Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-01


SO far as the owner Of the property or her agent
knows. His name was used apparently because
it was not desired to make known in the record
who the actual purchaser was. The STAR re-
porter who made inquiries concerning the sale
Of this lot found that the transaction began
with DR.. A. P. Pardon, the real estate agent,
who az agent had Mrs. Platt's property at the
corner Of 23d and NJ street listed on his books
DIR. FARDoN's STATEMENT.
DR.. Pardon, when asked about the matter by
the reporter, burst out in an indignant excla-
nation. He still felt warm over it, although
the sale was completed over two years ago.
1T was a scandalous transaction" he said,
land think the facts should be known. told
Commissioner Wheatley at the time that it was
full of fraud and the matter would come up
some time"
The facts as stated by DIR. Pardon are as fol-
lows: On August %, knowing that the Commits
sioners intended purchasing lot for the erec-
tion OF a school house to take the place of the
one ct 22d and 1 streets on a site the lease
Of which had expired, he addressed
letter to the Commissioners, calling attention
to this property at 23d and NJ streets, and offer
ing it for school site. In this letter he stated
that he had the property on his books to sell at
81 a foot. but if the Commissioners were dis
posed to buy it he thought he could negotiate
it at a price below that named. A note Of the
receipt of this offer by the Commissioners was
published in The EVENING STAR of that day.
TO this letter DIR. Pardon says he has never re-
ceived any reply to this day. The letter. he
says. was turned over to Mr.. John F. Cox.
After the notice of DIR. FardOn's offer was pub
lished in The STAR a Washington real estate
agent, acting in conjunction with Mr.. Cox,
called at DIR. Fardon's office and referred to
the offer. DR.. Pardon said he was going to see
the Commissioners about it, but was informed
the Commissioners had already selected another
site and made deposit on it. Mrs. Platt did
not reside in this city, but was in New York or
Massachusetts. She was followed there and
induced to sell her ground for 80 cents, ON the
representation, DR.. Pardon says, that the Com
missioners had located a school house near her
property, and it would be thereby deprecated
in value. The grouud was then transferred to
the Commissioners for 80 cents a foot, the
agent or agents of the District clearing by the
operation about 81 800, besides about S400 as a
commission that Mrs. Platt was required to
pay. DIR. Pardon says that Mr.. Cox at that
time did not appear on the records as licensed
real estate agent.
NEVER HEARD FROM HIS OFFER.
He. never, he said, heard from his offer,
though the Commissioners we're informed that
he believed he could negotiate the property
for less than 81 q foot. A relative of Mrs.
Platt, residing here, who was Interested with
her in the property, told a STAR reporter that
the real estate agent above referred to fol-
lowed Mrs. Platt from New York to Boston,
and she signed the deed in the Boston and Al
bany depot. The agent endeavored to get the
lots at a figure that would yield ''commis-
sion" of S2.50 This relative also said the
agent told him at the time that the Commits
sioners had bought other property for the
school site, and that he had seen the deeds.
The same person, in the course of the inter-
view with The STAR reporter. expressed indig-
nation, saying that he thought the methods
followed by the Commissioners had permitted
a woman to be defrauded in the interest of
some one whom the Commissioners seemed to
desire to favor.
DR.. Pardon said to STAR reporter that he
was ready to present the facts in this case to
any investigating committee. The reason, he
said, that he had not given publicity to it at
the time was that person who was interested
in the property, and who was in Office, feared
that if a disturbance was made about il he
might lose his Office.
PROPERTY THAT WAS NOT BOUGHT.
THE STAR reporter in his inquiries found
that there have been interesting circum-
stances connected with dealings in regard to
some property that was not bought. Mr.. F. H.
Smith, the real estate agent and dealer has had
an experience. He said to STAR reporter that
in former years, by keeping an outlook learn
ing the neighbOrhOods where school houses
would be located, and using his best judgment,
he had managed to negotiate the sale to the
houses Recently, however, he has found
that, for some reason. he could
not effect such q sale. He was not,
he said, inclined to complain il any one
got ahead Of him in q legitimate transaction
by using better judgment or greater shrewd-
ness. OF the eleven sites purchased this year,
he said, all but one were sold or negotiated by
Messrs. Cox and West The one exception was
the site in South Washington sold by Mr.. C. H.
Parker, in compliance with virtual promise
made to Mr.. Parker some time ago. When the
CSm%issiG1ers Comm, s;,s were buying sites for seven
them site. Mr.. Webb had come to the pur-
chase Of the last site, which it was desired to
locate in Arthur place. He stated to Mr. Smith
that he was in a dilemma; that the appro-
priatsio,nn odn limited the price TO be paid
not get the site needed for that amount,
The prices paid could not he said. be
averaged. Mr.. Smith says he told Mr.. Webb
that II he would let him make the sale he
thought he could arrange the matter 90 as to
plan, and Mr.. Smith detailed it. 1t was that he
should 60 to the owners Of two other sites that
the Commissioners had agreed to purchase and
induce them to pool their lots with the owner
Of the one wanted This would enable the Com
missioners to get the sites at so 900 apiece,
the money among themselves. Mr.. Webb
feared that the controller might not approve
the transaction, and Mr.. Smith says went TO see
the controller, and was told that the transact
ton would be approved. Mr.. Webb then
appearing to favor il, Mr.. Smith went after the
owner Of the ground to talk with him, and was
surprised upon learning that Mr.. Cox had been
there that morning upon the same errand. The
property, however, was not sold, as the owner
would not reduce his figures to an amount that
would bring il within the limit, even IL the
pooling proposed had been consummated. The
Commissioners bought site on North Capitol
street, through the agency of Mr.. Cox.
WHY Nh. cox WAS FAvoRxD.
Mr.. Smith says he spoke to Mr.. Webb and
asked him why it was that no one but Mr. Cox
could sell them q site. ssMr. Webb" Mr.. Smith
said to The STAR reporter, replied with o
frankness that amazed me; Cox Is Q cousin Of
Wheatley's. He is q good, square fellow and
we want to favor him." This year, Mr. Smith
said. ex-Commissioner West had come in and
shared with Mr.. Cox the business Of negotiat-
ing the sale Of school sites. Mr.. Smith said .
client of his owned property on North Capitol
street which he offered 70 the Commissioners.
Mr.. Webb was pleased with the site and the
location was approved by the colored school
trusteeas The site was Intended for oolored
school. One day whom heswe4t to the Commis-
sioners' ozace Nr. Webb sid to him tha& he
thought they would purohAse the ground and
told him b see Gen. west Mx. smith In
sound thst N. West had ben nseotiatinG vith