The evening world., 1905-11-02
RIVALS FIGHT
FOR THE HOTEL
OF MRS. TODD
LAWYER Lockwood. Who
Took Possession, Is
Ousted in Turn.
HEIRS NOW N CONTROL
Lockwood Had Discharged
Help and Put a Chain
on the Front Door.
HEIRS NOW IN CONTROL

The Won Hoffman apartment ho'el at
No. 20 West Twenty-sixth street was
the battle ground this afternoon be-
tween two factions that claim 10 control
the fortune Of Mrs, Margaret Todd who
Is believed TO have been murdered In
Philadelphia last Friday night George
Gordon Hastings, counsel for the only
daughter Of Mrs. Todd, and Sinclair
Tousoy. her brotber-in-law. went TO The
hotel this afternoon WIKI hall q dozen
husky detectives and forcibly elected
lngersoll Lockwood, who had taken pos
session by right OF force earlier In the
day.
The Hastings ousey crowd had no
legal papers emitting them to take ac-
ton. but they marched up to the place,
kicked In the front door, tossed one OF
the three Lockwood detectives into the
street and then went hunting for Mr..
lockwood, whom they found 'barriesded
behind a locked door in a SUITE on the
fifth floor,
He consented 70 open ths door and
marley, and finally agreed 20 ieave+ths
hotel on the condition that the former
manager. Amory. whom he threw out
OF the place this morning, b. rot all
lowed 10 return. II 10 probable that
Mr., Lockwood VIII nov 20 into tbs
courts and seek TO establish his claim
to administer Mrs, Todd's f0rtlua.
Meantime the representatives OF the
heirs are In possession
While Lockwood and Mrs. Todd's
heirs are fgbting about her property
the coroners OF New York and PAila-
delphia are engaged In lhvestigatlns
the circumstances surrounding her
death. The startling charge made In
an anonymous letter to Coroner schoier
that Mrs. Todd was lured 10 Philadei.
phia and thrown In front OF a train by
persons plotting to get her money 10
supported by strons circpmstanttsl evi.
dence.
Ode Letters TO Amory.
Besides the anonymous letter another
communication has come to light which
indicates another basis for the charge
that there was a plot TO do away with
the old woman. This letter was writ
ten TO q. w. Amory, manager OF the
Won Hoffman. by one who signed him.
self Tear THIS Up" and gave lnstruc.
lions as to the course OF action to DO
taken should Mrs. Todd be suddenly
taken IN. The letter 10 In possession
of George Gordon Hastings. attorney
for Mrs. Frank Tousey, the only daugh-
ter OF Mrs. Todd. Mr.. Hastings thinks
that he knows who wrote II.
Mr.. Lockwood's seizure OF the apart
ment-house was made after all the ten
ants had retired. He walked into the
ONCE with three private detectives and
handed Manager Amory a paper, which
he asked him to sign. This paper was
a pledge which would have obligated |
Mr.. Amory TO be faithful to Lockwood's
interests. He refused to sign II.
III yos don't sign that I'll discharge
you,' said the lawyer.
You can't discharge me-" retorted |
Amcry. 'You didn't engage me.p
You're discharged, nevertheless" de-
clared Lockwood. "and II you don't
get out Of here I'll throw you out"
Toussy countermanded Orders. |
Sinclair Tousey. bfother-in-law OF
Mrs. Tousey. and custodian OF her In
terests pending her arrival from Eu-
rope, advised Amory TO remain. The
manager concluded that Il would be
better for him to leave. and he took
his departure.
Lockwood then went through the
house and discharged all the help, orr
derIng them 10 leave at once. ME-.
Tousey followed him and countermand. |
ed the order, but some Of TIE servaas
departed at once.
A heavy chain was placed on tho |
front and Lockwood's detectives were
placed on guard. with instructions to
admit none but tenants or persons
bearing AUTHORIZATION to enter from the
lawyer Mrs, Howe. a relative o. Mrs
Todd VINO has been In possession Of
tho apartments OF the latter In THE Won |
HOFFMAN, since last saturday. was not
dlsurbed INV Lockwood
sinclair Tousey and Lawyer Hastings
took steps to-day 10 orlng eiectment
~prcceedings against Lockwood and to
force HIN to produce the lease No
claims 20 bold. They are also arranging
70 ask the courts TO make Lockwood