The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-12
she SIGNED AT GUNS POINT
SISTER.fN.LAW ACCUSES COL
FREDERICK HOPPER.
Miss Sarah n. Jenkins says He Ran Her
Mothers Estate, B0ssinE Ills wife
and CoercinE Herself Col. kappers
Son Dep0ses 10 the Same Eject .

Mothers Estate. B0sslng Ills wife
ana Coercing Herself Col. kappers
Son Deposes 10 the Same Erect.
In an affidavit filed yesterday in the
County Clerk q office Miss Sarah r. Jenkins
OF 100 West Eighty-Hrst street charges
her brother-in-law. Col Frederick Hopper,
former commander Of the Seventy first
Regiment. with procuring her signature
to papers at the point of revolver. with
violent acts and with the use without
her consent Of certain moneys belonging
to her Many Of her charges against
Col. Hopper are corroborated by the
Colonel's son. Frederick Hopper. Jr..
in an affidavit filed with Miss Jenkins's.
The affidavits were filed in connection
with an application made by Miss Jenkins
before Justice Brady in the Supreme
Court for reopening OF judgment
taken against Col Hopper and herself
by Horace l.. Ingcrsoll in 1897 The judg-
ment was obtained on a notd made by Col
Hopper and indorsed by Miss Jenkins
Tor feed purchased by Col Hopper from
lngersoll, 1ngersoll has since died and
his son. as executor Of his fathers estate.
asked to have the judgment renewed.
! Miss Jenkins had not defended the suit
from which the judgment came and op-
posed the application for a renewal. asking
for permission to put in a defence and 10
have the action tried She alleged that
she had not been served in the original
suit. The amount Of the renewed judg-
ment, including the interest on the origina |
amount, is S.5a7. Justice Brady denied
her application
Charlotte 4. Jenkins. the mother of
Miss Jenkins, died in 1862. leaving a large
estate. OF which she made her daughters.
Miss Jenkins and Mrs. Hopper, executrices.
Included in the estate was the old Jenkins
homestead. which took in almost the en-
tire block bounded then by Park avenue,
i25th street Thlrdavenue and i24th street
Lexington avenue has since been run
through the property. After the death
OF the mother the homestead WAS occu-
pied by Col. Hopper, his first wife.
chi ldren and Miss Sarah r. Jenkins.
In her affidavit Miss Jenkins saws that
Col. Hopper exercised complete control
over his wife and took charge of the
estate under a power Of attorney executed
10y his wife. Miss Jenkins, then a Young
woman IL now 83 years old d-says
that she herself was without business
experience and that Col Hopper acted
toward her in "A violent and overbea ring /"
way. While holding this power OF attor-
ney from his wife. Miss Jenkins saws. Col.
Hopper spent her income from the estate
for his own Uses. On one occasion sbe
says the Colonel left the Jenkins home
for time and on his return took out some
of the furniture. Miss Jenkins saws she
recovered this from a second hand dealer.
On the death of his wife, her sister,
MSS Jenkins says uol. Hopper took the
children and herself to Vermont, where
he had country home, and that then
began what was practically reign Of
terror Col Hopper. she SAYS, kept her
without funds. threa tening that IL she did
not acquiesce in his acts she would re-
ceive none Of her mothers estate. Fre-
quently. she says. he brought a loaded
revolver TO the table with him and com
PEELED her to sign papers Of which she did
not know the purport, Family pride, she
} says. kept her from complaining Of these
things outside Of the family. Among the
other incidents she mentions as having
! occurred in the Vermont period was the
! driving OF everybody from the house by
Col. Hopper.
) As for the note in question, Miss ,Jen-
kins says that her brother-ln-law COM
: PEELED her to sign note-she did not
know its amount, she says. nor what it
was being given for. She signed il un-
willingly, she says, and received no com
pensation for IL. After affixing her
signature she heard nothing further Of
the note until judgment was taken against
her. Miss Jenkins herself had given
Col. Hopper two powers OF attorney
/, and because Of her fear OF him she deposes
she never refused anything he demanded
of her
The situation changed in 1905, accord
ing to Miss Jenkinss affidavit In that
year the Colonels son. Frederick Hopper,
Jr.. who had reached manhood. began to
realize the situation and volunteered to
protect Miss Jenkins against his father
Miss Jenkins says she revoked the powers
Of attorney she had given Col. Hopper.
Miss Jenkins in her affidavit saws thai
Col, Hopper was a man OF intemperate a
habits and that his conduct made her
nervous wreck
5 The younger Hopper corroborates his
aunt's statement Of his fathers habits
and says that twice he took a revolver
away from his father.
Col Hopper has since remarked. Niss
Jenkins lives with her nephew, Frederick
Hopper, Jr.
E Col. Hopper entered the Seventh Reei-
ment in 1868, retiring from the regiment
, as First Lieutenant in 1870. He later
became identified with the Seventy frat
Regiment in which he rose { o be Colonel.
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