Sage of New Lebanon Fooled by Picnickers (New York Times)

Sage of New Lebanon Fooled by Picnickers

Boat Seized, They Took Constable Along as Guest

His Plan to Prevent Sunday Excursion on Boat Named for 

Him Foiled by Defective Attachment

Special to The New York Times

August 23, 1904.

GREENWICH, Conn., Aug. 22- All of the inhabitants of the western end of the town of Greenwich, including Byram Shore, where the Mallory’s, Joseph Milbank and other New Yorkers of wealth summer, are laughing about how the Independent Citizens Association yesterday fooled Milo Mead, the “Sage of New Lebanon,” as he calls himself, and had an enjoyable excursion which he had planned to break up.

Mr. Mead is eccentric. He lives in East Port Chester, but insists on calling it New Lebanon. This Spring Charles Grigg, a contractor, had a freight boat built at City Island, which he named “Milo Mead.” That gentleman loaned Grigg $5,000 in acknowledgement of the honor and took a mortgage.

Saturday word was brought to Mr. Mead that the Independent Citizens Association was going on an excursion on the Milo Mead on Sunday, and already had her stocked with beer and other drinks. Mr. Mead sent at once for lawyer William Ferris to see how he could stop it. The lawyer told him to attach the boat, put a constable on board, pay him for the trouble and release the attachment Monday morning.

Richard Morrell was the constable whose services were procured and the attachment papers were against Charles Grigg, Lulu Grigg, the Grigg Contracting Company and Charles Grigg, agent, all four forms being used by Mr. Grigg in business dealings. But there was a flaw in the serving of the legal papers by the constable. They could not be served on Sunday and the association was not long in finding this out.

They allowed the constable to remain in possession all Saturday night. When they were ready to start they notified the officer that he would have his choice of getting off the boat or being put off. They had their counsel present to prove they were right.

While Mr. Mead was hustling to the village to get out an injunction or anything else that would fill the bill, the anchor was weighed and the Citizens’ Association, with the constable as a guest, left the dock and had a glorious day of it.

Mr. Mead declares he will do everything possible to prevent a repetition of Sunday excursions as long as the boat bears his name.