The New York herald., 1871-12-29
New York Firms Represented by False Ahada.
vits-The Case Of Mesra Iden 4 Co-The
Forged Affidavit and Signature-More
Work for the Grand Jury-$76, 900
Taxes Reduced to e400.


In this case however, the fraud has not been
committed in the Commisslners department., but in
the department set apart and known as Arrears OF
Taxes Department At the head Of this counsel
TO the Commissioners 10 appointed, who has the sole
charge or prosecuting the parties who may not
have paid their tax imposed upon personal property.
This appointment ie In the hands OF the Comp.
troler OF the city OF New York for the time being.
It having been rumored that certain gross frauds
were going on In this particular department.
thorough investigation has been made In the mat
ter, and the following Is the result thus showing
that great swindle has been perpetrated on the
CITY. The mode in which these frauds were COM
mitted Is q novel yet apparently successful one.
owing TO great want of vigilance on the part OF the
heads Of this particular department or Q collusion
appears that in April last formal notice Of unpaid
taxes was sent from
THE TAX COMMISSIONERS
counsel's oflce, TO Messrs. lden Co., the wen
known gas fixtures manufacturers, doing business
at the corner OF Hester and Baxter Streets In this
city; but as the amount charged appeared to be
greatly exorbitant these gentlemen determined to
get q reduction made, and placed the matter in the
hands Of Messrs. Yard Furlong, Of Broadway.
Subsequently it appears that one Charles Tratnor
appeared upon the scene and induced . certain
party to commit fraud by falsely representing him
or O conslderation-t0 Wit $3.50. The party IN
question was al length induced 10 take the brlbe,
with that sent to Idea & co. The amount charged
against thas firm was s75,ooo In both notices.
Wnen the notice was handed oy Mr. Iralnor 70 tne
Andrew J. Smith, the counsel OF the Tax Comms-
sioners, whose Office Was and Is IN Nassau street,
OF Introduction from hlm, Trainor. to Mr..
smith,, and represent himself as being
sSs. Sns ns Sf was sas Gm 9o inform in at een
man tnat the sum charged was too excessive;
that the firm had only sample room IN this city,
that their factory was somewhere In Connections,
and that they kept no bank account In New York.
That upon these grounds the tax would be reduced.
upon formal order being obtained before one of
the Supreme Court judges. MIR. Smith, as such
counsel, giving his assent 10 sucn reduction.
ever an Gavs Would nave 10 oe made BY he sup
posed member 81 the firm OF !den Co., IN
support or his statement. This afhdavit was made,
and formal order Obtained for vast reduction,
whereas the real taxpayer would only have small
reduction made IN the original amount charged,
while Otner nartieS would
POCKET THE DIFFERENCE
In order to ascertain the truth OF such statement
HERALD reporter personally attended az tle once
formed those gentlemen OF the supposed fraud.
which ha0 been committed by falsely representing
their frm and forging their signature 10 the am
Mr. Iden stated that he knew nothing whatever OF
any such transaction. lie only knew that q formal
notice OF unpaid taxes was sent to hm Tor the 1870
taxes but, as their tax had been largely Increased
every year since they hsa . been IN their present
charged for the year 1870. ana placed 1t In
the hands OF tnelr solicitors, Messrs. Yard & Co.,
dong this he did not trouble thing further about
IT, as they promised to get a. reduction; but how
sSn ,ns amount a WAS Iar from bems little over four
hundred and six dollars, "and, added he. q. should
only be too glad II II were not more than that sum
IN ihousands.n the original tax was supposed to
have been reduced rom $4,000 to $780, costs
70 e o 4s
reporter went TO MessrS Yard Co. for full partcu.
lars OF the case, as they had all the papers, and II
A FRAUD HAD BEEN COMMITTED
he wished 70 have It discovered. After this intro
ducrion to these gentlemen the writer called upon
quainted Messrs. Yard l. CO. Of the object of the
writer's mission, MIR. Yard pOoh-poohed the idea
that any swinde mad bcen committed and said that
they commenced the suit on behalf OF Messrs. Iden
Co. and tnat they gained verdict In their favor.
He also stated that the papers In the matter were In
Tle reporter informed these gentlemen that he had
good reason to believe that fraud had been prac.
Used upon Iden Co. through some one connected
with an Oflclal In the Corporation Attorneys or
tors Of Iden Co. he begged their assistance in the
matter. Although they did not actually say they
would not furnish the required Information, they
particulars could be obtained. visit was next
paid to
the Receiver OF Taxes with the hope that some
further light might be thrown the case, prove
whether Or not an actual fraud had been committed.
above iacts said he was sorry he could not give the
required assistance as the case was entirely out OF
H ae, however. referred the matter % se'fsz Tax
though perfectly wiling to aid In detecting tho
fraud, said It was ont Of his power to render the
n e % III ihas a
Rary information IN the case. as he had the full con-
troll OF them. lie also added that Mr.. Smith had
mlssioners by order of Comptroller Green, but on
what grounds he could not state. NOT TO be aunted
with these mlsfortunes in getting the required in
two three occasions TO learn what he mad 10 say
on the matter and communicates the facts as above
ihat ne knew Of any such fraud. and
mat he vas, was a'o innoScnt M Of any any sacn
his Oice, and might have asked him TO reduce some
tsx; that ne might have introduced some one rep
ton OF the person who came, or, indeed the case.
In answer to certain questions put by the reporter Mr.
smith SAD nc a ns mo % feeT 70 10 u ns @
troller. Mr.. Andrew Green; but he stoutly denied
any compclty, which denial was promised to DO
'ffe Mn. PETER b. swEENY.
q relative OF his, and that there had not been very
good feeling existing between him and the COM
kept aloof from them as much as possible.
would show the exact amount received by him
for arrears OF taxes but he could not rec0lect what
had been paid by lden Co. or how the money was
paid. Mr.. TraIn0r, who Is said 10 have paid the
money to the party making
THE FALSE REPRESENTATION
and making the a1ldavit was also sought FOR, but
he denied the statement as put to him. In reply to
questions put 10 him he admitted lie knew Mr.. Alex
ander Campbell the party who made the false re-
prcsentatonb also Mr.. Hall, said 10 be implicated
In other cases OF similar nature, and others, but
denied having any wrongful transaction with them.
He IL said have threatened Campbell, however, II
he ever went back on him. After the order for
rcduction was obtained q check according to the
informalion received, was paid by Mr.. Tralnor Tor
the supposed amount; OF Iden 90. Is taxes, amount
Ing TO little under $500, which was signed BY Mr..
Yard, but this check cannot be found. neither Mr..
Yards passbo0k, and that gentleman states IN at,
he Is careless about money matters, ne does not
think ne entered the amount In has book. No papers
can be found either nor any entry made, although n
suit was SAID In the first instance, 10 have been
brought by them against the city, and not against
Iden co. Although Court fees must have been
paid, yet, according TO their statement they have
not a 1inOla oufrv auv their hooks reference