The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-04
DEMENTED DEMOCRATS.
-Four Ex-Tammany Aldermen in
Lunatio Asylums.
A suggestive and Startling Story Of Fallen
Political Greatness the City HALT to
the Charity Hospital-The Awful
Blank Of Mind Diseased.

pontlclans Wnen IN mOrallzlng mood Is the ex-
traOrunary blight which has allen on all the men
VINO were prominent members Of the old Common
Council IN the days when weeds word made and
uDmade pubic officais from State Senators to
Common Councilmen, both included. This blight
has not been partial. 1t has swept away nesrly
every man who was Identified with Tweed in the
Old Board OF Aldermen, and, with or two notable
exceptions in the Old Board OF Supervisors OF in
famous memory. Tweed himself a convict, serving
out long term IN the Penitentiary; the erewhile
President OF his Board OF Aldermen Is q fugitive
from justice, having Jailed to put in an appear
ance when called for trial, and forfeited his bail.
Another prominent member, Genet is q fugitive
nom justice also. Sudden deaths have been the
END OF more than one member OF the "Old Boardn
but others a still more untmely fate awaited and
to tnis latter class this article has especial refer
ence.
DOWN WITHOUT RIPPLE
During the last year and half men VINO have
been prominent in certain way and after their
own fashion, have dropped out OF political and So
cial existence, and the places which knew them
once know them no more. They went down with
out leaving ripple on the surface. Their familiar
faces were missed to be sure, by their friends but
1t was months before the question came to be
asked, Were they never to turn up again, were the
familiar resorts never to see them again and
where had they been spirited tor Then there
were mysterious whlsperings and shaking OF
heads and vague rumors noated about that the
missing ones were under lock and key some
where, and then muttered "'Tis rough Isn't
itf' And by and by the rumor assumed tangible
shape and became town talk among the poll
ticians, and then every corner loaier knew that
the former alderman OF the ward" was stark,
ravlng lunatic and the inmate Of o madhouse.
nm ucn n n " II har nm tn
when there were five mentally diseased men in
the custody OF keepers who were once better
known around the City Hall Park than any OF our
City Fathers OF to-day. The names or these men
viii no doubt astonlsh the readers of the HERALD.
Ex-ALDERMAN STEVENS.
The nrst prominent old time politician whose In
teliect gave way was ex-Alderman Thomas Stevens,
or, as he was known around the City Hall four or
five years ago, Tommy" Stevens. In lS5S-'59 ne
was In the Board OF Aldermen.
He discharged the functions OF this important
ONCE very satisfactorily. Mr. stevens was also
President OF the old Croton Water Board from 1860
to 1854, and was exceedingly popular among the
local politicians and was well liked for his genial
and social qualities. When the first symptoms OF
approaching insanity betrayed themselves unmis-
takably his friends had him locked up for some
time, In the expectation that his mental disorder
however became aggravated, and he Is now
confirmed lunatic. He was then sent out Of the
city in the charge Of stawart keeper, ana he Is
at present living the care and strict surveil-
lance OF the latter in the nelghborhood OF the
Palisades on the Hudson He Is harmless, but
HERALD reporter was informed that his friends
have given up all hope OF his ultimate recovery.
His case Is spoken OF feellngly among the local
politicians and there is widespread sympathy
among them for his family who are highly re-
RnnC.ahe.
Ex-ALDERMAN JOHN MURRAY.
The next prominent politician who disappeared
mysterlOusy from his usual haunts-and they
were many, Tor he was widely known in political
circles four years ago-was ex-Alderman Jonn
those days as 'Jonnny" Murray. He kept liquor
saloon IN Amtty street. lew doors from Broad
way, which was named AFTER fne famous . ~ Phlia-
Of the quaker City, 'Moyamensing." He was elected
TO the old Board Of Aldermen IN the ia OF 1869 from
the Fifteenth ward, which was known then as the
Seventh AldermanIc district before the Tweed
charter passed the Legislature. The latter became
1870 and provided for the election OF Aldermen on
a general tlcket-that Is, over the whole county.
Murray with the other members r 81 Inc me Cd Board
himself with the young democracy party, and Tell
victim TO MS political leanings. Iweed's new
Aldermen, but provided Tor an election immedi-
ately-ln May, lS70-of fifteen Aldermen on gen.
era Gckes = aee Eear N suo
from That district. or, rather, he was understood
to represent 1t Tor Tweed. Mr.. Murray never again
came to the surface IN politics. Gradually his mlno
gave way. He became nopelcssly insane ABOUT
fifteen months ago, and he is now IN inmate OF
the Insane Asylum on Blackwels Island, being al
the time OF his mis- orGune without resources sum
cient to pay for q pace ana attendance IN pri.
vato lunatic asylum. The unfortunate man mas
wife and family still living in this city, and there Is
GOOD DEAL OF SYMPATHY
for them among local politicians, but unfortu-
ray was Ut one time popular fammany poIltician,
but the young democracy fight Of the lall or 1869
ruined him. A HERALD reporter made lnq ulres
yesterday IN reference to MS case, and was IN.
formed that he Is perfectly harmless, but 1t is
feared Is o confirmed lunatic-
EUGENE DURNIN
Murray's case was followed by still more start
ling one, the victim being man whose name was
a. oyword In the mouths OF lammany potl-
clans when Tweed was at the zenith OF mis- fame.
Mr.. Durnin was originally messenger to the Board
OF Supervisors when Tweed ruled the Board. He
Tweea "taxng x su nm elevated nm
from the comparatively mental position Oh mes
senger to the important post post Of sergeant,
those days. and during the session OF the
House and Senate committees. lie was elected TO
the new Board OF Assistant Aldermen, which sue
ceeded the old Common Counclmen, from the
held all through Tweed's administration, until
the crash came IN the TALL Of 1871. After the
his return from this trip dates MS misfortune. lie
returned to tue city IN the latter part Of last
spring. meanwhile, through the lnnuence OF
Tweed In his palmy days, lie mad been admitted to
the Bar, and became member OF the Legal firm OF
Duke, SPOTS h Durnin, OF which ex-Asslstant DIS
trict Attorney John X. tell0wes mad been member.
soon AFTER his return from California symptoms OF
alteration OF mind began to develop themselves.
Soon they became aggravated. He was placed ~
CUSTODY IN TINS city ny his friends, and after
short time was sent to private asylum, wnere
he now is. AT iirst his symptoms we're alarming,
and he was inclined to be violent, but he Is, II Is
said, slowly recovering. A friend who heard OF
him on Thursday gave this information to
HERALD reporter yesterday, and hopes are enter
tanned that ne Will ultimately recover his sanity.
Durnin Was worth $4,000 within two years. Dul,
IL Is said, Is now poor.
Ex-ALDERMAN O'BRIEN.
The most curious case OF all, however, which ia
comparatively recent, Is that OF ex-Alderman Hugh
O'Brlen, who was better known by the sobriques
Of "Du'chy" O'Brien among the City Hall pontl-
cans tie was Councilman In 1857 and 1860, and
served as Alderman IRON 1868 to 1869, and January
to June. 1870. He was Immediately reelected AS.
sistant Alderman from 1910 10 1872. He nad peen
Identified with Tweed for many years, but when
the Tweed cnarter passed In the spring OF 1870
.Dutchyn VAS told by Tweed to take IA back
Ia tA4 hA