The New York herald., 1921-06-21
GRAND JURY THREAT
IN SCHOOL SITE ROW
Shallow Says Craig Should
Tell That Body About
Release by City.
HYLAN ORDERS INQUIRY
S186, 900 Now Asked for COney
Land Once Available for
$500 Lot.
HYLAN ORDERS INQUIRY

Comptroller Craig, Commissioner of
Accounts Hirshfield, Corporation Counsel
OBrien. Mayor Hylan, District Attorney
Lewis of Kings county and Associate
Superintendent of Schools Edward B.
Shallow were all involved yesterday in
the fuss that has been stirred up over
the selection by the Board of Education
of site for a new public school at
Coney Island, on Neptune avenue, be-
tween West Twenty-ninth and West
Thirtieth streets. This is the site which
the city recently released all claims
against for a consideration of 5000 a city
lot. plus back taxes and assessments.
and which Comptroller Craig charges
somebody on the Board of Education
would like to have the city buy back
again for about So, 900 a city lot.
Commissioner Hirshfeld examined
Nicholas A. r. Deevy. formerly clerk in
the realestate bureau of the Finance De-
partment, and ascertained that in June.
1920, Walter J. O'Neil, one of Comp
troller Craigs investigators. recon-
mended that the city release all its
claims against the Neptune avenue prop
erty. which had been in litigation for
years. for 5000 lot and taxes.
This Is not disputed, since on June IS,
1920. Comptroller Craig recommended
to the Board Of Estimate that such re-
leases be effected. The Board accepted
his recommendations. What the Comp
troller wants to know. and he has asked
District Attorney Lewis to inquire, Is why
the site which the Board of Education
had recommended for new school In
April. 1920, on Mermaid avenue was
abandoned in February. 1921, when
negotiations concerning the releases rec
commended for the Neptune avenue
property were in progress between the
city and some of the litigants. and why
three alternate sites on Neptune avenue
were submitted by the Board Of Educa-
ton at this time.
Hugh p. Skelly. one of the litgants.
closed his negotiations over his Neptune
avenue property shortly afterward, and
In May last he obtained a deed and
quit claim from the city, signed by Mayor
Hylan. Craig says, on paying $500 a
lot and all back taxes. Now the Skelly
property figures as part Of the site which
II is proposed to designate as school
site at cost estimated by the Comp
troller at $4,000 city lot. or about
S1S6.00O for the site. as against about
$4,000 paid by Skely for the city's re-
lease to him.
Superintendent Shallow. in long
statement yesterday. of which he also
SC mt copy to District Attorney Lewis,
charges that Comptroller Craig is liable
If the city has lost any money by re-
leasing the lands in question. He de-
cares Craig has hindered school build
ing in every way possible. and that he
should be given chance to explain be-
fore a Grand Jury" ..
Corporation Counsel O'Brien was in
structed by the Mayor. after comforting
with Hirshf1eld. to make thorough ex-
animation of the whole transaction.
The written instructions threw some un-
complimentary remarks at Craig.
District Attorney Lewis said he would
need some time IN which to learn all the
facts before deciding on a Grand Jury
investigation.