The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-02
THIRD EDITION.


Tho Park Investigating Committee
continued Its examination of tue park
purchases after the meeting OF tity
Council last evening. MIR. Spruance
presented the checks showing tho
amount paid for the two lots as Sl3,-
900. He also showed letters from ono
of tho owners refusing to take less
than s65Oo for one OF the lots Joseph
i. Carpenter. Jr., said The had Kirk
Thompson's property for sale for Il
long time before II was sold TO Messrs.
Candy and Mention and he refused to
take less than $500 t0rlt. Thompson
drove close bargain and the witness
got but $50 commission tor the sule.
He only represented Mr.. Thompson In
the Day property.
Mr.. Carpenter told Mr.. Elliott, City
Solicitor. that there wBs not much de.
mand Tor the property at tho time of
the sale. He thought the land was
worth the amount paid for it, but lie
would not have wanted 1t. He did
not consider 1t a particularly good la.
vestment at the time, but II has turned
out To be such since. IL is fully worth
the price paid now.
Kirk Thompson testified that he
owned ono lot OF tho property sold to
hessrs. Candy and Mention. He re-
ing made from him. He would not
have sold the property for loss than
$500 and would not have sold 1t ct
that u he had not promised to soil it
Tor that for PARK purposes. He never
told any ore that he received but
$500 for the lot. He did not know
what the lot was assessed for.
Edwin II. Gayley, OF Head & Co.,
was called to place an estimate on
the properties purchased, In March,
lB92. he thought the Thompson prop,
erty was worth $500 to s75oo, and to
day he considered 1t worth $4,000. The
Day lot he considered to have been
worth in 1899 $4,000 and ut present
$3.50 or $500. He did not consider
ti4, 900 high price for the two lots.
Ex-Councilinan James Murray was
next called. He was mem Ger oil
Council when tho purchase was made
and he then thought the price was too
high.
He would not give $4,000 for thu
land. Council never officially ordered
tho purchase of tho land until the or.
danance WAS passed.
Ar. Tyre thought enough expert
testimony had been produced.
Mr.. SpruaDce said his side WAS will.
fngsto close when the committee con
slubItu ttie Incl proven,
hr. Bates thought tho committee
only had rightto Investigate whether
there was any crookedness or any
thing shady In the purchase 1t was
hnaliy agreed to go on with the testi-
mDny.
A, s. Reed. tho builder, was called.
He owns some ground on Jackson
street. and Lowering avenue, one mart
away and valued at tl5 foot when
no built upon 1t. lie considered the
lower lot worth sl5 foot.
4 Mayor Shortlldge told MIR Spruanee
he would have TO call halt. as som
ooe has gone over town and brought
Dot OF witnesses here. It Is tho dEty
OF the Council to let the Com mitteo
know who had been notified
Mir. Spruance sail he had the wit.
nesses and they could be called oil
shat of as the committees desired.
Charles L. Thomas, ax.chairman OF
tbs Finance Committee OF Council
WIS tue next witness called Mr.. Col
ten, his predecessor as chairman o.
tie Finance Committee. told him Of
~ tho purchase Of tho park land
BEING convinced that tho transaction
WINS proper he offered tho ordnance
10 purchase the land
Geo. W. MeCaulley considered She
property worth from $4,000 to sli
O0s In 1892. He Old not consider slS,
0Ot an excessive price.
W. j. Ellison testified that ~ knew
OF A mortgage OF $1,000 having h,eL
placed on the Day lot by the Gi.Eitr Z
ton Savings Fund Society. Tie com
mltteo on investment valued the 10
at sbI00,
Adjournment was mnde until Mon
day afternoon at > 80 o'ClouL.