The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-05
THE HON. JOHN MORRIssEY.


An Interview with him at the Fifth
Avenue HOtel---What he Says About
HimseIE---He has quit Gambling
His Connection with Commodore
Vanderbilt. raa G-
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commercial.
Last night, while seated in the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, a gentleman approached
me and said he desired to introduce me
to the Hon. John Morrissey. I invited
him to be seated, and conVersed with
him for considerable length of time,
upon various questions, and found him
to be a remarkably courteous and polite
gentleman, well-informed; and, while
he shows by his conversation that he
lacks the advantages of an early edu-
cation. he is in many respects a re-
markable man. His strong points lie
in his manly candor and strong COM
mon sense. He conversed about him
self with unusual frankness, and an
swered courteously all questions that
were propounded to him by the gentle
men present. He seid that he had no
idea of becoming candidate for Con-
gress when the newspapers first an
nounced his name, but that so much
had been said against him by certain
newspapers, that he concludedIto be-
come a candidate and show them that
Notwithstanding their opposition he
could be nominated and elected.
Alt6T lis uldHN Vi
friends came to him and advised him
to close up his gambling houses, and
abandon all business of that character.
He replied "that if elected he must be
taken as he was" He had made up
his mind that, in case he was successful,
he would abandon the business; but he
kept his own counsel. "Now," said he,
"I am a member of the Fortieth Con-
gress, and after the 1st of January, '67
I shall cease to be connected in any
manner with gambling, no matter
whether in stocks, gold, or with cards" !"
This he considered duty he owed to
his family, his constituents, and So
ciety.
HIS CONNECTION WITH COMMODORE VAN
DERRILT.
Upon being asked by gentleman as
to how he came to get into the good
graces of Vanderbilt, he replied that in
the spring of '62 he had been operating
but short time in Wall street, and was
caught in one of Vanderbilt's opera
tions (Harlem, } by which he lost $50, 900.
He had but $50, 900, which he paid, and
gave his note to Vanderbilt's broker
for the remaining $4,000. This was in
the spring of the year, just as he
was getting ready to leave for Saratoga.
He had but $500, all told, and that was
not sufficient to commence business
(gambling) there. He knew Wander
bilt but slightly, and one morning he
called at Vanderbilt's stables, and
found that gentleman just going out to
ride. Vanderbilt spoke to him and said,
John, they tell me you lost heavily in
Harlem. How much did you loser"
Mr.. Morrissey replied, 'tAbout $50, ,OOO-
all have in the world. I am now going
to Saratoga, and merely want to say /
have not come here TO cry or make a
poor face; only wish, when you have
Something good, that you will allow
to 1ci in ~
Vanderbilt said, "Well, come and see
me frequently. want to talk with
you. But how will you go to Saratoga
without means?" .e
Morrissey-"I will borrow some up
country" -.......-..
"Oh! never mind that. Come and see
me. I will loan you $50, ,OOO," said Van
derbilt, and then drove off.
He was as good as his word, and
loaned Morrissey the money, refusing
to take even a note, merely remarking,
''If your word is not good, your note
is certainly no account"
FACTS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION OF
THE HORSE.
After Vanderbilt's arrival at Sarato.
ga, Morrissey found him upon several
occasions at his stable looking at a re-
markably fine horse he owned, and for
which he had been several times offered
SI2, 800. One morning Mr.. Vanderbilt
asked him what he would take for him.
He replied ''that he was not for sale;
but ifhe would accept him, he was well
come to7the horse as a present." "Had
sold the horse to Mr.. Vanderbilt for
a round sum, he would at once have
concluded that had no gratitude, and
| merely. desired his acquaintance for sell
fish purposes" added Mr.. Morrissey.
This was the commencement of their
acquaintance, which is continued up to
this time. During the winter of IS62-3,
| they formed the memorable corner in
Harlem, which fairly shook the founda-
tions of Wall street, and overwhelmed
many of its most daring operators with
financial ruin. This operation, says Mr..
Morrissey, was not originally intended
as money-making operation, but ii
was done to punish a number of stock
and railroad men who had attempted
to depreciate the Harlem road, (Which
is principally owned by Vanderbilt
and run down its stock, they at the
same time being recipients OF favors
from Vanderbilt, who learned that
they were all ''short of Harlem" for
large amounts. Vanderbilt at one time
contemplated putting the stock up tC
81, 900 per share, which he had the pow
er to do, and thus break every mar