Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-18
MORRISSEY AND CHAMBERLAIN.
The Two Noted Gamblers Who Take
an Interest In Politics.

New York Herald Long Branch Letter.
Within half mile of the Presidents two
cottages, and around the West End turn
toward Hoey's, in large lot, stands the
"Club House," so called, the club consist
ing of Chamberlain and Price McGrath and
their several eQuerries on the green cloth.
These two, also, are the directors-in-chief
of Monmouth Park, the celebrated race
course in the rear of the village. They oc-
cupy, therefore, similar position to Nor
rissoy at Saratoga, who is at that inland re-
treat of New Workers the great gamester
and park proprietor.
Between these two there exists that de-
gree of feeling which neither expresses 10
the other, but which all perceive to exist.
Morrissey says the least about it, as he is a
bluff, incautious man; but Chamberlain
hits Morrissey side-whacks in third party
conversations and conveys the impression
to strangers that the latter is his inferior in
prosperity. As both of them are quite too
prosperous for su L calling, it may be well
to describe them.
EFT TU BRUTE.
John Chamberlain is native of the East,
went to Missouri and was a popular, good
looking boy bar-keeper at Jefferson City;
"capped" and piped afIerward at st. Louis
aud on the Western waters, and, finally, at
a youthful age, established an extensive ac-
quaintance, got an establishment of his
own, and during the war came East. About
the same time McGrsth, an old and cele-
brated New Orleans gamest3r, came on to
New York where Nc isSey was driving a
great Ebusiness" of that kind among the
Quartermasters, contractors and other
patriots of the period. He befriend-
ed both these men, employed Cham
berlaiR and set up McGrath. Not
agreeing with Chamberlain, Morrissey set
him adrift; but he had "backers" and some
capital, and was very soon on his feet. The
whole trio thrived enormously during the
war, and when it closed McGrath went in
stock breeding and the purchase and sale CT
hemp, in Kentucky, while Chamberlain and
Morrissey run rival uptown establishments.
After Morrissey distinguished himself at
Saratoga, Chamberlain was seized with the
emulous desire to have a summer place
also, and with the aid of MeGrath built a
handsome fiame cottage and afterwards
founded a running park at Long Branch.
These two, MorrisSey and Chamberlain,
and Lear, a gamester at Cape May, are the
PldSC UduhCio OA Jul
resorts. Opinion differs as to the
PROSPERITY OF 8IoRRIssEY AND CHAM
BERLAIN.
All appearances indicate thai Morrissey is
the leading gamester of the Western world,
both in money, self-restraint, individual
character and force, and in the complete
ness of his establishments. He has the
most populous spot on which to operate
and the better class Of visitors. He has
100000 invested at Saratoga, and his word
Is good there with banks, magistrates and
the populace. He has not the Italian round
ness, youth and prettiness of Chamberlain,
having been river bOatmsn; but even in
his profession he has genuine traits and
speaks out boldly and sincerely.
THE CAPPERs IN POLITICS.
Chamberlain always adhered to the Fish
Tweed ring; Morrissey deied them. Cham
berlain conciliates people, loves luxury,
and is st the bottom fully as peculiar as
Morrissey, although more oleQginous and
smooth. Both men are hospltable, oblige
people and succeed beyond their deserts.
No one, probably, has any right TO prefer
either; but they are characters Of the time.
Chamberlain is a quasi Grant man; Morris
sey is a regular Greeleyite. Morrissey said
a few nights ago that he was ready to bet
So, 900 to $4,000 that Horace Greeley
would beat Gen. Grant "to Spuyten Tuyvil
river"--by which he meant that Greeley
would override Grant in the State, not in
Gliding the huge Greeley majority in New
York city.
"Are there many Democrats, Mr.. Morris
sey, against Greeley?"
"NOt that l know of. What reason has a
Democrat to be against Greeley? He is the
Democratic candidate" f..
"Will Jimmy O'Brien be against him?"
81 have never asked Mr.. O'Brien that
question. l take it that he is Democrat .
Jimmy O'Brien,' said bystander, chad
better be aware how be deals with the can
didate OF the party in his barters."
Il should think O'Brien had better sense
than to make any such foolish mistake"
said Morrissey. "The only vital elections
before the big one will be Pennsylvania and
Indiana"
The latter notable parsonage, who, by
the way, is as popular as any Senator, Su-
preme Judge or Bishop can presume to be,
attending to his own affairs quietly, is op-
posed to Hoffman's reelection; for Morris
sey occupied as high a place in his oppo-
sltlon to Tammany as any OF the Bar AS
sociation or the Committee OF Seventy,
having had the puck to conspicuously defy
it before the responsibilities moved at all,
and when he knew he should certainly lose.
WHEN TwEED's LAMPS WERE BURNING
at John Chamberlain's gates at Long
Branch John Morrissey stood ready to rule
James Fisk, Jr., off his race course at Sara
toga as an improper parsonage to enter the
grounds. Opposed to every yestige of the
old Tammany, Morrissey walked up to she
sick Judge Barnard's rooms Barnard being
a straight old TammaDy man,) and, moved
by his dilemma, said:
''Judge Barnard, all the delicacies of the
season are at my house. You are sick and
may need better nourishnent than the
hotels afford. Send your servant with your
wishes, and my ser7ants will freely bring
back what you n quire."
The latter great ex-Congressmsn and