The sun., 1918-10-26
COURTS MAY HALT
NASSAU TAKSALE
Temporary Injunction OBJ
tanned by Mayors Committee
From Justice Scudder.

temporary Injunction restraining
Nassau county from holding tax sale
within the next two years was obtained
from Justice Scudder yesterday by Mayor
Hylan's committee on taxation. Argu-
ment win BE- heard at the court house
in Mineoia at 10 80 O'Clock A. NJ. next
Friday.
In q John Doe hearing before Magis-
trate Appleton II has been proved that
Nassau's annual tax sales have been
field days for so-oalled sharks who snap
up thousands Of lots for the amount OF
unpaid taxes, usually n few dollars. and
make extraordinary profits by selling the
lots back to the owner who lost the title
by falling TO pay a years tax.
The Mayors committee expects to have
the laws amended by the Legislature this
winter to protect small investors. Mean
whilo other counties have agreed to
postpone their Gales. but Nassau has
been going ahead with its plans for an
auction in December. Nathan Hirsch,
chat man OF the Mayors committee,
threatened to have Il stopped by the
court, and he made good yesterday by
roinx to Justice Scudders home at Glen
Head with Samuel g, Breslin. the COM
mittee's counsel. and Charles N. Wysong
Of Port Washington, special counsel.
They then went to Mlneola and served
tho papers on william f. Luyster.
County Treasurer.
Averts Bis Advertising Bill.
The Injunction was obtained In the
name Of Anton J. wettsch of Rockville
Centre, q property owner II continued
Il not only will stop the sale. but will
cut two Nassau county newspapers out
of $4,000 or $4,000 that they have re-
ceived for advertising and cataloguing
previous sales and expected to receive
for this one.
In his complaint Mr.. Wettach said
that soldiers and sailors now abroad and
unable to pay taxes or their dependent
families were among the owners who
would lose their land II the sale was
held. In a supporting affidavit MI
Breslin said Nassau county would lose
nothing. and in fact would gain, by post
poning the sale. as II would eventually
collect 10 per cent interest from de-
linquent owners and meanwhile could
borrow money at 6 per cent. for county
expenses.
The only witness before Magistrate
Appleton was Felix Reifschneider, a
lawyer and formerly United States Com
missioner for the Brooklyn district. He
told of property which he said was
bought at a Nassau tax sale for $50 and
later sold for $4,000. He said IT had
been owned by a client OF his. Miss May
Helen Mckenzie, as part OF real estate
she inherited from her father. Capt Nc
Kenxie. a shipping man. 1t was about
FIVE acres, in Locust Valley. not far
from the Piping Rock Country Club.
She lost this because OF n years unpaid
taxes. and the title was bought by A. q.
Harvey OF Harvey s. Flanagan. MlhevIas
suit to Recover IL Pendins.
Later the title was insured by the
Title Guarantee and Trust Company and
was bought. according to the witness
by Frederick b. Pratt, secretary OF
Pratt Institute and member OF the
Arm OF Charles Pratt a Co, 20 Broad
way, for $4,000. Mr. Reifschneider said
that a suit to recover the property was
now pending in the Supreme Court in
Brooklyn. Mr.. Harvey asserted that
his company bought the property from
Joseph L. sigarretto. who had paid the
county 1880 for 1t.
John w. Reimer. a lawyer OF CO Wall
street. told the Mayors committee that
Mrs. Annie Mcdowell OF Plainield y. j..
had lot at Roosevelt Park. l.. l.. which
Nassau county sold in 1915 for back
taxes and costs amounting to s2.s7. The
buyer was Harriet ]. Mccain OF oyster
BAY. Her brother. Richard =. Mccain.
employed by the Title Guarantee and
Trust Company at Mineola. demanded
sls5 of Mrs. Mcdowell for quitclaim
deed, Mr.. Reimer said. He also said
that Walter Z. Sexton demanded $3.50
from Mrs. F. Pontigan OF SAT East Sew
| enty-eighth street, Manhattan. for the
recovery OF lots In Roosevelt Park which
Sexton had bought at q tax sale for
about $40