New-York tribune., 1910-09-08
BRINGS IN STOVER'S NAME
City Hall Fruit Vender Tells of
$1,000 Demand for New Permit.
GENERAL DENIAL FOLLOWS
Court Refuses to Consider Tale
as Bearing on Injunction
Proceedings.

In the effort which John D. Antonopulos
| has been making TO retain the space under
the Brooklyn Bridge stairs, where he
keeps large fruit stand and soda fountain,
he made affidavit yesterday that one katz,
TO whom he alleged the commissioner re
ferred him regarding a renewal of his per-
nit, asked him for $1,000 as the amount
for which he would fix it, for Antono-
pulos.
The affidavit was made as q part of his ap-
lication for the continuance of the tenn
porary injunction restraining Commits
sioner Slower from ousting him from the
stand
Mr.. Stover thought the matter Of suff1-
cient Importance to write q letter yester-
day to Acting Mayor Mitchell on the sub
ject- in which he says:
This. in effect. is a serious charge that
some one authorized by me has demanded
the payment of a sum of money in order to
secure a permit from the Park Depart
nent As a matter of fact. [ never told
Antonop1lIos anything of the kind. and
have never authorized anybody outside of
the Park Department TO deal with any ap-
plicant for privileges. but. the con-
trary. have always told the applicants to
come direct to me-
Antonopulos had a permit for his stand
from former Park Commissioner Henry
Smith. which expired last December. He
paid 500 a month rent. When his permit
expired he said he went to Mr.. Slower.
who had succeeded Mr.. Smith, and told
him he needed more space. and he asserts
that Mr. Slower promised to let him eH-
tend his stand north and south.
on this promise. he says, he made eS-
tensive changes. spending $500 for electric
lighting.
Antonopulos said that in March he re
newed his request to Commissioner Slower
and that the Commissioner referred him to
Katz. al No. 1872 Nassau street.
He called on Katz and told him his story,
whereupon. according to Antonopulos, katz
said:
Il know about that l will ring up the
Commissioner and fix it UP for you; but
what is it worth? ] want TO be paid for
my trouble, and, besides, friend OF mine
wants that stand"
AntonOpulos said katZ then told him It
would cost him s1.Gp0, adding that he would
be under no further expense
Antonopulos said he refused to pay the
money, but went 10 Commissioner Stover
and told MIN what mao ndppeItu anu tiiell
heard no more about the matter until Au-
gust 80, when he received an order 20 move
Katz & Co, at whose office Antonopulos
said he called, are in the real estate busi-
ness. One member of the firm, Jacob hatz.
was with Mayor Gaynor when he was shot.
There are four brothers in the firm, and
each has made an affidavit that he never in
his life talked with the owner Of the frult
stand on any subject.
When Mira beau L. Towns, counsel for the
petitioner, tried yesterday TO put before the
court the story of his client as told above,
Justice Blur. who heard the application
for the permanent injunction. said:
4 do not care to hear anything on that
subject, because il has nothing to do with
the question before the court, which Is one
of equity and not of fact"
L @. Cooley. Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci who appeared for Commissioner Slower.
said the Commissioner acted within MS
rights in refusing TO renew the permit OF
krtonopulos He added that in violation
Of his permit the petitioner had encroached
beyond the space allotted him and at varf-
Gus times he set up stands in other parts OF
CITY Hall Park without permission.
Michael NJ. Davis. secretary of the Park
Commissioner, made affidavit that Antono-
pulos offered him s. If he would help him
get his permit.