The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-06
BATTLING FOR OCEAN BEACH.
ONLY ONE SHOT FIRED, but NINE
COTTAGES 60 DOWN.
strenuous Day at Far Rockaway for the
Franklin G.. Norton and VerRam-AlIen
msputants over Valuable Beach
Land-Lawyers and Italians Busy.

Franklin G.. Norton and VerHam-AIien
msputants over Valuable Beach
Land-LRwyers and Italians Busy.
Contention over thousands Of dollars
worth Of ocean front property between
Arverne- blythe Sea and Edgemere, Borough
OF Queens, led 70 lively doings on the prop
erty yesterday between the rival claimants
As "A result Of the dispute six men were
arrested, one Of them being a claimant
to the disputed land. He Ia Franklin C..
Norton OF Edgemere, who has done a great
deal 10 develop Edgemere property.
There are several claimants on the other
side, the two chief ones being Fred
erick G.. Allen Of Far Rocksway and REM
ington Eenam Of Arverne-by -thc-Sea
Mr.. Nemam owns a great deal Of property
in Arverne and is the chief mogul there. He
and Allen have joined forces and they have
the well wishes OF a Mrs. Packard and
Mrs. Annie Summerie!d, who also have
some claim to portions Of the disputed
ground
Norton is a descendant Of the Nortons
who were among the earliest settlers on
Far Eockaway. He says his title to the
property is clear and dates back many
years. Allen and Vernam intimate that
his only right to the ground is a squatters'.
They say they have a title dating lack to
1874 and that they won't have trouble in
proving their right to the land.
Two years ago Norton put a wire fence
around some Of the disputed land and
erected thereon nine summer cottages.
These cottages were razed early yesterday
morning by the rival claimants, Aliens
wire fence was torn down and seven thou
sand feet OF wire fencing put up around
the whole parcel Of the property by the
Allen-Vemam faction.
The legal interests OF the last named
faction are being looked after by Charles
A. Moves and T. A. Karelson Of this city.
Lawyer KRrelson and a force Of twenty
Ave Italian laborers appeared on the dis
putod land at O'Clock yesterday morning
Their coming wasn't heralded. Mr.. Karel-
son put the Italians TO work tearing down
the Norton fence, and, when this was I'm
ished he had them RAE the Norton summer
cottages The work was done hurriedly
for Lawyer Knrelson knew that a. soon
as Norton heard Of it be would be around.
When the property was free Of the Nor
ton belongings three portable houses that
had been taken 10 the place at night were
put up in a jify and three families were in
stalled in them. The seven thousand feet
OF wire fencing and the three houses were
in position when Norton hove in sight.
With him was his lawyer William s, Petit
Of Far Rockaway. Mr.. Norton was mad
when he saw what had been done and,
according TO Lawyer Karelson. he began
abuse him The lawyer told Norton
that he was glad to see him az he had two
sunlmonses in two civil suits over the title
OF the property that he wanted 10 serve on
him.
Don't serve those papers on me- the
lawyer says Norton said TO him.
Karelson said that was his intention.
Then it is alleged that Norton said be would
shoot any one who tried TO serve papers on
him.
KArelson drew the papers from his
pockets and started TO walk toward Norton.
The latter whipped out a revolver and then
there was a scuffie and a shot was fired,
Karelson says the shot would have lodged
in him il he hadn't ducked. and Il the re-
volver hadn't been pushed upward by by
stander. Karelson served his papers any
way, and later went before Justice Edmund
j. Healey az Far Rockaway and got a war
rant for Norton arrest for felonious assault
and trespass. Norton was haIed before the
Justice and paroled until Friday.
Still later in the day Norton went before
the same Justice and obtained warrants
for the arrest Of four Of the Allen-Nernam
workmen on q charge Of trespass. They
we're arrested and admitted 10 bail. Then
Allen and Vernam retaliated 10y having an
employee Of Nortons arrested for tear
ing down a seclio Of the new wire fence
that had been erected early in the day.
He was bailed.
The original title OF the property Is said
10 date back 70 the time Of TaciIRpusha,
an Indian chief. Last February Mrs,
I'D, an ally Of Allen and Vernam,
sued 10 recover portion Of tho property.
The trail was before Judge Garrctson in
the Borough Of Queens and it was mistrial.
The action is 10 be tried again. Lawyer
Karelson had no legal process by which
10 take possession Of the property yester-
day Recently, he says, Norton let it be
known that he was going TO set up city
Of tents on the property for the accommoda-
ton Of city folks this year. This announce
ment preoipitated the action Of yesterday. |