If any person shall appear on the return day of said notice and claim in writing an interest in the real property adverse to that of the petitioners, stating the nature of his claim and his place of residence, the court may proceed in like manner to inquire into the truth of the facts stated in the petition and may make a final order in like manner and with like effect as above provided, except that such final order shall not affect in any way any person who shall have appeared on the return day and asserted a claim adverse to the petitioners, as herein provided for.
New York Legal Code