New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-04
A DEFENCE OF HAZEL

THE Buffalo Courier" owned by William J.
Corners whose yacht, the Enquirer. was sold
to the Government during the Spanish war at
about twice its cost by John R. Hazel on a com
mission of $4,000, Thursday, May 81, in its
leading editorial article said
To set this matter at rest, it may be well to
state for all that the of the En-
was appraised at $4,000 by Board appointed
TO fix the values of the vessels taken by the Gov
ernment' lncludlng in It's membership Com
Dickinson, Of Brooklyn: and that ME- Hazel
had nothing to do with the transaction.
On February s last in the Supreme Court In
this city, before Mr.. Justice Gegerich, this
same William J. Corners, defendant in suit
brought by a ship broker for commissions on
the yacht SALE set up that Mr.. Hazel was the
broker in the transa cton, and testified in his
own behalf as follows:
BY Mr.. Kisselburgh-You had a conversation
with Mr.. Hazel in reference TO the boat did
you? Ayes, sir.
o-When was your first conversation? A
Odd you have a further conversation with
him around April? Ayes, sir.
Anri was AI wanted 70 sell sell tba bos4 snd u
sent for Hazel, and l said: John. think
you've got pull enough to sell that boat
will give you $4,000 out of it,
Ole then began in his employment or at
! A.-1eS,
John r. Hazel being called to the stand, testi-
! fled as follows to show that he, not Mr. Holiness
the plaintiff, effected the sale:
Odd Mr.. Holmes take part IN any of the
negotiations that you conducting? A-No
| sir did not know of mis- having anything to do
| with the matter.
| Q-Were you paid $1,000 for your services in
effecting the sale? Al did receive compensa-
| ton for my services.
| Q.-How much? Alive thousand dollars
Confronted by the unexpected publication of
| this testimony on the very morning of it's state
ment that mfr. Hazel had nothing to do with
the transaction" The Buffalo Courier" on Fri
! day qualified its former general denial with the
following explanation:
| Mr. Hazel acted as attorney for Mr. Corners
| in the transaction, not as a favor, but a
! lawyer for compensation, and was paid a
reasonable sum. not as favor. but for legal
| services rendered.
When Mr.. Hazel was the stand before JUS
tice Giegerich the plaintiffs attorney attempted
10 show that his employment was that Of
lawyer for the purpose of establishing Mr.
Holiness claim to commissions for the brokers'
| share of the transaction. Mr.. Hazel testified:
Q-You have been Mr.. Conners's lawyer for
some time? A.-Never did any business for him
before since.
compensation? An the first interview he
stated to me what commission he would
pay ana was very anxious to earn 1T.
Q.-What commission did he say? Ale said
If l could dispose Of that boat TO the Govern
ment at 100000 he would give me $1,000.
The kind OF law business" Mr.. Hazel did
ION commission is shown by Mr.. Hazels own
testimony about his work as a salesman and
Snowman:
had prepared typewriter description of
the boat. The first question was, Where is the
boat?" ] said. In Buffalo, I'VE can't her
there" Il can bring her here in five days" rs
she light or heavy?" I said light, and that
is where I put my foot In 1t. Lieutenant
Sargent, the secretary Of the Board. said: We
a heavy boat We'll" ! said Il really
don't know If the frame is light or heavy I
Will wire and find out" IAN right" he said.