Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-08
Questioned by Mr.. Douglas.

Questioned by Mr. Douglas.
Mr. Douglas asked If 1t was not fac'
that the property was in the hands OF
Thomas J. Fisher & Co. when Mr.. Nc
Neill found the purchaser, and whether
the only unusual feature was that Mr..
McNeill claimed his commission out OF
the first $1,000. Mr.. Johnson acquiesced
in both statements.
"What took place" said Mr. Redfieid.
sis that the man who represented ''e
buyer got the commission.
YES" replied Mr.. Johnson. that's
what took place. ~
"A feature which you criticise in the
transaction is the high speed?' inquired
Mr. Redfield.
Three checks are presented i'm 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 MI.
Douglas.
II 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.
because it had to be divided up with
people he was representing.
HE had to divide his commission with
R. H. McNeill. did he not?' asked Mr..
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 job to buy property-then beat
the owner down and charge the buyer
20, int oh
seller for being bargained with.
Mr. Johnson made smiling and evasive
answers.
Charles ]. Bell Recalled.
Charles j. Bell appeared as a witness
again. He was asked about his knowl-
edge Of the st. Matthews Church prop
erty sale He said Mgr. Lee had con-
suited with him about the property. Mgr
Lee had received offers of $15 foot and
was anxious to SELL He had borrowed
$3.50, 600 on the property to build the
church on Rhode Island avenue, and wher
the real opportunity came to sell at SIS
foot Mr. Bell said he advised him to
sell. although the property was worth
more The interest on the loan approx
mated 80 cents a foot a 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.
."rhe commission was $4,000 1 divided
it with no one. The property was one
of the most valuable in the city,
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 S21 in order to
make a quick sale. He said Thomas j.
Fisher & Co. had man interested in the
property at SIG a foot.
How do you reconcile your two atti-
tudes?" asked Representative Redfield.
You thought the property SO valuable.
yet you lahored with Mgr. Lee to sell 1t
at low price
point the necessities of the church re,
uuired money in a hurry and quick
sale was desirable.
did you tell him it would be more
valuable in years to come"
oh. yes"
the Southern Commercial Congress. and
was treasure of the Southern Building
Corporation at its start He got his
stock, he said, from $500 loaned to
Robert Mcneil, and from $1,000 he had
paid on membership in the Southern COM
mercial Congress. He had received no
stock free.
$50 you represented the church in 1905.
and a few months afterward were an
fContipI,ad op Sacond page.l