New-York tribune., 1920-05-09
Theft Charged
ToForner. Aid
In Rent Fight
Mrs. Cavanaugh, Ex-Volun-
teer Worker for Mayors
Committee, Accused Over
the Collection of S2,694
Allecations by Tenants
Hilly Says That Widow Dis
regarded Instruction and
Was Asked to Resign


Mrs Alice Cavanaugh. formerly
.nlnnteer worker on the Mayors Com
,,;ttee on Rent Profteering, was ar
r.isped yesterday before Magistrate
simpson in the Morrisania Court on a
short affidavit charging grand larceny.
sbs was held in $1,000 bail. 1t is
orsged that Mrs. Cavanaugh collected
s9so4 in rent from fortytwo tenants
~ go Prospect Avenue. the Bronx, and
jailed to turn the money over to the
landlord. Benjamin Ehrlich, OF 615
TAnox Avenue. She ended her associa-
,;on with the committee last February
at the request OF Chairman Arthur
lilly.
Upon being informed of the arraign
ment of Mrs Cavsnaugh, Chairman
Bjlly declared that he had forced her
to discontinue her work with the COM
mittee because she mad violated his in
structions regarding the collection of
rents in disputes between tenants and
landlords.
MIS-. AdNald uEA tUACIGU DASd VI
not guilty. She told the court that she
was forty-four years old, widow and
lived at 7S5 Fores. Avenue, the Bronx.
The tenants who say they turned over
two months rent to her through Nor
ton Behr, their repres sentative, were in
the courtroom when the case was
called.
Warrants Cause Action
The filing Of charge against Mrs
Cavanaugh came after the announce
ment by Enrich that he had received
disposses warrants for the tenants at
go Prospect Avenue from Municipal
Court Justice Harry Robitzek and
would act unless action was taken by
the tenants against the woman.
Il is alleged that Mrs Cavanaugh
collected from Behr for the forty-two
tenants rents amounting to S3191, and
had turned over 20 Ehrlich S497 and
had promised to produce the remaining
$685. yesterday morning.
Explaining her position, Mrs Cava-
naugh said that when she received the
money she was directed to hold it until
the landlord agreed to grant the leases
demanded by the tenants. Bail for the
defendant was furnished by James
Monaghan, deputy clerk Of the I'd Dis
trlct Municipal Court
c. Arthur Arnstein. attorney for
Mrs. Cavanaugh, said last night:
- My client has nothing to conceal
she does not deny that she has re-
ceiyed the money from the tenants. but
she insists that by Monday she can
produce every cent Of it.
Mrs. Cayanaugh has been working
IN behalf OF tenants since September
and has had no motive except to aid
lhem IN their battle against profiteers.
since September she has collected more
thSn S3o0O00 holding various sums
pendlng the outcome Of the cases. She
WORKS day and night, and her efforts
are 'he efforts of one seeking to aid
persons who cannot defend themselves
She has employed me to defend ten
ants when rent disputes reach tho
Mr.. lilly said yesterday:
Mrs. Cavanaugh has ended her work
as a volunteer She appeared on be-
na!f OF tenants in a number CT
eases IN the Bronx, and. from all
could understand, Was giving her serv-
ices out OF the goodness of her heart
a number or landlords complained 10
me IN February that she had not made
settlements, and | told them it WAS nv
pQsitiVe order that any one ass 0ciatet
win the committee should not accent
money under any circumstances.
Instructions Were Violated
u sent for Mrs Cavanaugh and told
Rer TO discontinue the practice of COL
'ectng money and settle up ali mat
5ers she had under her control. Later
learned that she had violated these
hos t',,'' '.co.ohs .S immediately notified
ner tnat she must sever connection
%lth the committee. Since that time
s sue mas been operating in behalf of
'enahls as an independents"
Mr; lilly said he was given to undar-
Stahd that Mrs, Cavanaugh was en-
gagged to q wealthy man whom she bas
nho~n since eirlhood, and that The
mMarflage was to take place after the
way rent crisis"
n Inayqr hyian yesterday sent letter
~ VI, r. ROYAL s. Copeland, Commissioner
M Sa,,!5 heath, before the Commissioner
salled Tor England TO attend the con-
1ioHce OF the Housing Congress in
n'H1on ~ and the Public Health Congress-
inluSSeis. In his letter the Mavor
ueclared that the people Of New Yort
Ne Ms 70 De congratulated upon havino
~ Copeland attend the importanf
meetings abroad. >'''''
.ba ~, copeland said he would take to
,he ,bo conferences statistics obtained from
Now tv syudy Of the housing situation in
new bon.1 1ork' and that upon his return he
Hvped ;r TO have some new plan for meet
"t conditions here.
msra ApProyai prov given yesterday by the
b'DDers the stat. OF the MAYORS committee TO
lana;a @Iement contained in DR.. Cone
s tnat the demolition Of tenements ~
dwellings, to make way for Tn imnrovol %!
discouraged. 0'oUlo De
covula1 vunlqs Pendleton Wilson, advisory
tSanseI tSa sel OF the committee, declared tbat
con,,;.a rGttme Of business handled by the
tbat bSatm,.tee mute IS becoming greater and
poaea an n average Of 500 cases are dis.