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Claims for damages announced, April 23 (20)
The New York Amsterdam News and the New York Sun, which published the longest story, included a list of the twenty claimants, the address of their businesses, and the amount of their claims. The New York World Telegram listed the seven largest claims, and the New York American the five largest claims (the later mistakenly reported that twenty-two merchants filed claims). The New York Times, Home News, and Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported only the number and total value of the claims. Only the Brooklyn Daily Eagle provided an exact total, $37,972.53; the other stories all rounded the total up to $38,000.
The New York Sun, New York World-Telegram, and New York Times quoted the section of the General Municipal Law on which the claims were based, while the Home News and New York Amsterdam News summarized it. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle and New York American made no mention of the law. None of the stories commented on the law or the novelty of its use.
The stories varied in the detail they provided about the process: while they all noted that the claims had been filed with the Department of Finance, only the New York American, New York Sun, New York World Telegram, and New York Times added that the deputy comptroller would summon the merchants to his office for questioning in a few days. The Home News more precisely noted that, "According to procedure, the complaints are first shown to the Comptroller, who decides the amount, if any, he believes the city owes. If dissatisfied, the claimant may appeal to the court."
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- "Harlem Merchants File Riot Claims," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 23, 1935, 2.
- "Claim $38,000 Riot Damages," New York Sun, April 23, 1935 [clipping].
- "Harlem Stores Start Suing City for Riot Damages," Home News, April 24, 1935 [clipping].
- "Harlem Asks City to Pay $38,000 Riot Damages," New York Times, April 24, 1935.
- "Harlem Riot Claims," New York American, April 24, 1935 [clipping].
- "$38,000 Sought in Harlem Riot," New York World-Telegram, April 23, 1935 [clipping]
- "Owners Want Riot Damages," New York Amsterdam News, June 1, 1935, 18.