New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-22
Turns to Kings County
Trust Co. After City
Hall Search.
DISCOVERS ESTATE
is NOT APPRAISED
Thompson to Jog Shonts's
Wilcox Explains
Subway Memorandum.

Frank Moss, counsel for the Thomp-
son committee, declared last night that
II might be found necessary TO serve a
subpoena duces teeum on the Kings
County Trust Company, Of Brooklyn
as executor, to produce the private pa
pers of the late Mayor Gaynor. MI
Moss said that certain leads had de-
veloped in the investigation which the
committee would be bound to follow
up. This announcement followed
search by representatives Of the com
mittee yesterday among the archives
in the cellar OF the City Hall Tor let
tiers Of Mayor Gaynor.
Search OF the City Hall files was
made with the hope that the comni''ee
would End something to throw light On
tho operations between March p, l9lo'
when Theodore 2. Shonts, president OF
thu Marlborough, sent his letter to
William r. Wilcox, then chairman OF
. tbe Public Service Commission, finally
E. stating the compsny's plans TO build
tho new subways with its own money
ond MAYOR Gaynor's change OF froh'
following Mr.. Shonts's call on MIN az
ST. James, Long Island.
sbonts's Testimony Unsatisfactory
Nov the committee is anxious to dis
.ovsr what Mayor Gaynor may nave
.-;,.en and received on the subject OF
A.. new subways about March ~ 20
and %. 1910, on which dates MI shOn's
usde changes in his original letter 70
A. Wilcox. finally abandoning MS
agor altogether after his interview II
All Mr.. shonts's testimony on 'hese
,o;rts has proved unsausiac'o,''
wbie all the personal letters OF 'ne
,ato MAYOR are probably in the pos
session Of his executors, the eoniin''Ve0
800 +, find some Of the subway cor
roano,dence among the official files
Ernest c. Brewer, Of "A Court Street
prooklvn. counsel TO the Gaynor exec
utors said that he had been all over
the Gaynor papers and found nothing
i, the record Of the Mayors income
.axeept returns from his own income.
~, said that nothing was discovered |
for which there might be any reason
ia conceal. ~
- On october 6, 1918. the Gaynor will
was admitted to probate by Surrogate
Yetcham. in Brooklyn. The entire
eststo went 10 the FIVE children, and
the KINGS County Trust Company was
made executor and trustee. Mayor
Gavnor died September 10, 1913, but no
effort has been made to have the ap-
nreisal Of his estate finally determined.
An estimated tax Of $1,000 was paid 10
the STATE Controller pending the final
settlement.
Mr.. Brewer claimed the privilege pro-
yided in the transfer tax law when
nermits a payment Of this kind In case
an estate is so involved that hasty
settlement would work hardship on the
benefc!aries. In order 20 avoid pen
alty Of 20 per cent over and above the
original tax, the $500 was advanced
10 the State Controller. Payment OF
that sum would indicate an estate OF
between 100000 and $4,000. 1t is I'M
derstood that the latter estimate was
not far out Of the way.
Feared to Hurry Appraisal.
Delay in asking for final appraiser,
Mr.. Brewer explained, was due TO the
late Mayor holding many second mort
cages. They were guaranteed by small
-rk vofghf gmfF0T hank
ruptcy II a forced settlement Of the
estate was demanded, he said. The
estate is not encountered now by
single piece OF real estate. Mr.. Gay
nor accumulated all HIS property Of
any account before he became Mayor,
according 10 Mr.. Brewer. The Mayor
kept his own checkbooks, which made
IL difficult 20 decipher the stubs.
The Gaynor papers show that the late
Mayor lived within his income while
a member Of the Supreme Court. His
expenditures increased, however, when
he became Mayor. II IS the opinion OF
Mr. Brewer that this increase was due
20 Mayor Gaynor's lavishness regarding
his St. James estate.
Counsel for the Thompson commit
tee yesterday communicated with Rich.
ard V. Lindabury, counsel for j. p.
Morgan, and Mr. Lindabury said Mr..
Morgan was prepared 20 come before
the committee and testify at any time.
lie declared that Mr. Morgan had no
present plans 20 80 out OF town, but
IN he should decide 20 leave the city
he would notify the committee so that
he could be called "a a witness prior
90 his going He may be a witness
on Friday.
Mr.. Wilcox, former chairman % the
Public Service Commission, Issued
statement yesterday explaining tho
circumstances surrounding the Shonts
memorandum Of March p, 1910. II
was made plain 6y him that the so
called offer actually was not an ofer,
but a tentative form OF agreement