Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-15
.FAVORS ARE SHOWN,
WITNESSES A[[EGE
Charge of Discrimination to
Benefit Certain Conspicuous
Owners of Property.
CONDEMNATION OF LAND
FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES
Evidence Heard Today by House
|, Committee Which Is Investigate
ing District Affairs.

Ing UlSCTlCC dualTS.
F.. J. Stellwagen and the Chevy Chase
Land Company were set up as targets in
the District committee investigation to-
day and were accused by Mrs. S. K.
Terry of 41O1 Harrison street and Henry
F. Mandler. a real estate broker of 7O2
11th street northwest, Of having been un-
duly and greatly favored by a condem
nation jury, while poorer and less con-
spicuous property owners had paid for
the benefits obtained by the land COM
pany. The charges made by these two
witnesses were the most serious Of any
yet heard in the long investigations. How
ever, Mrs Terry sprinkled much hearsay
throughout her testimony.
The witnesses both complained that
condemnation jury had awarded verdict
for condemning property for the exten-
sion of 41st street, and that the first ver-
dict had been set aside. That the second
jury had made verdict which resulted
in f. j. Stellwagen getting nearly five
times as much as the first verdict would
have given him; that property across the
street from the Stellwagen property had
been made to bear all the damages. and
that the street has never been put
through at all, but exists merely for the
may be extended to the Chevy Chase
Land Company property.
Alleged Activity Of Sales Agent.
The witnesses also complained that
Harold E. Doyle, sales agent for the
Thomas ]. Fisher Company, had been the
most conspicuous man in the entire con-
demnation, being chief witness for the
District. representing also the Chevy
Chase Land Company interests. and ac-
cording to Mr.. Mandler had said he
would go to Congress and have the land
condemned"
Francis Smith was witness again to-
day. He told the committee that he had
followed the practice Of the District in
the matter, and that both Mandler and
Doyle had their opportunities to speak
before the juries.
Condemnation Juries Considered.
The extension of 41st street and the
juries which served in condemning land
there was taken up by the chairman
when Third Assistant Corporation
ond jury, composed of Samuel Ross. A.
P. Clark. jr. A. H. Gait. Charles l. |
Corby and Albert Marsh. was spoken Of |
Mr.. Smith told the committee that
sixteen or seventeen juries had been
inadvertently omitted from the list
last week. These jurymen. it was tes-
titled, have served on other iuries. as
follows: Samuel Ross. 8: A. p. Clark, |
jr., 10; A. H. Gait. none: Charles l. |
Corby. 8: Albert Marsh. 3. |
Upon the exceptions of E. j. Stell- |
wagen the verdict In the first condem- |
nation in this matter was set aside, and |
Mr.. johnson asked If Harold Doyle. "a |
salesman for the Fisher company. tes- !
titled in that matter" |
1t appears that Mr.. Doyle was the chief |
witness for the District Of Columbia.
Alleged Interested Witness.
Mr.. Johnson made much Of the fact |
that Doyle was "the principal witness, al
though he represented company that
was interested in the land"
'Yes; and he has been frequently a |
witness, and always have 1 made him
state his position with Fisher & Co. He
merely testified as to the sales in the |
neighDorhOod."
Yes commented Mr.. Johnson, but
ne was interested In the land and at the |
same time was your principal Witness"
Mr.. Smith said that Capt. Markham, |
formerly assistant engineer commission |
er, had advised him mot to fight the ex-
ceptions-that the verdict was unjust"
Mr. Johnson was extremely inter-
ested, and termed Capt Markham's ad- |
vice as domination" and asked why
the engineer officer went to the legal
department to run it,
In reply TO queries Mr. Smith said
that after f. }. Stellwagen had made
exceptions the second jury had given a |
dict.
You can't recall hearing from anv
one but Capt. Markham in the mat
ter?"
Markham as Acting Commissioner.
NO. And he was acting commits
sioner
Mr. smith and Representative John
son nad difference as to the legality
OF capt. Markham acting as commits
sioner. Ihere was no agreement.
Representative Johnson asked the wit
ness 10 Whom the verdict was unfair.
Inc answer was that the people ION the
opposite side OF the street from Stell
wagons iand suffered an Injustice"
Mr.. Johnson said that the assessments
on chevy Chase Land Company's prop
erty had been reduced and that land
across the street had been raised
Mr.. smith then read list of the seven-
teen onlltted 1uries. The members OF
these turies have in nearly everv N.
stance served on other juries.
Mrs. S. 4. Terry Witness.
Mrs S. K. Terry. 41o1 Harrison street
northwest. near the 41st street exten.
sion. was the next witness. Her nron-
erty abuts on the 41st street line che
said the first condemnation inrv b.d
assessed benefits against her two ,o+s
amounting to $3.50. The second ,ur,,
raised 1t to $3.50.
Mrs. Terry said Mr.. stellwagen was
given great deal more for his land
at the second jury trial
"Stellwagen got % cents a foot o..
back lot property and Mr.. Mandler 90.
only % cents for much better 80
erty," she said. She told of "back Iote,
which had been assessed damapas %
the extent Of $500 with no real beneft
at all, and said in effect that great n
Justice had been done her propertv ana
that the Stellwagen property had hean
favored.
Alleges Reason for Opening Street
IT really think that the only reason
they put street through my neighbor-
hood was to get a sewer over to tbo
Chevy Chase Land Company" she said
1.-The street Is only street on paner
There is nothing but a bank of earth
there"
"As soon as Stellwagen was paid-as
soon as the sewer was laid for the bene-
CONTINUED on Eighth Page.)
Z