Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-08
Commission Paid for Sale OF
Southern Building Site.
STATEMENT BY WITNESSES
Alexander H. McNeil's Connection
With the Transaction.
CLASH OVER THE TESTIMONY
Daniel Curry, Witness Yesterday,
st. Matthews Church Sale.

That Alexander II. Mcneil got a big
commission for the sale of St Matthews
Church at 18th and II streets northwest
was related by Mr.. Mcneil and others i'm
the insurance hearing in the House Dis
trict committee room today. The testi-
mony was far removed from insurance,
but was part of the line OF inquiry started
few days ago by Representative Red
field in order to get the full history Of
the growth of the real estate assets of
the Commercial Fire Insurance Com
pany.
Inquiry Regarding Church Sale.
o. Fl. p. Johnson. vice president of the
National Metropolitan Bank. was the
first witness today. Representative
Johnson asked him, as the represent
alive of Mgr. Lee, as trustee, what
was the real consideration in the sale
of the ST. Matthew's Church property.
He said there were two trusts on the
property of 100000 and $4,000. and
r. H. Mcneil, A. E. L. Leckie and
Charles A. Douglas put up a cash pay
ment Of $1,000. The land sold at SIS
a foot. The balance of cash to be paid
was $4,000. Notes were given he said,
and a commission was given amounting
to $4,000. but he did not know who
got it,
What was your opinion as to the
real value of the property" asked Rep
he thought it was worth $50 a foot. but
as there was an actual opportunity for
sale at SIS it seemed advisable to
sell.
20
know how the first payment of $1,000
was made.
I'm three equal checks. from Mcneil
Leckie and Douglass.
Mr. Johnson was Intercepted by Mr.
Redfield as to the way the various notes
were paid. Pressure had to be applied.
he said. for payment OF one OF the notes
He said he had dealt with Mr.. Douglas
in conferences on the subject OF the pay
ment of the note.
Representative George and Representa-
tive Berger asked him about the present
value of the Southern building site.
Its worth fully as much as the Union
| Trust Company property. across the
street. ..,
.'Twenty-six dollars a foot?' asked
Representative Berger.
YES"
Questioned by Mr.. Douglas.
Mr. Douglas asked if it was not fact
that the property was in the hands OF
Thomas J. Fisher & Co. when Mr.. NC
Neill found the purchaser, and whetner
the only unusual feature was that MI.
Mcneil claimed his commission out OF
the first $1,000. Mr.. Johnson acquiesced
in both statements.
"Wbat took place." said Mr.. Redfield.
"is that the man who represented the
buyer got the commission.
yes, replied Mr.. Johnson, that
what took place
"a feature which you criticise in the
transaction is the high speed?" inquired
Mr. Redfield.
Yes"
Three checks are presented in payment
of part of the price. and simultaneously
another check is asked back?'
Yes"
commissions in real estate deals are
charged against the owner and not the
purchaser, are they not? asked Mr.
Douglas.
81 believe So
Ibid you ever hear or suspect that
Alexander Mcneil got commissions from
both the buyer and seller in this case?
was the next inquiry.
Mr. Redfield wanted a separate answer
as to his suspicious.
81 heard he requested his commission
because it had to be divided up with
people he was representing"
He had to divide his commission with
X. III. MCNEIL, ola lie uOt dShcu MI .
Douglas. He never divided it with Mr..
Leckie or with me?"
mot that l know.
Representative Prouty wanted to know
whether it is ethical in Washington to
accept a job to buy property-then beat
the owner down and charge the buyer
for getting it cheap. and also charge the
seller for being bargained with.
Mr. Johnson made smiling and evasive
answers.
Charles j. Bell Recalled.
Charles ]. Bell appeared as witness
again. He was asked about his knowl-
edge of the ST. Matthew'S Church prop
| erty sale. He said Mgr. Lee had con-
| suited with him about the property. Mgr.
| Lee had received offers of So foot and
was anxious to sell. He had borrowed
$50 600 on the property to build the
church on Rhode Island avenue, and when
| the real opportunity came to sell at SIS
| a foot Mr.. Bell said he advised him to
| sell although the property was worth
| more The interest on the loan approx
mated 80 cents foot year.
EXPLAINS st. Matthew's Church Deal.
Alexander Mcneil. 1858 18th street, an
| attorney, was called. He said he is not
related to Robert H. Mcneil, who spells
his name differently Representative
| Prouty interrogated him as to how he
| got into the ST. Matthews Church deal.
Father Buckley spoke to me first about
| it, The property was in my hands for
| sale.
THE commission was $4,000 / divided
| it with no one. The property was one
| Of the most valuable in the city, I
| thought II street is the first business
street which follows population, Penn
! svlvania avenue and F street break off
| at the Treasury. l argued with Mgr. Lee
| to reduce his price of sd in order to
make a quick sale. He said Thomas J..
| Fisher & Co. had a man interested in the
| property at SIG foot.
How do you reconcile your two atti-
| tudes?" asked Representative Redfed.
You thought the property SO valuable,
| yet you labored with Mgr. Lee to sell it
| at low price"
| Mr. Mcneil said from Mgr. Lees stand
| point the necessities of the church re,
| auired money in a hurry and quick
| sale was desirable.
did you tell him it would be more
valuable in years to come
oh. yes"
Mr.. Mcneil said he was a member of
the Southern Commercial Congress, and
was treasurer of the Southern Building
Incorporation at its start. He got his
stock, he said. from $500 loaned to
Robert Mcneil. and from $1,000 he had
4.