The New York herald., 1870-12-29
TEE SEWTOWN ASSESSMENT FRAUD.
Investigation MISUNDERSTANDING As-
sessOyK-The Whole binx CollusiUn Be-
tween PrODerty Owners md Oficiu,s.

Investigation Yesterdry.-Ksow-Noihin As-
sesso,x--The Whole 4 binx n Collusion Bc-
tween Property Owners and Onciu,s.
The investigation by the Board OF Supervisors OF
Queens county into the alleged fraud In the
assessment rolls IN the town OF Newtown.
to the extent OF s256,O0O was continued
yesterday. At tho previous session OF the Board
IL was testified by reliable witnesses that much pro-
pcrty had been left OF the assessment roll; that
other property had been assessed several times
than It's real value, while other property worth
from half a million TO a million was assessed at u
merely nominal figure. The examination
yesterday was conducted by Supervisors
Lawrence and Cock. The first witness
called was Garrett Furman, assessor Of
NewtowD. He sald he was elected assessor IN the
spring OF 1867 he had seen the reports III the
HERALD concerning the frauds In the assessments;
he knew oil no property that had been left OF the
assessment roll. II have" he SAID, .encloscd con-
siderable property since the assessment roll has
been made out, and 1t is assessed the rate $1c0
per acre; the Blackwell property, assessed for
S57 900, Is not in my district; the assessment ron
has decreased by reason OF property being
ASSESSED TWICE AND THREE TINES;
there was not enough excessive assessments to
cover the deficiency in the roll did moi know what
property was assessed twice; did not refer to the
assessment roll OF 1869 make out the roll OF 1870;
the Glendale property is assessed as farm iand The
SuZerdor and Windmuer property Is not In my
district; each assessor taxes district and prepares
The assessments; the assessments are equalized
TO the best OF my knowledge; the property OF the
town has not deprecated IN value; the GAO lots at
South Williamsburg, left Off In 1862 are not In my
district: this property Is on this year.
william b. Wilson Assessor, was sworn and ties.
tined:--I am one OF the assessors; know OF no
inf, ~ tba
not aware that
TnE ASSESSMENT ROLL WAS DEFICIENT
In the sum OF $3.50 000 portion OF the R,ker estate
was lett or In 1865; 1t was omission on my part:
the property Is on the roll this year; know
son why there should he detc ency; know OF no
reason why there should not be increase [
know oi no excessive assessments IN MY district !
know OF no property left or IN any other district;
the assessment roll in 1869: II these lots this
year the assessment roll should have increased; the
Rape'yea property was wa nseoH MOT On IN 1868; was
on my part; put it on the roll in 1869 and marked
It as of in 1868; Rker's Island property was on ip
1869, and Is on this year; do not know whether IL
was on IN 1885, DO not know whether or not the
koop property was on in 1868; tnink The proper.
property Is assessed for s4oo.
William Q. pearce, OF Long Island City. sworn,
roIi Of Long Island City; we were doubtful as to
residents In making mp the roll; MI. James Thomp.
son g gavs o me a st h OF Gts @ so ana M nd portion
Point Is LEFT OF the roll; the Gregory property Is not
on the roll; 1t belongs 10 John McGowan.
THE PROPERTY OMITTED
from the assessment roll, according the map or
Mr. Thompson Is located Jackson avenue juso
above the togate and belongs to the following per-
sons:-Henry Alcock, N. .Alcock. John gruder,
Thomas Brady. Michael Caughlin, Thomas
Connolly, Timothy Dunn, John Defiant,
reilly, Patrick Fagan James Gallagher, John
Gerathy. Aloernne Holiness John Il. Holland, John
Kron, Welden Kershaw, Michael Kelly. Edward
Kelly, Thomas Kelly, John Kays Bridget Kelly,
Thomas .. Kelly. Martin Kavanagh, Michael Muir
ply, John Murphy, John Mulnane, Eugene O'Sulli-
van, Owen O'Sullivan, Patrick Smith, hary Smith,
Thomas Smith, Maria Swltzer, James Waters,
Thomas Waters, stephen Walter
Considerable argument ensued between interested
parties and 1t was intimated that
THE AFFAIRS OF OTTER TOWNS
In the county needed investigation Supervisors
Carman and Remsen were appointed committee
to investigate the Ncwtown assessment matter. The
assessors were unable 10 define their line OF policy,
| and their inability caused considerable laughter.
1t Is generally believed that the fraud deliberate
| and the result OF colusOn between property
| owners and officials Supervisor Lawrence called
attention to piece Of property belonging to u Mr.
| Jones, fronting 1900 feet on East river, worth
] 100000 and assessed for $4,000.