The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-10-03
MAYOR ORDERS WALDO
TO "AbATE NU|SANCES"
IN WEST SIDE HOUSES
Gaynor Says w. R. Hearst Is
Real Owner of Property
Complained Of.

Mayor Gsynor made public to-day the
following letter. which he has ad-
dressed to Police Commissioner Rhine
lander Waldo:
''Sir: ! again call attention to the
houses OF ill-fame at Nos. 3I5, 81 and
si9 West Fifty-eishth street. COM
pladnts continue to be sent to me with
regard to them. Among others an emi-
nent Justice OF the Supreme Court has
recently complained. These places have
been scandalizing the whole neighbor-
hood for two years or more. so that re-
spectacle people have to move away
from the ne'ghborhood.
you will now take the most extreme
measures to abats these nuisances. II
necessary you must take proceedings
againt the owner of the property. as
the law prescribes. The owner OF prop
erty IL given full power by lawWo eject
tenants who use his property for i'm
moral purposes. and 81 he does not do 30
he Is himself liable under the law.
The title to these premises stands In
the name of Martin +. Huberth In the
office OF the Register Of Deeds since
June Il, 1872 but as / have heretofore
told you orally the real owner V VIII
liam II. Hearst. The conveyance TO him
by Huberth II kept OF of record to con-
cesi the real owner. Hearst has owned
the property over three years. namely,
since June 81, 1919. Residents and prop
erty owners in the neighborhood have
been insisting TO me for going on two
years that Mr.. Hearst IL the true owner
OF the property. To Gear up the dues-
ton, so that the true owner could be
held accountable. Mr.. Huberth has been
examined under oath. He testified that
he did not own the premises but held
them for another. The following aues-
ton and answer then followed:
80. DO you Gnind telling me who II
IL for whom you hold these premises
In trustf"
"a. 1t Is for q client. William
Randolph Hearst
Ample time has been given to
abate the evil In these houses, and
the police must now resort to strin-
gent measures. Mr.. Huberth gave as
an excuse that the property was
leased up to Aug. last. but as ]
have stated the responsible person is
the owner. The law empowers him
to dispossess tenants who permit the
premises to be used for such vicious
purposes. Some tenants OF that kind
have been recently removed owing to
police action and the complaints OF
ciergymen with churches In the vicin-
ity and others. but do not relax po-
lice vigilance. Very truly yours.
wv. J. GAYNOR, Mayor"
Clarence j. Shearn. counsel for WILL
lam Randolph Heart, as soon a. ht
was acqusinted with the contents o'
Mayor Gaynors letter regarding tbs
Hearst property In West Fifty-e'shth
street, issued "A statement which was In
effect q general denial OF the Mayor
| letter ~. said that Mr.. Hubarth hal
dispossessed all the Objectionable ten
ants IN the house complained of as 80 ~
rs there was any objection 20 them
| and that the police inspector OF the d,
trict had investigated the thoroughnesi
Of the housekeeping and had reporte'
to the Commissioner in writing that al
bad conditions In them had been elm
mated. The Paulist Fathers and o,her
In the neighborhoold would certify tina
| since Mr. Hubarth cancelled the leas
and took charge himself there had beci
no ground for criticism OF the tenant
OF any Of the houses, M. Shearn said.