Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-30
HOW MIR. cox DID 1T.
He Explains His Way of Assisting in
the Purchase of School Sites.

He Explains His Way of Assisting in
the Purchase of School Sites.
Mr.. John F. Cox's testimony before the
Scholastic investigating committee was con-
cluded yesterday after The STAR sreport closed
He explained how he had purchased the Phelps
school site through J. Y. n. Huyck. from whom
he received 300. The Carberry site, he said,
he purchased from Thos. W. Smith and wife.
He negotiated the sale through Jas. H. Mari.
The price paid was s6.456. There was no un-
Outstanding about the commission. Mr.. MARI,
when witness spoke to him, said he would give
him s645.65. and that was what witness re-
ceived. This. he said, was in excess of the
commissions usually paid to agents, but the
circumstances were different from an ordinary
sale, "a witness had to look out for titles, &c.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Taulbee he
said the Commissioners never asked him what
compensation he received for effecting the sale.
In reference to the Giddings school site, the
sold by Mr.. W. G. Dodge, for his father-in-
law, 1ir. Scrivener, the witness said he called
on Mr.. Scrivener and asked him what he
thought was fair price, and MIR. Scrivener
said 35 cents a foot. When witness talked of
buying it Mr.. Scrivener referred him to Mr..
Dodge. Witness went to call on Mr.. Dodge the
next morning, and did not find him in. He
thought he indicated in the message he
left that he wanted to buy the property for a
school site. Before witness saw Mr.. Dodge the
latter had gone to the District Commissioners
and offered the property for $500. He had
square business talk with Mr.. Dodge, who
asked witness what he thought the property
worth. Witness said As cents Mr.. Dodge
then calculated what it would come to at 50
cents q foot, and it figured up S7,1SS.39. Mr..
Dodge then asked witness what he expected for
his services, and the reply was S275. Mr..
Dodge said he would give him only S1SS. SO.
Witness agreed to accept this. and Mr.. Dodge
made the formal offer at 80 cents which was
accepted Witness said something about his
father-in-law yaluing it at IS cents, and Mr..
Dodge said his tather-in-law was old and infirm
and unable to attend to business matters.
FIVE DOLLARS FOR A NAME
In relation to the Arthur place site. Mr.. Cox
said he had hunted for a site through the bust
ness section between LIST and 18th streets west
and Pennsylvania avenue and F street, and had
been unable to find one that could be bought
at any reasonable price, as il was all business
property. held at high figure He had been
trying for year TO convince Mr.. Emery that
he should sell the vacant ground adjoining the
District building at an available figure, but had
not succeeded Then he saw this ground 'front.'
ing on Arthur place. well-paved street. and.
seeing Thos. J. Fisher Il Co.'S sign ON it, went
10 see that firm. They asked witness if it was
wanted for a school site, and objected to selling
it until they could consult their client. Mr.
Hurt. The price was 81 foot. They saw Mr..
Hurt; he did not object, and the sale was
made. Thos. J. Fisher 4 Co. gave witness for
his services Sl59.07. Mr.. Taulbee asked
whether witness had any reason to believe that
the District Commissioners could not have
bought 1t at the same price, less the commits
sion paid him. Witness thought there would
probably have been a rise in price if the Com
lnissioners had appeared. He did not think
they could have got it for one cent lees than
ii foot. The transfer was made to Chas W.
Baldwin for convenience, as the District re-
quIred a warranty deed. He thought he paid
Baldwin IS for the use Of his name. He was
bookkeeper in Austin Herr 4 Co.'S Touring
mill. Witness did not know whether he owned
any property or not.
GENEROUS COMMISSION.
In the case of the site purchased from Mr..
q. A. Willard, Mr.. Willard gave witness his
check for 1886. which was in excess of ordi-
narv commissions. He thought Mr.. Willard
knew why he wanted II and did not know Of
any reason why Mr. Willard could not have
sold II himself directly TO the District Commits
sioners. In the case of the site at 22d and E
streets northwest, witness negotiated the sale
through Mr.. Huyck, who paid him $780,
The witness was asked again about his IL
cense as a real estate broker. and said he was
requested to pay his license tax after the pub
locations calling attention to the school site
rates, but he did not think the request pro-
ceeded from these publications.
THE GEORGETOWN CASE.
In relation to the Montgomery street site the
witness said he at one time procured from
Thos. r. Fields and wife a sixty DAYS option
on the ground there. they owned and paid
SIS for IT. He was to pay $500 for it. 1t
was necessary to have an equity proceeding to
clear the title of the other strip of ground
needed. and before that proceeding was set
tied the option expired. The other lot in
volved in the equity case was to be sold for
1850, making $500 in all. Witness was to
get "a, $50 from the Commissioners. The $3.50
was 70 go 10 witness. When the option ex-
PRED Mr.. Fields advanced his price to $4,000.
Witness had nothing to do with the Transaction
after that. The Commissioners were required
to pay 81, 100 for the two lots, whereas II the
equity proceeding had closed while
he held his option they would have got the same
property for $3.50. This negotiation was
pending when the STARS publication ap-
Peared, and it was the only case that had not
been closed up. In reference to this case Mr..
Davis read the statement that Mr.. Cox had sent
o deed for $4,000 to Mr.. Fields agent TO be ex-
ecuted. MIR. Cox said that so far as this related
10 him it was absolutely false. When his op-
ton ceased his whole connection with the case
ended. He understood that Mr. Cragin had
had deed prepared in which by clerical err
ror the sum OF $4,000 had been written for
$4,000.
REAL ESTATE ETHICS.
Mr.. Davis asked the witness some questions
as compared with that ordinarily obtained from
agents. The real estate broker who had an
Office, and property on his bulletin. sat in his
ONCE and when anyone bought received a
commission of per cent. In this case he said
he had the increased trouble of hunting around
Tor the property. In no case ne said in which
he was interested did the Commissioners know
how much money went to him and how much
TO the owners of the property.
Defaulter Moore I'm Canada,
how HE MADE $4,000 CLEAR our OF A pUR-
CHASE By EMMA ABBoTT's HUSBAND.
There Is no longer any doubt in Indianapolis
that Moore. the notwithstanding embezzler
from the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance
company, is safe in Canada His attorney
Barrett, yesterday admitted it, Moore was in
the city sunday. but probably left on Monday.
IL has been discovered that when the late
Eugene Wetheren. the husband Of Emma
Abbott. bought a business block in Indianap-
oils last year. he paid $40 900 in cash for il.
The Connecticut Mutual held a mortgage of
$4,000 on the property, which WetherelI paid
TO Moore out or the purchase money and OBJ
tanned valid release from the company. but
]. seems Moore never turned dollar Of the
money over TO the company. and thus made
clear $4,000 from the prima donna's purchase
--~O~- -
An Incautious Remark.
From the West Point Alliance
The minister's wife sat on the front porch
mending the clothes Of one of her numerous