The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-27
Vice. chancellor Halls Sheriff S
Sale While lie Probes
Transaction.
ALLEGES SHE SIGNED
MORTGAGE UNDER DURESS
Octogenarian Tells Sad Story of
How She Tried to Save
, Son Now Dead.
BY ADELINE STANLEY cARRIcK.

Wilson. fighting desperately against the
iron hand of the law to retain until she
dies the little homestead for which h
worked so hard. No doubt o are
familiar with her story.
She alleges that under duress on Oc-
tober 4, 1901, she signed a mortgage for
$1,000 on her home, the money to be
used in liquidating some debts of her
late son. SO forcible were the argu-
ments Of her sons creditors agents
that she signed the paper without
knowing what it was. Nothing was
heard of the matter until two years
later, when a demand for interest was
presented.
Mrs. Wilson's lawyer, Edward j..
Croll, wrote that any attempt to en-
force the mortgage would be resisted.
The creditors, Mahlon S. Kemmerer
and his partner, tool no action for
three years. Suit for foreclosure was
begun last October. Croll made an ef-
fort to have some sort of an adjust
ment made, and in the midst of the
negotiations the lawyers of Kemmerer
secured a SNAP judgment. h prop
erty was too have been sold by the
Sheriff this week, but Vice-Chancellor
Emery orderGd a p~ostponement untll
the merits of{Mrs. Wilson'S case cou'd
be heard in chancery. TIL next hear
ing will be given April IA.
sits Alone and Waits.
In the meantime Mrs. Wilson sits
alone, and waits, and grieves. 1t IS
pathetic to be alone when one Is ola
and when the rheumatism takes ones
energy. But to have to wait for a
dreaded tomorrow, whose coming may
take the yoof from ones head and the
bread from ones mouth=-that is worse.
Mrs. Wilson's face would be kindly.
were 10 not so creased with lines OIL
tpeJSblE. She is a dear old lady, with
"a quaint manner which makes her
seem 'like out of a book" M
4Come in, child said she to me as
7 stood on the threshold of her little
homo In James street. Indeed, and
it's good to have a sou to talk to. Tn
her alone so much, and with the
trouble weighing on my heart till it's
like to kill me.
You won't mind sitting in the
kitchen, where it's warm, will you,
dear?' she continued. And now you
want me to tell you of my trouble. It's
clad I am to do so, for you don't know
what it means to be alone, and to
think and think. and think, with never
81 one to advise or say they're sorry.
All. Tn so sad sometimes / could ole
for grief. but | have to keep a-going,
and a-going. When I was young the
world was different. People were kind,
TO each other then" and the shake OF
the old lady's head meant volumes;
athey're all against each other now.
TeIIs Her Troubles.
But it's not about that that you'd
care to be hearing, is it, child. so I'll
tell you the whole story Of my trouble.
MY son got in debt. / did not know
of It until he got so poor and could buy
no more coal to sell to his customers.
Then, one day, those two men, Dewitt
and Cole, agents of Kemmerer, came
with a paper.
".Sign this they said, and you son
can get all the coal he wants and re-
deem his debt. l was sick in bed and
theyxpushed their way into the parlor.
and they ouarreled and quarreled With
my husband from noon until almost
night. All they would say was sign It,.
NV poor husband wanted to consult
Judge Lambert. but they would not
hear of it. The voices worried me 50
that finally / got up out of my bed and
went to the parlor. Then they began
at me.
"At last they made us sign the paper.
But we only signed it to get coal for
our son. We wouldn't sign away our
home. and our son wouldn't want us to.
That Dewitt promised TO come and let
MS know when we could get the paper
back. and how our son was getting
along, but he never came near us, until
one day he demanded interest. and my
husband answered, you didn't give my
son the coal we signed for
Didn't Know 1t was Mortgage.
"Ab. child, you don't know what a
wicked world this Is. That paper would
never have been signed by me il had
been we'll, and if l had known it was a
mortgage. But I was too weak to
stand. and they never even read it to
~ And now to think or me-, so years
old and destitute, after all the years
7 worked and scrimped and saved.
Where will I go if they sell my home!
cod pity me-" and her frail frame
shook with the sobs she could not con-
troll.
"Have YOU no r%elations?" l asked her,
q little later. 1,
"A brother in Connecticut, who is old
and helpless, like l am. He hNes on u
farm. Id love TO so see nm, II 5 50
far. and / am so old. If they'd MY
let me be until / diel And I've a OAR
ling of a little granddaughter, Grace
who has been brought up not to Know
me. They never let her come 70 see
me. Her mother is not good.
aAWhat a comfort it would be II I
conld see her playing in that yard, or
cunning In to ask me for a cookie. We
an need somebody to love. and have
nobody. For five months after my
husband died / never got as far as the
door. and I'm not well now
sAIr. Croll is a good man. I'm sure
and l know he'll save my home for
me i. it can be done But If he ant.
Thars the thought hat Keeps me lying
stark awake at night, looking up at the
ceiling, and picturing myself nome
lass. ~