New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-24
now MURPHY LEVIED POLITICAL TAXES

THE DISPUTED TWO PER CENT ORDER-COR-
NEII's GNoRANCE-EX-INsPECTOR sHEE-
HANS STORY.
TO me Edttor Of The Trtbune.
SIR: | see that AlOnzO Il. Cornell has denied
the statement made in THE TRIBUNE that notice was
requiring each cmpoye in his Department TO pay
two per cent OF his salary at the Office Of the Surveyor
The facts IN the case to which L am willing to make
affidavit, are follows:
A written order was at $50 q m. on Oct 81. 1870,
posted up in the Surveyors Office between tho desks OF
Deputy Surveyors Fullerton and Abe directly in front
Of door by which the room is entered from the cor
rdor. The following Is copy:
NoTICE!-An persons employed in this Department
wiz he taxed two per cent upon their salary at the once
OF the surveyor. IioMhs nIUFIh ~ n.
About 30 men were in nc among the rest, waiting
our turn to get payrols countcrsigncd by Deputy
Surveyor Benedict while in the line read the order
twice was greatly surprised that tho order was 80
perempory. and for that reason read 1t second time
IN addition 10 his, the messenger ofhe Surveyor, james
Moutqgie gdpe notice N almost epery wthtn my
hearing 10 90 The pirate office Of Mr.. Cornell and pay
the assessment There between 300 and 400 men en-
| ployed in the Surveyors department, every
one Of whom. 1 have every reason to be-
! Heve, paid this tax. l myself saw several
DO so 1t il very remarkable that Mr.. Cornell did not
know that this money was collected in his private office,
when he detailed Nessrs French. Culver, and Abel for
| that purpose. currently understood that this
| money collected by Messrs French and Culver. was
turned over to Mr. Abel and by him paid in person TO
A. Is. Cornell. / presented myself at the desk OF Mr.
French and offered payment Of my $50 assessment n
500 bill French said that he cOnd not change the
hill and asked to ont and get II changed, and 10
bring hin n good cigar. This did, paying hin $50 and
| giving him the cigar.
I have since the organization OF the party, been Re
publican but as convictions were slightly at vari-
ance with those current IN The at that
time received sudden notice on Dec 20 that my ser
longer required. several others VINO hau
not remained faithful To the Murphy and TcrwIllger
faith were decapitated about the time Surprised,
and not little cha grined at once sought an interview
| with the Collector and asked an explanation. Mt.
Murphy said that he had confidence i'll mo as an olccr
and would that rcinstatod. This promise was
| never fulfilled
after his removal demanded $40. which lie had THUS paid
from Collector Murphy, and received It, Satnuel Blau-
welt a dccapatcd" Mcigber, also demanded ana was
paid "A $50 assessment. Knowing these facts, e1aSed
counsel early the present month, ana thrOoEH MN
gave notice both Mr. Murphy ana Mr.. Cornell OF inc
beginning OF action against them in Judge Hirtmans
were present Mr.. Murphy, surveyor A. H. Cornell, ana
| Hugh J. HASTINGS. "D"cOy" Bliss acted es COUNSEL
| for the accused. and on the calling OF tha case
| demanded q trial By jury, which tne court AZ
granted Bliss then asked al Adjournment on me
ground thai he engaged in important case
which would require his entire attention I0 several
| DAYS. The Judge, not knowing that MIR. BIZ was
engaged decoy" In the case" then prnoIhE ~
! the Fifth Avenue Hotel, granted TIE motion. iho
! magistrate then asked him To name a day on when hc
would he " through with his case and hiss reuiinS
silent tho Judge appointed Jan q, when jury VIII DE
npsnrlr, aud the trial viii ia all probability proceed
! N,,r. ark jan On 1872 DAhIEL SIEEHAN