New-York tribune., 1903-01-29
TAX SWINDLE GROWS.
81 WYER STATE WITNESS
Ifco Prominent Maiden Lane Firms
Make -4fSdaUits.


Commission two affidarits by prominent hrr's
in Maiden Lane who had been drawn into neso-
tiations for having taxes reduced. and that ne
had evidence that Nathan Springer. one OF the
prisoners. connected with both cases. ne
had Nathan Springer's bail increased to so'oVV'
while Moses Springer was paroied IN CUSTODY Vi
counsel. Mr.. Jerome announced that waiter
f. Sawyer. one OF the prisoners. had been ac-
cepted as a witness for the State.
When the examination WAS begun before JUS
tice oIrnsted in the library of the District AT
4or,ev,s Office at 4 u. m. w r. Spooner, counsel
for Philip Baer, demanded separate exatluIA-
4ioa for his client threatening to appeal tc the
Supreme Court for a writ Justice Olr,sted de-
cTded that the examinations of all four prlson-
ers must go on at the same time MI 9poone'
then wanted an adjournment. but that was oe-
MED Abraham Levy appeared as counsei iol
the Springers- Justice olmsted's inquiry
Sawyer had counsel brought from Mr. Jerome
the statement
.s.-x-,,e- has been accepted as State witness
He has placed his case in the Dlstr1ct Au'orhe'
hands"
In onDos;nr 2 motion for an adjournment Mr.
Jerome sa3d-
III This examination is postponed shall lay
sbe case before the grand jury tomorrow
THE threat of indictment tomorrow does not
brighten me-" said MI Spooner-
ne orly
4s-ftxe secor. of the District Attorneys ofhce'
,rso told ho-v he had been introduced by MT
Hsrcour1 the actor. 10 Nathan Springer anu
No. the man who WAS 10 iInpersonate MOI
roe B. Bryant
r,,s--3ct Attorney Jerome. who had LETT the
room returned just at that time and ssid'
Il shall have 10 ask for an increase OF pen ~
the case OF Nathan Springer. PRESIDENT "e"S
of the Tax Department has just HANDED 10 me
two aesdavfts, alleged to have been mace oS
,,ro n-onn.nept firms in Maiden Lane, and which
3pyolye large sums. We have evaoence lna'
Nathan Springer wHs connected with these
,sas think there viii be at least twenty or
+hsr1r more cases. viii consent TO the parolns
of Moses Spranser as his counsel has asked
,rould have Nathan Springer's bail increased 10
5000"
Justice ol.,,sted promptly fixed Nathan Sprin-
,,er,s bail at 5000. and the brother was paroied
in the custody OF Mr.. Levy
when asked about the two additional cases
ne referred 20 when asking for the increase OF
Nathan Suringer's bail, District Attorney Je-
rome refused TO discuss them. except to say
that $4,000 IN taxes had been sworn on. he
said that he also hal twenty-three other sus-
picious cases
I'VE are going carefully over the files IN the
Tax Department" said Mr.. Jerome. and we are
singing out the cases that seem TO be sus-
picious-"
DO YOU think there was more than one gang
OF men engaged in this work? Mr.. jerome was
asked
.I zzouId not be surprised If other gangs
had been at work" replied Mr.. Jerome: but he
would not say whether he had any evidence in
his possession which would tend 10 unearth such
a gang.
Il want to say however, in connection with
these cases." said Mr.. Jerome, that DO not
think the taxpayers implicated have done any
thing wrong 1t was simply q business transac-
ton with thers.
When asked about Sawyer. Mr.. Jerome said
he was going to the man as a State wit
ness adding: Il have his case entirely in hand
and he will tell everything. 1 have promised
him Immunity. He did not get much out of the
transactions and had most Of the hard work to
do. Sawyer says that at the beginning Of this
year he received number Of cards showing the
valuations Of certain properties. The figures
Were probably taken from last years tax books.
BY comparing them with the figures this year.
the men could tell whether or not certain IN
creases had been made. These men were then
locked up, and in many cases were induced to
have their taxes reduced by substitution Saw
5er's duty was TO get dummies for the men
who desired swear off their taxes. Sawyer
was the dummy himself in one or more cases.
and at such times he got SO, For getting
dummy he received So Harcour1 acted as a
dummy in case where $500 in taxes was
sworn off entirely
We are only at the beginning of these cases
now; we have only the preface Of it. as you
might say. When Investigations have been
completed. ! think some people will be sur
pr1sed at the extent TO which this practice was
carried on"
District Attorney Jerome spent half hour
with Tax Commissioner Samuel Strasoourser
yesterday at the Commissioners ONCE he fouho
MIR StrasbourgeT about the most thoroughly IN
dignant man in two counties
You're on the wrong TRAIL said he. Your
detective did not appear before me, as alleged IN
a morning paper nor did his tax oath pass
through my hands at all MI. Bryant appeared
before Commissioner Cogswell and his oath was
certified afterward by Commissioners scott ana
Gillespie. know Philip Baer, one OF the arrest
ed men, only as know scores OF hepuphcans
in my Assembly district
Mr jerome oisclaimed any Intentional dis
courtesy.
for documents which expected TO incrimi-
nate one or two more men who have acted as
dummies. He also gave considerable attentlon
10 q bunch of circular letters that have been
mailed TO taxpayers by the Corporations ana
Estates Company and the Realty Tax COM
psny, both Of No 80 Nassau-st. Inc t SoI Saar
1fons and Estates Company is on the sixth moor
of the Bennett Building, in the offices OF Alex
ander & Kohn- The letters sent broadcast say
with reference to the personal tax:
IF YOU wish TO be relieved of the payment of
ahis tax we shall be glad TO represent you for
that purpose with the distinct understanding
that no charge is TO be made by US unless sue
cessful-"
Realty Tax Company, was seen at his offices oy
a Tribune reporter yesterday he SAID;
Il don't know anything a bout the Sprlngefs OF
Sawyer or Baer, the men arrested ny Jerome J 5
detectives We make a specially OF ta3atloh
,oa+ters The Corpora tons and Estates COM
1,anv was organized in February. 19tt2, ana the
Realty Tax Company TINS year. MI, M1c '0 a; f+S
Mr. Kohn ana fnSse4l own aii 'iie -
How are you able TO promise that you will
he