The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-22
SUBWAYOFFERS
SOUGHT FOR IN
GAYNOR NOTES
The Thompson Committee
Hopes to jog Shonts's
Memory With Them.
WILCOX AMPL1F1ES
DETAILS OF l.

The testimony on Monday regarding
che subway negotiations between Mayor
0aynor and Theodore y. Shonts of the
Peterborough seemed 50 promising to
the Thompson legislative inquirers yes
terday that Perley Morse. the commit
tees accountant. began u search among
archives in the City Hall cellar for let
tsrs OF the Gaynor administration II
10 hoped to shed light on the late Mayors
change of attitude toward the Inter-
borough which followed tho visit of Mr..
Shonts to 81. james on april -, 1910.
The committee expects TO find letters
dealing with the subway transactions
OF March and April, which may I've used
TO prod the memory Of Mr.. Shonis when
he Resumes tho witness stand on Friday.
ON the same trail which was opened
for the committee first by the revelation
81 the ~. James meeting and later by
testimony about another conference be-
tween Mayor Gaynor and President
0honts. at which Mr.. t;ayNor offered to
act ~ arbitrator between Mr.. Shonts
and Chairman Wilcox OF the Public
Service Commission. Frank Moss. coun'
Oel to the committee. announced that ne
would probably seek AN examination I
the personal papers of the late Mayor.
Those papers are in the hands OF the
executor Of his estate. the Kings County
Trust Company. Ernest &. Brewer or
a Court street. Brooklyn. counsel 20 the
executor, has already studied the Gay
nor private papers. He said YESTERDAY
M had found nothing which there could
- any reason to conceal.
,. r. Morgan Ready Any Time.
Perley Morse also heard Yesterday
from ]. Pierpont Morgan through hi'h-
ard v. Lindabury. counsel to Morgan u
Co. Mr.. Lindabury told Mr.. Morse. VII"
vas delegated by senator THOMPSON I"
ascertain Mr.. Morgan's aNailapi''y as"
witness, that Mr.. Morgan - ready 70
appear any time he may be wanted ne
does not intend leaving town soon. bu'
Mr.. Morse was Informed by Mr.. Lhhud-
hurry that N he does decide to go away
ne will let the commute. know W umne
10 take the stand before he goes. II sen
sfor THOMPSON so Wishes. II II prop-
able, therefore. that Mr.. Morgan VIII NOT
~ called for a week or NOR. -
The search Of the city Hall cellar Tor
INC ,;aynor letter files was conducted ny
Mr. Nors. in person. Mayor Milch"'
gave the committee permission TO 'nNeS.
tirate the files and several members OF
the subcommittee went 10 "o'N r''s
yesterday. No announcement Will be
made OF what they find until they h's-
cover something that may p" usetu' 70
the THOMPSON committee. The commit,
tao believes that some of the personal
iet,ers ~ the late executive may come TO
ijeht. Senator Thompson Is particularly
curious about any correspondence that
may he connected will Mayor fayhors
two meetings with President Shonts' |
I'VE have struck a lead" said Frank
Mos, that W. must follow VI. ..l
In connection with the city Han
search il was learned yesterday from
Mr.. Brewer that. although no maj de-
termination ~ the estate OF the ia'e
Mayor has been made, ali estimated tax
Of $500 has been paid To the State
Comptrollrr pending final settlement
Had Many SECOND Mortgage.
Mr., Brewer said that the delay was
due to the fact that among the holdings
Of Mayor Gaynor were many se'oNu
mortgages guaranteed by. small COM
panies which might be forced into bank
Puptcy in the present state OF the rear
estate market If the settlement OF the
Gaynore estate WAS forced. Foreclosures.
he said, would load the estate with
realty with which Il II not encountered
row. The ayme OF the preliminary
tax would indicate that the entire es-
tate would amount To about $4,000.
which. Mr.. Brewer said. was not far
out of the way. TIL" Gaynor Will was
admitted to probate by Surrogate
Xetcham on October &. 1918.
Attorney Brewer said yesterday that
The late Mayor had accumulated all his
property of any account before he De-
came Mayor. He had difficulty, he said.
deciphering the C;aynor check stubs be-
cause Mr.. iaynor kept his own personal
books to A lsrg" extent. Mayor Gaynors
papers. he added. showed hat he had
lived well within his salary while a SUI
preme Court Justice. After he bccar,-
Mayor his expenditures Increased. how
ever. but Mr.. Brewer thought this due
entirely to III" lavish hand with which
he spen, money Tor improving his coun- ,
Try place al 81. James.
at was like throwing money over the
fence" Mr., Brewer said. II always
had "A high opinion Of Mayor t;aynor.
and having made "A thorough
ton Of his books. papers and cneck
stubs ! am glad to say that ! found
nothing to change my opinion Of him
have been all over his books and they
show nothing except the returns on his
own investments
The Thompson committee H. disap-
pointed in President Shoptss memory
about details which the committee be-
iisves not only pertinent but essential
- the negotiations which hr was carry
Ing OIL about the ~subways. Mr.. Moss
Gave out "A statement yesterday in ref |
efence to Mr.. Shonts's testimony on
Monday in which he stated that lie
doubted the frankness Of Tn. INTERIOR
ough head owing 10 his frequent forget
ting on tho stand. IL was largely 10
stimulate Mr., Shonts's memory that the
search in city Hall WAS Instituted.
Doubts ShOnts's FrRnkmrss.
mi. Shonts,' said Mr., Moss. has
hsd fair play and he cannot say that he
has been crowded, but he is left to-day