New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-16
John D. ROCKEFELLER WINS.
MALICE AND NEGLIGENCE CHARGED
AGAINST ASSESSORS.
SHARP LANGUAGE USED By REFEREE hofShAOi
IN HIS FINDINGS IN THE MOUNT PLEAS
ANT TAX CASES.

IN HIS FINDINGS IN THE MOUNT fh'N'
ANT TAX CASES.
:, roe announced Yesterday that John d. Rocke-
follor had secured a victory In MS appear l" '"o
courts IN have the assessed valuation OF ms prop
-. t. Mount Pleasant Westchester County re-
duccd Mr.. Rockefeller and MS pro'hei " 49,
purchased large country places in Mount pleasant
g., 1909 The assessed valuation of the real estate
purchased there by John ID. RocketeHer was
s149Q5O in that year. In 1896 the vaiuauo" VI w
nronerty was raised to %S92I5 by the hsSeSso' "
The increase OF assessed valuations Tor 'he ""oi'
town including some nine thousand peces u '"'D
ras q lGo 5S6 and of that amount $olbV99 was III
crease I'm the valuation of the properly u wv
Rockefelcrs The increase was mostly III 'n' VIZ
trfct of Michael j. Martin. one OF tho 'nree an
sossors who had run for Office on the p'on''90 "a
raising the taxes OF the rich mon III Ills "''"'.
and lowering the taxes OF the other property wv
ors In Martins district alone the increase Oh dS-
sossod valuation amounted TO s,521Vo Valuations
- o,o oiocos of property In his district, incluu'"s
his own property. were reduced ~, n pocke-
In 1897 the assessed valuation OF Jonn -; rnosed
- geometry I'm Mount Pleasant was nlVit"S4c"
LII h assessors TO 1851 49, and Mr. Rockeieler Pc
gan an action in the Supreme court 70 I'D, Ia Dvk
vaIuatlon reduced. His attorney was ~. sladt ~
mn Of White Plains. and w: r. 10y 81 a" tstJ
Poughkcepsie was apponted reIeroc ro Rad lust
Giod his report with the supreme court, ana ne ~
ommends the reduction OF me Val nnacnt from
t s y, o s9o9 ig2 80 The referee also finds mat
Martin ono Of the assessors was moven oy ~
- tbat tho other two assessors were Sul'tS w
nnrlieence in making up Mr.. Rockefeller assess
mcnt. =, .-. -, ,ba roforco com
I'pon those points tho report or the reie'o' '''
tains the following declarations: -, ,,xo to,,
'.That subsequent 70 tho date oi inc o,iit ~, he
~ Tho said Michael !. Martin, and previous 10 ~
making and completion Of the assessment ron iol
The wear 1896 he the said Michael j. MARIN, ~ a.
g. Tho nrcecnce and hearing of divers persons .nd'
Tho moor had been taxed heavily. and that n ne
tho said Michael J. Martin. was elected Hs W." oor
nuf The taxes on the rich and ease up on ne pu1
and that II he got elected he would stick the taxes
on the Rockefellers or words 10 that cIlsc' o,,,
,Thot tho said Michael J. Martin maze NhIIou-
manious wilfuL Illegal and unlawful statement:
ana threats against the Rockefellers STATING
"l' rtous tines i'm the presence Of various people
that he would increase the taxes Of the RocKeiel-
iers and drive the rich suckers out 800 -,
- ard and decide that Michael j. Martin ono o
the assessors herein acted with malice IN md me .bn
TO-, a nd preparation Of the assessment ana inc ~
ssrnr, roll for tho year 1897 far as the sa me
affccts the reaor herein or concerns MS proprI'
and that tho two remaining assessors me sdu -
dIn,6oid Newman and David Haight acted Wit
rnrugence in the making and signing OF said roll