Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-08

The examination up to this time was |
Of an irregular character. Finally IT
was decided to swear Messrs. Candy and |
Mention and they took the stand together.
Mr.. Mention said the purchase money
was borrowed from the Equitable Guar
antee and Trust Company at 5 per cent
fer $l3,500. The loan was for four
months. 1t was subsequently renewed
until it reached the sum of $li,373.44,
which Is now due the Equitable Guaran-
tee and Trust Company.
Mr., Mention said that in conversation
with a number Of members of City
Council they had told him ii would be
best not to condemn the land. The
finance committee directed the purchase
OF the lot, The members 3nid not to
pay moro than $4,000 Mr. Perkins
was in the Council chamber on that
occasion.
President Perkins replied that he had
no recollection of the transaction and
did not remember ever giving his con
sent to the purchase.
Mr.. Mention said they arrived at the
price Of the lots by what adjoining
property was bringing. Two years be-
fore $4,000 had been refused for one Of
the lots. He thought the land could be
secured cheaper by purchase than by
commission.
In reply to & question as to whether
tie Park Commissioners had ever con-
sidered the ACCESSIBILITY OF running the
road on the opposite side of the creek,
Mr., Candy said it would be more ex.
pensiye.
Mayor Shortlidge desired to know
how much filling in would be required
in the lots named.
Mr. Candy said that it would require
0 feet at one end of the lot and no filling
in at the otter end.
Philip II. Clark, real estate agent,
said he first exchanged the property for
a farm. There was $4,000 against the
property. Mr.. Candy first offered $4,000
for the property, and later Mr.. Mention
offered $4,000. II could not have been
bought for less. He thought Sl4 to $15
per foot was the value of the property.
The demonstrating committee adjourned
to meet Immediately after the adjourn
ment of City Council on Thursday.
The committee renssembled Thursday
evening.
There were present at the meeting
besides the mayor, George w. Bush and
George II. Bates of the Board of Park
Commissioners; George O'Neill, James
Tyre and James p. Ratledge of 1.-THE
finance committee Of City Council.
Messrs. Candy and Mention were accom-.
panied by their counsel, William c.
Spruance. City Solicitor George A.
Elliott represented the committee. A
number of people were called rs wit
nesses in the matter of the purchase Of
the park lots by Messrs. Candy aad
Mention.
On motion of Mr.. Ratledge the read
ing of the minutes of the last meeting
were omitted.
Mr.. Spruance read letter from the
father of Miss Mary Forman Day the
owner of one Of the lots to Philip X.
Clark, in which the owner stated that
the lot ought to bring $1,000 but not to
miss sale at $4,000. The letter was
offered in evidence, 1t having been
proven that Mr.. Clark acted as agent
for Miss Day in selling the lot to Mr..
| Mention.
Mr.. Spruance also presented two
checks of March 2Sth, 1899, one for 500
| in favor of Joseph l.. Carpenter, Jr.,
and drawn by Dennis j. Mention, and
the other for SO 400, which Kirk Thomp.
son the owner of the lot received as
soon as the deed for the property was
delivered. Mr.. Carpenter received $50
as commission on the property and the
balance was for lawyers fees and max
ing searches of the property.
MIR. Srruance also produced two
checks bearing date Of March, 1899, one
to the amount of $3.50 and the other to
the value of $6,250, being the commits.
sion and the purchase price paid to
Mary Forman Day by Philip X. Clark
as agent for Messrs. Candy and Mention.
These checks, like the first, were offered
in evidence.
Joseph l.. Carpenter, Jr, was then
called to the stand. He stated that he
was agent for the lot owned by Kirk
Thompson on WawasGt street in 1892
He said that the original price was
$4,000, at which figure it was finally
disposed of. He said that he tried tc
induce Thompson to sell for lower
figure, but he refused. The bargain
was closed with Thompson by Dennis
j. Mention. Mr.. Carpenter stated that
the decd was drawn in his Office, but he
did not see the money paid He de-
clared it was bona fide sale at SC, 500
The 500 which he received included
commission and three searches and at
torney fees.
When asked to give an estimate oil
the value Of the land Mr.. Carpenter
stated that the lot was fully worth
$4,000, and that the two lots were
worth $l4,000. He said the value Of
the land in that neighborhood haC
doubled in 10 years. At the time the
property was purchased he thought a full
price was paid for tho property but the
land has since increased in value.
In reply to the questions of Mr.
Elliott Mr.. Carpenter stated that wheI
he was in the Board OF Street and Sewel
Directors he paid Thompson $3.50 fo
the right of way in putting n sewel
through the property.
Kirk Thompson testified that thu
property was sold to Messrs. Canb,
and Mention for $4,000. Mr.. Carpente
was agent of the property, but the bar
gain was closed by Thompson. The sun
of 800 was paid to bind the bargain
and the balance of $6,450 was paid upoi
the execution of the deed. He declared
that the sale was bona flde one. Ii
purchased the property from Mr. Star
for $4,000 ten years ago. Since tina
time III 400 had been spent in filling in
The witness stated that he was offeret
$4,000 by person ~ Philadelphia pro
vided he procured for him license Il
sell intoxicating drinks.
/ In reply to the question of Mayo
Shortlidge as to whether he had eve
, told any one he received $4,000 o
| SO, 100 for the lot the witness reptile,
that he had not.
Z. Ell. Gayley of Heald e Co. testilie