The New York herald., 1876-12-27
MRS. KERR'S BUILDING.

MI. HoNDLow's DEFENCE AND THE ARCHITECTS
STATEMENT RELATIVE TO MRS. KERE's
CHARGES.
The statement in regard TO the alleged building fraud
in Brooklyn published yesterday IN the HERALD has
excited marked attention both in this city and BROOK
lyn. and the probable result win be the thorough ven
'lstion Of the case Mr.. Hondow ia oueh he refused
10 make statement when requested before the
was made public presented his side OF the story yes
terday IN one of the Brooklyn papers, IN which he
makes general disclaimer oil all responsibility in re-
gard TO the building in question.
He does not deny that he acted as agent Tor Mrs
Kerr 10 other work previous TO that compained OF,
but apparently wishes u understood that his service in
that capacity before the for the
Fulton street building were drawn. This however, is
faily denied by Mrs Kerr.
ris ARcnrEcr's STATEMENT.
Mr. N. j. Merrill, the architect Who planned the
building, yesterday made TO the HERALD represent la
tive, in substance the following statcment:--He was
employed by Mrs Kerr TO design The building IN qucs
tlon and at tho time did not know formally that Mr.
Hondow was her agent, though he Understood sub
sequeny that 10 be the case. He did not know THAI
Mrs. Kerr expected handsome French Hat house 10
be constructed, and lac prepared his plan
accordingly Tor plain tenement house simply.
HIS guiding principle the design 10 prepare tho
plans for house which should accommodate us many
persons possible taking INTO consideration the pro-
posed outlay Tor It's construction twas hts Intention
10 build u on as cheap plan as possible consistent
with strength and safety, and he considered that his
design had been accurately executed. As tct emert
house he thought II u good one Tor the money
pended, though nc acknowledged that many OF the
very small and dark The alteration in tho
original design by the substitution OF n wooden stair
Tor an iron one with board steps, he considered
injury TO the building, as IL in his judgment.
equally safe, aud the difference ccst had been
counted Tor the settlement OF the contracts Ii was
the ordinary custom TO construct tenement houses
with one staircase only ana he supposed, therefore,
IL might be deemed safe. When questioned the
general point OF the adyisabiiy OF the erection
OF such house by Mrs Kerr hc WAS less explicit.
Tie diu not know oil the existence o 81 600 mort
the property at the outset, but Understood that
Mrs Kerr had ready money To the amount OF 600 at
her disposal which, addei TO the SIS 900 net receipts
mortgage would leave only u few thousand dollars
deficiency TO be covered by second mortgage lie
supposed that Mr. Hondow must have known tho
true state OF the case, but believed that
he advised Mrs. Kerr he considered best
tor her interests He had submitted the plans and
specifications 10 Mrs Kerr and supposed that she had
counted the cost OF the undertaking and knew what
she going get Tor her money. Mr.. Hondlow
might have assured her that tho building would be
erected tor $40 000 but that general state
ment He did not know whether woman could DO
expected TO understand plans of that character and
believed that she had submitted them To Mr..
Hondlow and her other friends Tor advice.
He knew that she had expressed herself very much
dissatisfied with the building while II was being built
but he though that ho had all she could
ably expect satisfy her lie denied absolutely all
imputaton OF cousion between himself and Mr..
Hondlow, and, tar he concerned, all accusa
OF having used harsh language toward Mrs. Kerr