New-York tribune., 1873-01-18
TAE NILSSON HALL INVESTIGATION

SPECULATION OF. A CITY OFFICIAL AND A COLO
MEL IN ARMORY LEASES.
Supervisors Cooper, McCafferty, and Often
dorfer composing the special Committee of the super
vsors appointed to inquire into the regularity of the
Nilsson Hall lease met yesterday and considerable time
consumed In reading the testimony taken before the
investigating Committee appointed by the old Board. IL
was agreed by counsel for Mr. COnover and Mr. Burke
that such testimony should be accepted by the present
Committee evidence. Considerable discussion ensued
after the reading OF the testimony regard to Mr. Con-
overs right TO be represented by his counsel the Hon.
Thos L. Stewart, Mr. Burke Gen. Fink's counsel
tending that this a Committee appointed to inyes
gate the facts and not against any individual IL was
finally decided that counsel might appear
Mr. Aufeigner testified IN reference 10 a card handed
to him This is the handwriting OF Mr Young he gave
this card for the purpose OF showing me that he
let the hall for $1,000 Mr. StauG testified that
at the time Mr.. Young wrote his terms OF lease on
q sheet of paper Young handed him card with his
name on 1t Imet Mr.. Young since this investigation
began he said that he hoped that the lease would be
broken, that he only got $500 and taxes for the hail.
whereas agreed to give him $4,000.
Daniel Faon testified that he resides at No 3il West
Fortyeighth-s has been building little; has not done
anything within year in building; he had small Office
in the Bureau of Permits his position Inspector Of
Permits; he knew members OF the old Board OF Super
yisOrs, especially Mr. Joyce, who is a brOthern-law
first met Mr.. Young, the owner OF Nilsson Hall, about
-FOUR or five weeks ago; met him Broadway knew it
was Mr.. Young by imagination saw him again day or
two after did not lease Nilsson Hall from him but from
his agents; that he had leased the hall three
days before the lease drawn; had negotiated the
lease with Mr. Postley had spoken to him about the
lease about three days previous to its existence wit
ness proposed to lease the place for personal benefor
a nice speculation; did not know that he was going
10 lease it 20 the city, heard that he going
TO lease it to the city two days after the
mo
city wanted!he Hall at the meeting Of the Board
OF Supervisors when tho city decided to lease 1t paid
quarters rent in advance, and got the lease without Sc
curity never leased a place before thought that
Mr. Postley could do better with Mr. Young than my
SELF and therefore let him conduct the negotiations
happened TO drop Mr. Postey my agent he never
was my agent before wanted Mr. Postley to do this
work. went TO Mr.. POstey 20 whether he could not
influence Mr.. Young TO give me tho lease offered Mr
Postley no commission decline 20 state from whom
got the money with which paid the first quarters rent
did not get the money from any OF the old Board OF
Supervisors from any to whom they referred
me my attention was drawnito Nilsson Hall by sign
on the outside.
Examined by,Mr smythe-Thave lived many years in
the city; my father is well known in the vicinity OF
where liye am employed in the City Hail. and know
the old leases Of armories are continually expiring
money in it, and went for IT. have recorded the lease
for which get the hall for $500 IN the REGISTERS Of
present or prospective had no control OF the
ball since January 1.
the premises known Nilsson Hall no said that 5000
a wear was fair rate for such hall, he had made ap
plication Of MI Young the same day that Mr. Au-
eigner applied for 1t; told by Mr. Young that could
have it for 5000; am proprietor OF Masonic Hall; let
IL for all purposes; the reason feel disposed to pay
5000 more year than esteemed it TO be worth was
that Mr. Young said that Leon Kelly would give that
for It. and thought II they could afford II, could.
Col Serry testified in part that he ia Colonel OF the
eth Regiment OF National Guards the regiment now
| afternoon
resolution passed learned that the hall was to be leased
for armory purposes applied July 20 for the use OF
Nilsson Hall for regiment; our regiment had used
ony Tammany Hall previously armory; received
an order the keys OF Nilsson Hall on Dec 81 this was
In consequence OF order passed by the Supervisors
me 10 the lessee could not find him. and finally found
ihat the keys been left for then took possession
the drlroom has been used for other purposes since
came into possession without my consents the agent OF
the Academy Of Music told that he had arranged for
more suppers than he could give in the Academy and
agreed to let him use the armory OF Nilsson HAN as
snnperroom have received money for the privileges
don't know what use to make OF the money received
il has customary for regiments TO let their arnores
for other than military purposes when no interference
took place with military affairs leased the premises
No 69l Broadway for five years from May, 1910 Tor
armory purposes Leased tno Du,ng h,so from ht QUE
naid and the city TO pay decline 20 answer; don't
propose have my private business inquired into .
Mr. Brooks said that this private matter, that
tho vtness while the State military engaged in
leasing buildings and specuating foS military purposes
Witness-I decline to answer Whether the dnoence
MT Brooks-If this witness, as colonel, rents
building with n view of renting It 70 the city at an
exorbitant advance Tor arn9rlai purposes IL Is Inc
nroynee OF this Committee to know IT,.
The OF the irrelevancy OF the leasing or any
other than Nilsson Hall discussed t some length,
and IL WAS finally decided that the Committee should
cnnne itself for the present TO the of the Nilsson
aI leasing and consider the leasing OF other arm0ries
afterward The Committee then adjourned until Tues