New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-25
ON A FLIMSY PRETEXT.
THE CHARGES OF PERJURY AGAINST
MAURICE FREUND.
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFFS IN REAL ESTATE
SAID TO RE THE VICTIM OF FER

COUNSEL. FOR PLAINTIFFS IN REAL ESTATE
SUITS AGAINST THE ELEVATED ROADS
SAID TO RE THE VICTIM OF FER
sEcuTIoN-wHAT LAWYERS SAY.
The suits OF the icoOo more property-owncrs
against the Manhattan Elevated Railroad have en-
gagged the attention OF different courts for num-
bers OF years and have caused vast amount or
expert real estate testimony TO be taken. Chief
among the experts for the plaintiffs mas been
Maurice Freund. Mr.. Frcund was recently arrest
ed on bench warrant. charged with perjury ana
was yesterday held for the Grand Jury by the Re
corder under 5000 bonds. He Is charged with hav-
ing testified falsely to the value OF certain property
on Third-ave which he claimed to have sold In ls1a
Lawyers who appear for the plaintiffs claim That
Fieund Is being prosecuted by the Elevated Railroad
Company for the sole purpose OF weakening the
cases of the property-owners.
For this purpose. they assert. attempt Is being
made to railroad Freund to prison.
w. G. Peckham. Of Peckham Warner. OF No.
III Broadway who Is attorney for number Of
property owners. said yesterday: "Freund has not
been favorte expert with me. l never exam
. ined. him personally, except once But wilful per-
jury would seem to be an impossiby. Freund
was the occasion named cross-examned by
Mr.. Toes. one OF the leading counsel for the cle-
waited roads, and a very able. acute man. Tolles
had books of all the real estate transfers In
front OF him. He corrected Freund or disputed
with him about each transfer and he always had
men at his beck to investigate whatever Freund
said. No variation from the fact could be made
without instant detection One OF my associates
tells me that the stenographer who took the al
legged false statement of Freund has been known
to make plumbers that might cover this case OF
are related to Mrs Edwin Gould. is a client OF
ours and this sten9grapher took down statement
Of what Shrady claimed ne said ! think the prop,
erty-owners witnesses have suffered good deal
A Mr. af Hawkins Of Hawkins Deaned another
aas or s rea in
OF the railroad cases in which have prosecuted
have always been impressed with his truthiuness
after both cross and direct examination He has
made frank statements INJURIOUS to the case OF ths
not hesitate 70 say SO In case the senographers
Der Of errors in taking down valuations of property
10 which Mr.. Freund testified. but they are so
In having them corrected when the case is settled
appeal. Further. whether real estate expert
property. other than the premises in suit is Of very
little Importance or weight The important Thing
has sold whether he himself has sold them or not
Edward c. Perkins OF Perkins Jackson. No; us
a number Of cases against the elevated roads II
have always found him." he said not only inie ,ln
uous In preparing for case, and as far as couid
Ss II se sssns nfFr
from his hav ne Is seseS ae m nntf sales
three years ago Even II 1t is possible that he got
the street numbers exact situations OF certain
properties confused, IL by no means follows that
there was any wfu perjury in the matter. Freunl
when called as expert, is able 10 show his quail
fcations by statement Of numerous sales personal
" made by him. There Is doubt that he has
made a vast number OF sales OF real estate, and ne
would have no conceivable object In deliberately
adding 10 his st one or more sales WHICH ne had
made. On the other hand the elevated railroads
have a very easily perceived object In view. II they
the ones who are carrying on this campaign
against Freund Freund Is the most prominent ek-
pert employed Third-ave cases for the plaintiffs
and II will be a very comfortable thing Tor mo
defendant in these cases II he can be disposed OF.