New-York tribune., 1918-10-31
First Conviction
Won in Inquiry in
Tax Lien Sales
Richmond Hill Real Estate
Operator Pleads Guilty
on Larceny Charge
Hopes to Make Amend
Goes to Jail Pending Satisfac-
tory Settlement of
Dozen Cases

The Mayors Committee on Taxa
ton, which is conducting an invcsti-
cation into the dealings of taX-salc
sharks and bogus land operators, OBJ
tanned its first conviction yesterday
when John E. Licdcrman pleaded guilty
in Special Sessions to a charge of lar
ccny.
Liedcrman lives in Richmond Hill,
L. l., and has an occ at 203 Broadway.
He was remanded to the Tombs pend
ing sentence, and his bail was fixed
at $1,000. He was prosecuted on two
cases, one being that C, Pasquale Dc
lcsio, of 200 East 126th Street. a con-
fectioner, who charged that after he
had paid 81 100 for some lots IN ia
maica, l.. l.. he triad vainly to find
Lederman to get a decd TO the prop
crty.
The specific charge against Licdcr-
man in this case was that he accepted
from Delcso $50 when he had no lights
to the property. the only claim he
agreement with the owner Of the lots
whereby he could, by paying the owner
a stipulated sum each month, have the
privilege Of selling the land. By de-
faulting in these payments he forfeited
all claim to the right to sell the lots.
the committee contcndcd.
A.I-e to NoLo VoStitufiCn
Jacob l.. Engel, who represented
Liederman. told the court that if sen
tence was withheld until November Ia
his client would probably be able to
make restitution to any persons who
had suffered losses. The committee re
ported that Licderman has from twelve
to fourteen unfinished obligations, ag
gregating in amount about $4,000.
The court concurring in the request,
Liederman outlined a tentative plan TO
make good the losses, which he will
submit in writing to the committee.
If approved, Assistant District Attor-
ney Waugh has agreed to make appli
cation for eduction in the amount Of
his bail to enable him 20 gain liberty
SO he could execute Il scheme
Ellen Cunning, a don estic, employed
at 405 Park Avenue, y, sterdaT asked
advice concerning some property in
Nassau County which sh bought in
1910 for $500.
Case Taken to Courts
She asserted she failed to npy the
1915 tax Of $9.92 and that rh land
was bought by the county at Il tiX sale
and sold to the Homeaeekers' olding
Company, Of which David B,4no or, Of
Mineoa, is the head She f. eemcd
the property. she sid, and }andler
then brought suit I the Supreme
Court OF Nassau County. ask az that
her redemption bet set aside md that
he be adjudged the owner 10 lost the
suit and appealed to the appellate Di-
vision. Samuel S. Broslin, coun4 for
the Mayors committee. assn the
woman that he would take up the case.
John w, Paris, chairman; James
Morgenthau, jr.. Of the Long Island
Real Estate Exchange, Yesterday
visited Nathan Hirsch, chairman Of
the Mayors commttco, and volun-
teercd some suggestions as TO how to
cure the evil of selling lots in a dc
vclopment which is subject to a
blanket mortgage on the entire prop
crtv.
The Laurclton Land Owners Pro
tcctlyc Association. 200 members Of
which are said TO have paid william
ii. Reynolds, August Klipstcin and Jo-
scph Huber about S1.l25,O00 for land
which they alleged was worthless, dc
cidcd at meeting Tuesday night in
Brooklyn TO ask the Mayors committee
TO investigate the case.
Hope was expressed that the pur-
chascrs would have returned large
part of their money.