The Washington herald., 1913-05-24

the EuStiS estate, commonly referred u
as the Arlington Hotel A corporation
is at present being organized, to b
known as the Arlington Hotel Company
the purpose of which is to acquire TIL.
property and to erect thereon a 100
room. modern hotel structure. In or
der that this project. which is backed
by responsible people. both financially
and from the standpoint of experience
in such matters, may be carried through
it's preliminary stages with success. 1t II
essential that definite understanding bt
obtained with yourselves concerning tn,
terms and purchase price for this prop
erty, and with this object in view i de
sire to make the following proposition
II, within sixty days from this date,
make you a cash offer Of 81, $4,000, less
the usual brokers' commission OF pei
cent, provided that during that time the
property has not been disposed of, vii
you accept the same?
-. J. ARCHIBALD"
The property was sold to the Arlington
Hotel Company March Z. 1911, for 8. 40,
900 and on that date 10000 was paid
on account of the purchase price. and
an additional s25.eco on April s. 1911.
On the witness stand William d.
Hoover president OF the National Saw
ings and Trust Company, of which
George Howard is the treasurer. testi-
fed that he was present when the $780,
900 payment was made, as were WOOD
bury Blair. George Howard, J. F. J.
Archibald, and Frank NJ. Andrews. Mr..
Hoover said the money was in two drafts
and was paid by Archibald and Andrews
Mr.. Howard was present in his capacity
as president of the Arlington Hotel Com
pany, and the terms Of the sale contract
were discussed with him as the presi-
dent of the hotel company and with
Archibald as secretary. Mr.. Hoover knew
that Mr.. Howard was Interested In the
sale, as he had told him, and ne also
knew that Mr.. Howard was interested IN
the commission, but not to what extent
Speaking of the price of the property,
Mr. Hoover testified that 1t was raised at
one time from s.. $4,000 to I,75o,0oO at the
direction of Mr.. Eustis, the equitable own
er of the property. but he could not tell
whether the reduction which followed to
old figure of 81 $4,000 took place before
the negotiations with Archibald. Andrews,
and Howard in the fall OF 1910 or lsn.
Mr.. Hoover denied that Mr.. Howard
had enjoined him to secrecy as to his con-
nection with the transaction, anc stated
that the trustees have retained per cent
commission of the purchase price of 81
10000 to be paid to whoever may be en-
titled to il.
James F. ]. Archibald testified as to the
payment of 800, 600 March Z. 1911, on ac-
count of the purchase price, and SAID the
money was in two drafts-one for sIo,ooO
from T. Coleman Dupont and one for Szo,-
OOO from Charles P. Taft. Witness SAID
that the second payment OF S2o'VS con-
sisted of a draft by Taft.
Being asked as to where and when ne
met Frank NJ. Andrews, Mr.. Archibald
said he met him at the Cafe Martin IN
New York in 1910, and that Roland White,
of Cincinnati. introduced him. He SAID
he met Mr.. Taft the latter part Of 1910.
Sale Fell Through.
Testifving as to his connection with
the sale of the Arlington Hotel property,
Arthur D. Addison said he tried to make
a sale in 1903, but that it fell through
letter from Woodbury. Blair, trustee
to Addison. date I'll 10, 1903, was
produced in which ar quoted the price
of the property a. $4,000, and sale
commission of pei cent
Arguing Mr.. Addison's right to the
commission, Mr.. Worthingtcn. his coun-
sci. said that his client was entitled TO
the commission as he had been en-
ployed as an agent Charging irregu-
Iarity, Mr.. Worthington declared that
Mr.. Andrews was intercepted and the
sale made through Mr.. Archibald. the
whole purpose of the federation between
Mr. Howard and Mr.. Archibald being
to have transferred to their own pockets
the commission which belonged to the
people who had really found Mr.. Andrews
and put him into communication with
Mr. Blair and the National Savings ana
Trust Company Mr.. Worthlngton
claimed that Mr.. Addison had found a
purchaser and that he had been engaged
by Mr. Eustis for that purpose.
Numerous letters were shown ad-
h,- NJ n Addison
asking the latter to take hold of the
property and find a purchaser.
Mr.. Darlington rejoined that Mr.. Eus-
tbs had no power to authorize anybody
to sell the property, to which Mr..
Worthington replied that Mr.. Eustis, as
equitable owner. had such a right. Mr..
Darlington objected to the letters being
admitted in evidence. as they antedated
the contract of April 15 1909.
George Howard said, on the witness
stand. that Archibald was entitled to
one-third of the commission, according
to an agreement made between them.
Witness said he never spoke to Wood
bury Blair about the commission, but
that Mr.. Hoover knew about 1t.
Being asked as to his meeting Mr..
Taft Mr. Howard said he was intro
duced TO Mr.. Taft in January, 1910. by
his CHoward's) wife; he knew that Mr..
Taft and Mr.. Andrews were interested
in other hotels and ONCE buildings Mr..
Andrews had built.
Mr. Archibald was the instigator of
the Arlington Hotel Company" said Mr..
Howard. as he testified about his rela-
tons with Mr.. Archibald. He said he
made the agreement with Mr.. Archibald
as to the commission because he OBJ
tanned the option on the property from
Mr.. Blair and Mr.. Blair's letter was ad-
dressed to him. Mr.. Howard said he
did not mention the fact to Mr.. Blair
that he was to receive the commission
on the sale because. as a rule. they did
not discuss business at ALL either at the
club or elsewhere. Witness said he only
told Mr.. Blair about the commission after
he heard suit had been filed. Mr.. Howard
admitted that Mr.. Blair, at a meeting
Just before the suit went on trial, told
him Howard he did not know he was
to get commission.
At this juncture Attorney Worthing-
ton said that Mr.. Blair had testified that /
he never knew that Mr.. Howard was
to have any interest in the commission |
until last Friday.
Commission Kept Secret.
Mr.. Worthington created quite a SEN |
sation when he added that the fact that |
Howard was to get commission was kept |
secret from Mr.. Blair by both Mr. |
Hoover and Mr.. Howard, showing Mr.. |
Hoover was ashamed of the transaction |
and did not want it known"
Fuel was added to the fame when At |
torney Darlington interposed and said: |
They say the object is to show Mr.. |
Hoover was a party TO a fraud" ,
" or 1f,,ert @sd. ia