The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-08
.LLEGE FRAUD IN DOCK LEASE
CITY SUES TO BREAK ONE OF TAM
MANY BOARDS CONTRACTS.
Charges That EEan's Rental Is Grossly
inadequate and Reduced by Forgery
and That He Was and Is an Employee
OF the boards Secretary, Burke.

Corporation Counsel Rives has begun
proceedings to break the lease of the bulk.
head between West Twenty-eighth and
Egan by the old Tammany Dock board
Complaint has been filed in the County
Clerks Office charging ION information and
belief that Egan, at the time the lease was
granted to him, was, and still is, in the en-
ploy Of William H. Burke. who was the Sec
rotary to the Tammany board, and it is
also asserted that by means of a conspiracy
the lease was granted at grossly made
ouate rental
An Assistant Corporation Counsel has
b,en quoted as saying that the minutes of
the board have been changed 80 as to make
it appear that the board had granted thirty
year lease instead of one for three years.
The papers on file in the County Clerk 8
Office, however. do not bear out this state
ment. Attached to the papers are three
exhibits. One of these shows that in March.
1901, the bukhead was let for term ., OF
three years at an annual rental of s72O,
while the second exhibit is copy of reso-
luton passed by the board on Dec /. 1901,
extending the lease to term OF ten years,
with the privilege OF two renewals OF ten
years each, at an advanced rental OF B
per cent, for each renewal. The, third ex-
hibt shows that another resolution was
passed on Dec. IL confirming the terms
Of the lease, but providing that for the first
term the annual rental should be ii '25O, 1or
the second term of ten years, u ,3l2 30 ana
for the third term, 81 1882 This thirty
year lease business is apparently precisely
the same as to terms as the dock lease
granted BY the present Dock Commissioner
to Gov Odell's steamboat company. Inc
Ode advance for renewal. however, is
10 per cent.
II is asserted by the Corporation Counsel
that there have been changes made In the
terms of the Egan lease with regard to
the rental The complaint states: -,
The defendant Egan. or some one with
his knowledge and consent, after the ex-
ecut9n Of the said lease and Without sns
the same to be altered by changing and
reducing the amount to be paid yearly.
during the first term, from 81 ,25O per annum
to $50 per annum, and the defendant,
Joseph Egan has entered into possession
OF the said premises, and now claims posses
sion of the same under the said lease.
Mr.. Rivcs maintains in his complaint that
the privileges leased to Egan are reasonably
worth from $4,000 to 500 year Hoin-
m"nting on the case yesterday Mr. RlVes
sald
Neither the Law Department nor the
Dock Depart ment could locate Egan lor
som" time Although his name appears on
th' lease and in the minutes OF the oIo po o.
a. Joseph Egan, We have dlscoVereu tIa'
his rea name is Michael Joseph Egan:
The Dock Department saw very little Of
him He sent the rent for the bulkhead
to N" department by a boy.
He did not pay by. check. but IN cash,
or in Charles o'Conor's language thieves
money!"
Mr. Rivcs said he did not think the action
would be tried before next autumn, out
he added, We do not know who Will appear
as attorneys for Egan, but when we 90,
n they are anxious to have the case trled
right away we NAV be able 10 accommodate
them and get it brought up some time in
June"
II was said yesterday that If the Corpora
ton Counsel succeeds in breaking this
ease efforts will be made to abrogate other
leases let by the Tammany board on the
ground that the rentals paid bv the lessees
are inadequate