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-Appliea-
ton 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. 42l West Twenty
drst street. childless. friendless and
feeble in mind and body. a fight long
wagered across her bed for her money
has been transferred to the Supreme
Court.
Real estate and personality valued at
100000 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
another 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 APP
parertlv fighting for himself. He de-
clares that the three daughters have no
right to the estate, because their mother
was only a servant" as he puts Il ana
was never adopted by Mrs, Waters.
Publicity was given this strange stu
ation when a motion to vacate an order
OF I"Silce Fitzgerald making w b,
Dor.her. ir. referee to take testimony
IN the legal hattie over the woman's
affairs --aa argued before Justice Leven-
trItt ~'r ahidavIts in the case tell n
story lat roads IKE fc:iom
Lived "A Century.
For n century Mrs. Waters has heen a
resld2a. 8: Manhattan. and for half a
century she has lived at No. i2i West
Twertv-Rrst street. Although three
times married she IS ch!!d!egs. Forty
years a~n n" adopted a girl from the
Hon - ~ the FrieGdiess,
william & Conkl!n. secretary OF the
Frarn'in Savings Eank. is the defendant
in tn, sui; pending. He is charged by
Mrs Waters. through her attorney.
witt taviTg DbtaiGed from her a deed
to her property in West Twenty-frst
street when she was not able mentally
to realize what she was doing. The
suit. though brought in Mrs Waters'S
name. is actuated by DR.. James A.
Campbell. Of No. 800 West Twenty-sec-
ona street. who appears as Mrs.
wat"rs's friend. He makes many
charges against Mr.. Conklin in connec-
ton with the MANAGEMENT OF Mrs
Waters $ financial affairs
Mr. Conk,ln says that he has acted
as Mira. waters's financial adviser since
1870. After she was too feebJc TO go ="
the bonk ne went tn her homo to a6-
wise her. Last August, he claims, she
told him that 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 her children
she dLd not like. Mr.. Conklin 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.
o, Aue Is Mr.. Conklin claims, the
houf.. ~as decided to him. In the re-
corded deed Mrs. waters's signature
does not appear. 1t is subscribed to sim
DIV by an tx mark.
on Nov. IS DR.. 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..
conkl!n 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 slster-in-law as nurse OF
Mrs. Waters and that he had in his pos
session mortgages and other securities
~ Mrs NVntpra valued at 800 600.
DR.. Campbell brought suit for Mrs,
Waters to annul the deed in Mr.. Conk.
iIn's hands and for the return of all hel
property. She was examined by alien
lists In preparation for the suit and pro-
nounced incapable OF transacting bust
ness. The appointment of a referee
followed,
what the Fortune Ii In.
So far as known the estate of the ole
lady consists OF the house and lot No
Isl West Twenty-frst street. valued at
$4,000, various mortgages, and large
sums In cast deposited with trust com
panies and savings banks, besides jewel,
which are said to be Of value.
Two OF the daughters of the adopted
daughter. Sadie and Dorsae lie Brantz
live with Mrs. Waters now and TAX,
cara OF her. Their mother has re
married and lives in West Virginia. Tn,
~neighbors all say hat their mother wal
certainly raised as a daughter. and tina.
Jones. who was Mrs. Waters's nus
band at the time the child was takeI
from the institution, never knew 1t wa
not his own. He was said to have beer
very anxious for an heir and his wifi
played this trick on him TO satisfy him
Mrs. Waters is now too feeble to tel
anything about this.
Mr.. Conklin said to an Evening World
reporter to-day:
"The property was transferred to M
because Mrs. Waters wanted me 10 b.
: her agent and look out for her. Tn
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 thu
. property" he was asked.
sim sitting up nights worrying aboun
II now" he answered.
He refused to say whether any NOR
property han that where the old lad,
Hives had been transferred to him and
referred the reporter to his lawyer.