Later it became the home of the De Rhams.

But to Richard Harding Davis, then a reporter on the "Evening Sun," it had nothing of the flavour of the Patroons.

It was simply the house where young Cortlandt Van Bibber, returning from Jersey City where he had witnessed the "go" between "Dutchy" Mack and a coloured person professionally known as the Black Diamond, found his burglar.

There is no mistaking the house, which "faced the avenue," nor the stone wall that ran back to the brown stable which opened on the side street, nor the door in the wall, that, opening cautiously, showed Van Bibber the head of his quarry.

"The house was tightly closed, as if some one was lying inside dead," was a line of Mr.Davis's description.