New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-11
SAY SALE WAS A cake"
COURTS MAY PASS ON CONDUCT OF P. f.
MEYER AT AUCTION OF BUILDINGS
on NEW BRIDGE SITE.

Peter F. Meyer, Richard Cookers real estate
partner and city auctioneer, aroused storm OF
protests yesterday by his conduct at the sale
OF the buildings condemned for approaches Tor
the New East River Bridge. Dealers in second
hand building material asserted afterWard that
the sale was all fake" and that they would
obtain Injunction 10 prevent its complexion
One of the principal grievances OF the piouers
at the sale that part of the large church OF
ST. Rose of Lima which cost more than slooooo
TO build a few years ago, was Knocked DOWN ioi
49, when men who willing to bid seFerai
hundred dollars for it were not needed in their
bidding.
When Mr. Meyer. with his clerks arrived in
a carriage at 10 o'clock there was big crowd
in front of the church. 1t included p j. Sculiy
City Clerk and Tammany leader of the district;
Patrick Connolly, known the Mayor Of Pow
erty Hollow" and Father McNamee, pastor OF
the church Before Mr.. Meyer called for bids
the church property he said that ne wanted
TO lay stress on the fact that a part OF the
building was not included in the sale, and that
the purchaser would be held 20 strict &C
countability for any damage which might be
done TO that part of the structure that old not
come under the terms of the sale.
Despite this injunction. several bidders showed
decided eagerness to get the church property
A Coldstein a dealer in second hand material
at No IS Pitt-st bid $50 in loud voice. City
Clerk ScuIly bid SO. Mr. Meyer did not hear
Mr. Goldstein. At least he kept his attention OIL
rected to Mr.. Scully's side of the carriage Sew
eral other bidders gave figures which could not
he made out Burly men standing about them
said Shut up, Don't bid" and similar things
Somebody near Mr.. Sculiy said Soo AND MI
Scully nodded his head at Mr.. Meyer, VINO there
upon knocked down the property without an
he nf 70 successful bidder. 1T
was afterward announced that Mr.. Connolly was
,ha purchaser but IL was Mr.. Scully who gave
Mr. Never the final nod. The crowd cheersd
and the men who had not dared to bid groaneo
Father McNamee elbowed his way through the
crowd and shook hands with Mr.. Meyer and
thanked him heartily.
Frank Stephens representing the Charles l.
Hobkirk Company, dealers in pumps, engines
and railway supplies, called out while MI Meyer
was mun1bIing something that only those near
him could understand:
Mr. Auctioneer, I want to enter a protest
against this sale on the ground that it is not
being conducted according TO specifications.
Mr.. Meyer turned and sneeringly said in
loud voice:
oh you do do you? Well, stick the protest
in your hat. and keep it there"
This made Mr. Stephens angry, and he said to
those around him:
.'I don't have to put this protest in my hat.
There are courts In this city. and Mr. Meyer
will find it out. This is a fake sale. There Is
combination Of second hand lumber dealers here
who have fixed things TO suit themselves. 1
would have offered double the prices he is get
ting for these buildings if he would give me a
chance to put in bid"
Mr.. Soidstein, whose bid Of 500 at the start
was ignored afterward declared that he bid $50
later but that this bid, like the first, was not
heard by Mr.. Meyer Several men standing near
him corroborated Goldstein.
The property included in the sale extends from
Clinton-st to the East River. and from Delan-
cey-st. south 80 feet toward Broome-st There
were many kinds OF buildings, from story
frame structure to seven story sweatshop
The sweatshop at Nos 215 and 211 Delancey-st
brought 81, $50, and frame building in Column
blast. $40. All the purchase money was pay
able in cash. The clerk in the carriage who
handled the money had his pockets stuffed with
bills ranging in denomination from 81 to $780,
What he couldn't put in his pockets he sat on
There were two hundred bidders, only small
part Of whom were second hand material men
The rest were spectators, and experts said that
in some cases they paid twice much for the
buildings as they were worth. Captain Albert
son, of the Deiancey-st station, sat on the box
of Mr.. Meyers carriage with the driver When
1t was necessary to move the carriage two DO
hcemen swinging their clubs, had to go ahead
and clear the way.
-Four houses were exempt from the sale. Pat
rick Connolly had secured a temporary iniunc-
ton for his liquor store at Delaney and Sheriff
could not move their machinery in time and
have few months grace. The purchasers have
Two montns In which to remove the buildings