New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-24
NOT "FAKES," THEY DECLARE.
AUCTIONEERS OF RUGS HAVE HEAfiNo
BEFORE MAYOR sTRONG-THE EVIL
DENCE PRESENTED.

Mavor Strong devoted several hours yesterday 10
hearing charges against alleged fake auctions VI
rigs carpets etc The crusade against this sort
OF business was started by the big uptown carps'
dealers whore trade has been interfered WIN Inc
first case called was that OF David Lindenpoih'
auctioneer in West Twentieth-st. James T. Robin
son clerk in the carpet establishment OF w. q ).
Sloane In Broadway. was the complainant aga'hs'
Mr. Lindenborn.
The first witness called Henry White. OF the
firm of Smith g. White. the attorneys Tor the as
soc,at,on which ia fighting fake" auctions Mr..
White testified that on March he attended sale
Of Oriental rugs at Lndenborns rooms. large
Sumatra cashmere rug was hung up and the first
bid was about So The bids were RATED on by the
auctioneer rapidly until the figure $40 was reached
Mr. White said that he held up his index nnger anu
bid 81 more orally. but Immediately the rug was
knocked down to him at SIS. Another rug. smaii
Daghestan. was put up. and without any apparent
bids the auctioneer ratified of, l-234-56-f-SS DOL
lars, am bid" In rapid succession. and Mr. White
bid 80 and IT was Immediately knocked down to
him.
Interrogated by Mr.. Hirsch. OF the firm OF Blumen-
stie G. Hirsch, L!ndenborns lawyers the witness
said as the result Of the sac OF the two rugs there
are now three actions pendng-one before the Mayor
seeking TO revoke Lindenborns license. one before
MAGISTRATE Cornell in criminal action which Will
heard to-day and the third for penalties In civil
proceeding In the Supreme Court.
James T. Robinson. the complainant testified
much to the same effect as Mr.. White On cross
examination however. he swore that the rugs were
worth s35 and 81, and Chat to his certain knowi-
edge the rugs could not be bought at Soane's for
the money they were sold to him for.
Several stenographers were called and they gave
extracts from their notes tending TO show that
ict .tious and letters were used In the sale
and that many OF the things sold to "Loring' and
others were taken In by the auctoneer himself
David Lndenborn. the auctioneer, then went on
the stand and testified that he had been in the bus-
ness twelve years during which time 1t had been
his invariable rule knock down the goods at less
than their actual value.
I'm fact" he sad. Il always tell my people not 70
expect full value for their goods
Mr.. I.indenborn denied thar any OF the goods
knocked down had not been actually sold. and
admitted that of one consignment OF lvW rugs ne
had 10 return nearly all. having sold only couple
OF hundred OF them. He mainta ned that the rugs
worth s35 and 500 respectively. but tnat ne
often INDUCED in jokes when putting up his goods
Tine second called hat Of > .liue. 4>ie-
ser OF No. , West Twenty-eight-st. krsiser IS &C.
cused OF having sold two rugs one OF wncn ne sald
was worth oO for SIS 80 and the othsr worth soo
az 4 A. Vantine. Arnold. Constable & Co. W:
q J Sloane and others to testify TO the value OF
10th rugs Al OF the witnesses testified That
Kreiser's valuations wee ridiculously high
Mr. Kreiser said he believed he made true state
ments as 10 the value OF his rugs. and was Will
ing TO stand by them. The Rev Dr. van "inkie
raid he bought rug at the sale. took ~ 10 an
Armchair authority. who valued II at twice the
price paid Mayor Strong reserved his decision
In both