New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-11
GILSEY CLOSES DOORS.
SOME GUESTS DEFIINT.
Result of Dispute Betoceen Estate
and Lessee of the Hotel.

The Giisey House closed last night for the
first time in third OF century, and its only
tenants were twenty guests who. having lived
there for years, and considering it their home,
had refused to depart with the others. There
were no electric lights. they burned candles.
They are firm in the belief that the hotel Will
be reopened under new management.
At p. M. yesterday permanent and transient
guests 10 the number of nearly one hundred and
fifty got notice to shift for themselves. Within
hour the corridors. and in fact the whole
house. had every appearance of moving day
in May. This suggestion alike appealed to the
man who registered the night before and several
oldtimers who had lived in the hotel ever since
James H Breslin, Henry Gilsey and Peter Gard
ner threw open the doors on April II. 1871.
The sudden closing of the hotel was the cul-
mination of a series of troubles that began soon
after the house passed under the management
that yesterday surrendered possession to the
owners, the estate of Andrew Francis Gilsey.
On March l the house was surrendered to the
owners by +. O. Rosselle, who subsequently,
went into involuntary bankruptcy, with liabili-
ties of about $190000. on the same date Albert
r. Keen took a lease of the house for seven
years at an annual rental OF $4,000, paya-
bic $3.50 month in advance BY consent Of
the owners the leasehod was transferred to the
11ulel COIILpdiIS, VI WHICH IicOCtlC u.
Lancaster is president and Albert R. Keen
treasurer. Securities 70 guarantee the pay
ment OF the rent for the full term were given.
including one thousand shares of the Seaboard
company which owns the Edgenlere Hotel at
Edgenere. Long Island The lessees also bought
the furniture of the house at $4,000 paying
$4,000 cash thereon.
Subsequently. the Seaboard company declares.
it became evident that the house was not the
profit producer they had been led to believe. and
May they made a formal demand for
cision Of the contract and a return of their Sc
curities. rendering the possession of the hotel.
furniture and all The demand was ignored.
Rent had been paid for two months but there
after It was in default. Suit was brought in
May for the rent of the current month. and
three other suits of the same sort were brought
FOR varying amounts, but covering the rental to
the end Of November Upon two of these suits
judgment was obtained in the Supreme Court
but was stayed Under appeal.
Meantime the Seaboard Hotel Company began
an action in equity. alleging fraud in the repre-
sentations on which the lease was predicated,
and demanding the complete RECESSION of the
contract a return of securities and an account
ing that would put the parties back as they
were before the transac cton began. This action
is now pending in the Supreme Court. Being
unable to secure execution of their judgments
fer unpaid rent the Gilsey estate. on Friday
instituted summary proceedings In the District
Court TO disposseSS their tenants, The precept
was returnabIe Monday but the unhappy
management took time by the forelock and
rasped with alacrity the opportunity to let so
and get out.
The notice to leave was complete surprise to
the guests and caused considerable consterna-
ton. At 2 p m. a clerk posted in the corridor
of the hotel a sign, reading: