New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-22
Bailey Testihes
To Grand Jury in
City Park Inquiry
Banker Forced to Appear
in Investigation of Land
Purchases

The refusal of Frank Bailey, vice.
president of the Title Guarantee &
Trust Company, to appear voluntarily
yesterday in the District Attorneys Of
fee as a witness in the investigation
of the purchases by the city of Rock
away and Dreamland Park sites at al
legged exorbitant prices caused the
District Attorney to put Mr.. Bailey be-
fore the grand jury. Mr.. Bailey re-
fused TO sign a waiver Of immunity
from prosecution that he would auto
mstica!ly earn by his testimony.
At the previous days session Will
lam H. Reynolds, who is accused by the
Bureau of City Inquiry, a Tsmmany
organization, of having profted most
by the sale of the sites to the city,
testified that he sold his interest in
the property to MIR. Bailey before he
was called as an expert in the con-
demnstion proceedings that preceded
the sale to the city.
Mr.. Reynolds testified that he held
a two-ffths interest in the Neponsit
Realty Company which sold the Rock
away site to the city, but Mr.. Bailey
bought it from him for $4,000 and a
tenth interest in the Alert Mining Com
pany. He was asked whether he took
cash or a check and, after considerable
hesitation, he said he believed ne re-
ceived Mr.. Bsileys check.
Didn't Produce Evidence
Yesterday morning Assistant Dis
trict Attorneys Black and Kilroe, in
charge of the probe, telephoned to Mr..
Bailey to come to their office with All
the papers bearing on the Neponsit
company transaction, and particularly
the check or stub record of the check
which Mr.. Reynolds said he had re
ceived.
SIR Bailey told Mr.. Black that ne
was engaged IN al important confer
ence and could not possibly accommO-
date the prosecutors, but he would
come on Wednesday. Mr.. Black in
formed him that Wednesday would not
do, that he must appear at once. Sir,
Bailey replied that it would be impos-
sibe for him TO leave the conference.
al you cannot appear at our requess
We will serve you with grand july
subpoena az once said Mr.. Black.
6 IN ct a
Bailey.
On his arrival at the District At
torney's office, Mr. Black Informed Mr.
Bailey that it would be necessary TO .
put that particular phase Of the lnyes- /
tigation before the grand jury. lie
asked Mr.. Bailey to comply with the
usual formality Of waving immunity,
but Mr.. Bailey declined 20 sign.
When Mr.. Bailey arrived at the grand /
Jury room ne did not have the docu /
mentary evidence which Mr.. Black had /
requested him 10 produce. There will .
be another session OF the grand jury 4
to-day and Mr.. Bailey will again be 4 4
witness. He told Mr.. Black that he I.
would produce the papers ii he could /
find them.
Denied Realty Company Connection
AZ the condemnation proceedings at F.
which Mr.. Reynolds gave expert testi- |
mony on the value of the Rockaway
site he swore that he had 10 interest /
in the Neponsit Realty Company. On /
Monday, Mr. Black and Mr.. Kilroe /
showed Mr. Reynolds an agreement .
signed By Mr.. Reynolds subsequent to |
the condemnation proceedings, permit !
ting the transfer OF the Seaside Park /,
property, As il was then called, from I
A third party TO the Neponsit company. /
That agreement, according to the /
charges of the Bureau of City Inquiry, /
provided that Adelaide b. Roberts, .
dummy, should act in the purchase of I
land for the West Rockaway Land /
Company at Rockaway Park. II is /
charged that the parties TO the agree /
ment were Reynolds, Patrick II. McCar. I
rem. Frank Bailey, Frank Hurley and /
Adelaide Roberts, and that the 100000 |
stock was equally divided among them. |
that 4