New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-25
.ROCKAWAY TITLES GOOD
GSUIT SETTLES MILLIONS.
aSupreme Court Decides in FGUOr Of
Mrs. SummerfeLd'S Claim.

/ A jury sitting in the Supreme Court at Flush
ing Justice Keogh presiding. returned verdict
yesterday which lifted a cloud from the title Of
sS1early all the property on Rockaway Beach In
s1F03 Mrs. Annie Cornwell SUmmerield, wife OF
John c. Summer7eld. a New-York broker
brought suit against Franklin c. Norton to re-
.szain possession Of certain tract Of land on
lFockapay Beach. The case dragged along
with many Interruptions, until yesterday when
The following verdict was rendered In Mrs. sum
mereld's favor:
We find a verdict IN favor Of the plaintiff; that
she - the owner IN fee simple absolute Of the
premises described in the amended compliant
and that she is entitled 10 immediate possession
thereof, with six cents damages Tor the WlJi-
holding OF the same
This is for a tract Of land on Rockaway Beach
valued at about $4,000 Had the deferlant
Franklin c.. Norton. sustained his claim to this
property, the boundaries Of lots in Arverne-by-
1he-s Far Rockaway, ROckaway Beach, Law
renee and Edgemere would have been shifted
nearly three thousand feet. end title TO prop
yerty assessed at more than 100000 would
have been oloUded
The dispute between Mr.. Norton and Mrs.
tSummerheld and other interested parties has
been before the public since 1903, The right to
the land and the possession thereof has been
Fought in the courts and on the premises itself.
in April 1903 the dispute grew so hot that
mr. Norton discharged a gun between the feet
of Eph a. KareIsen. one Of TIE attorneys fer
.1he opposite side KarelseE maintained his
position and ia. night eight houses, built by
Morton. We're removed. 21Jo feet OF fence was
torn down three new houses were erected and
Rrmed guards pu. IN possession Of the prop
serty. Thus it has beer held since. and. as Nor
ZION says he VIII appeal. It is likely that the
guards viii be needed foe some time TO come,
Notwithstanding tha iury's verdict
The trial haa lasted three weeks. Ancient
mariners in sea boots. oldest Inhabitants" and
government. state and city employees have been
on the stand. Maps. rusty vita age. bearing
Ighe signatures Of Coast and Gcodetic Survey
tznen long dead and forgotten. were brought
IErom Washington to substantiate the later
.o!at.ings Of local surveyors Expert biologists
located creeks and canals filed in by the shift
ing beach sands, or by the grading operations
% the beach promoters
To show the continuity Of title, deeds signed
November 8, 1856 by Jackpousha Mad Mans
Reck and Paulan Of Rockaway Indian chiefs,
were resurrected. For the sum Of f31 IS. these
indians sold to one John Palmer all Of Rocka-
way On that same day Thomas Dongan, Lieu
Aenant Governor and Vice-Admiral Of New
York. in consideration Of two bushels Of good
winter wheat paid annually as quit rent TO King
Games II. confirmed the title
From John Palmer the title passed undis-
puted through a series of COrnwels 10 one Will
lam CornwelL Of whom Mrs. Summerleld is the
only lneal descendant. Norton also claims the
property under a COrnwen partition suit, to
Substantial which he asserts that the base line
from which all ROCkaWay titles have been meas
ared is incorrect, and should be set three thou
sand feet 70 the west Of its accepted site. The
New-York companies guaranteeing titles would
have been hard hit had NOTton's contention been
upheld by the jury
other suits on similar lines are to follow.