Charles M. Stieff to Lizzie Murrell
(Transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse) Pasquotank Court House Register of Deeds Book 26 Page 319 I, LIZZIE MURRELL, of Eliz. City, N.C. have this 8 day of Apr. 1903, hired from Charles Stieff and Frederick P. Stieff, partners trading as Charles M. Stieff, of City of Norfolk, State of Virginia, for the term of 20 months from the date hereof, One Dumham Piano style Square, number 5580, valued at Forty Dollars, $40.00 and -------upon the following terms and conditions. I agree to pay to the said Charles M. Stieff, or their assigns, $2.00 as first payment and $2.00 monthly thereafter during the said 20 months, without notice or demand. I covenant to use the said Piano with proper care, to keep the same at my present residence in Eliz. City, N.C. and not to remove the same there from, nor to attempt to do so, not to sublet the same without the written consent of the said Charles M. Stieff, or their assigns (removal from danger by fire excepted) and at the expiration, or the earlier termination of said term, to return said Piano to said Charles M. Stieff, or their assigns in as good order and condition as when receiver, reasonable wear and tear excepted. I further agree at my own expense to keep said Piano insured against fire during this rental, for the benefit of the said Charles M. Stieff, the loss, if any, to be made payable to Charles and Frederick P. Stieff, trading as Charles M. Stieff, or their assigns, as their interest may appear. This hiring may be terminated by me or by the said Charles M. Stieff, at any time immediately upon notice in writing, I agreeing, in such event, to at once return the said Piano to the said Charles M. Stieff, in Norfolk, Va. If I shall well and truly keep the covenants herein contained and shall make no default in the payment of the said monthly sums when due, I am to have the option, during the continuance of this hiring, to purchase the said Piano for the sum of $40.00 and -----; but until the said entire purchase money shall have been paid to the said Charles M. Stieff no sale shall be considered to have been made, but the absolute title shall continue in the said Charles M. Stieff. It is understood that $2.00 per month of said payments shall be considered the monthly rent or hiring in advance for the use of said Piano, freights, and haulings, etc., extra, and the balance of said payments shall be held by the said Charles M. Stieff as security for the faithful performance on my part of this contract, with the understanding, however, that in case I should exercise the option of purchasing the said Piano as aforesaid, all sums paid by me to the said Charles M. Stieff for rent or security shall be treated as part payment of the said purchase money, provided the balance of the purchase money be simultaneously, with the exercise of said option, paid to the said Charles M. Stieff. I further agree that whenever the said Charles M. Stieff may have a right as hereinbefore provided to take possession of said Piano, the said Charles M. Stieff, their agents or servants, may without prior notice or demand enter upon any premises upon which the said Piano may be situate, and take and carry away the same without legal process and without any liability therefore. LIZZIE MURRELL seal Charles M. Stieff, Per W.P. Duff seal North Carolina Pasquotank County The execution of the foregoing instrument was this day proven before me by the oath and examination of W.P. Duff, the subscribing witness thereto. Let the same, with this certificate, be registered. Witness my hand this 27th day of April, 1903 (Note: the bottom of this document was not there)