The
suit. though brought in Mrs Watcrs'S
name Is actuated by DIR. James A.
Campbell. OF No. 800 ives; Twenty-sec-
ond street who appears as Mrs
wat"rs's friend He makes many
charges against Mr. Conklin in connec-
tion with the management of Mrs,
Waters financial affairs
Mr. Conk,in says that he has acted
as Mrs Waters's financial adviser since
1870 After she was to) feeb.o to go -
the bnnk be went to Eer homo to aG-
wise her. Last August he claims, she
told him tEat as a reward for his scr-
vic, $ she wished to deed him her home
She said she had no natural heirs and
her adopted daughter and h.r children
she ala not like Mr. Conkln claims
that she asked him to keep her adopted
daughter Mrs. lie BrantZ. and her
three daughters out Of her house
Got Deed of House.
on Aug 2S Mr. Conklin claims. ~"
hous.. aas decided to him. In the re-
corded deed Mrs. waters's signature
does not appear. 1t is subscribed to sim
ply by an TX mark.
On Nov. is Or. Campbell and a law
yer called on Mr.. Conklin and present
ing a power Of attorney demanded the
surrender of all papers and property of
Mrs. Waters In his possession. Mr.
Conkln refused and then began the
series of visits to Mrs. Waters's bed
side by the banker ana doctor.
1t was learned that Mr.. Conkl!n had
Installed his sister-in-law as nurse oil
Mrs. Waters and that he had in his pos
session mortgages and other securities
OF Mrs. Waters valued at 100000
DR.. Campbell brought suit for Mrs.
Waters to annul the deed In Mr.. Conk-
Inns hands and for the return of all her
property. She was examined by allen
lists In preparation for the suit and pro-
nounced incapable of transacting busi-
ness The appointment of a referee
followed,
What the Fortune Is In.
50 far as known the estate of the old
lady consists OF the house and lot No.
l51 West Twenty-first street, valued at
$4,000 various mortgages and large
sums in cash deposited with trust com
panies and savings banks, besides Jewels
which are said to be of value.
Two OF the daughters of the adopted
daughter. Sadie and Dorsae lie Brantz.
care OF her. Their mother has re-.
married and lives In West Virginia. The
neighbors all say that their mother was
certainly raised as a daughter, and that
Jones, who was Mrs Waterss hus-
band at the time the child was taken
from the institution, never knew 1t was
not his own, He was said to have been
very anxious for an heir and his wife
played this trick on him to satisfy him
Mrs. Waters is now too feeble to tell
anything about this.
Mr.. Conklln said to an Evening World
reporter to-day:
"The property was transferred to me
because Mrs. Waters wanted me 10 be
her agent and look out for her. The
two girls have no claim on the property
They are only daughters OF an old ser
want. Their mother was never adopted"
What are you going to do with the
property" he was asked.
"Tm sitting up nights worrying about
II now he answered
He refused to say whether any more
property than that where the old lady
Hives had been transferred to him and
referred the reporter to his lawyer