The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-24

Caucus in the District Attorneys
Office About the Contested Seats-The
Thinking OF the "Llttle BelI'' That in
War Times Was Feared.
RumOr for some days has reported bitter battle
and a contest for supremacy existing within the
republican party, which Is supposed TO be run by
Mr. Thomas Murphy, ex-COllector Of the Port,
likely to terminate in a split between that branch
which is believed to still adhere to the President
and Mr.. Murphy and the other ''malecontents"
who respect the memory Of the Usage Of Chappa-
qua" who, in the last Presidential cleo.
ton, contested the right to the Chief Magis.
tracy. Rumor-a very bad authority sometimes
and at other times very good One-says that the
General Committee, OF which Police Commissioner
Gardner Is chairman, IS annoyed with protests
and combinations made by the respective wings Of
the party IN the FIRST, sixth, Fifteenth and Twen
acy in The Central Committee that meets at Re-
ublican Hail weekly and has charge of the
weighty interests Of the administration party in
this city. Investigations snow that there Is Ger
talnly contest In the districts named; but 1t is
very difficult to get at the facts.
at the last meeting OF the General Committee at
Republican Hall. at which Collector Arthur figured
prominently. J. N. Patterson. Of the Tenth dis
district; Joseph G. Pinckney, of the Four
teentn district and Clerk OF the Board
the Seventeenth district, and Horace M. Ruggies,
OF the Eighteenth district, were appointed a spe-
cial committee to decide upon the contested seats
Nobody, except the gentlemen named was sup
posed TO know when where this committee OF
five met; but reporter OF the HERALD yesterday
learned that 1t would likely meet at the District
Attorneys ONCE, At halfpast three r.. NJ, but he
could not ascertain whether the press would be adj
had no secrets from the press and admitted that
there was no necessity Tor secrecy.
At the hour named there were found in the
District Attorneys Office General Pinckney, j. NJ.
Patterson District Attorney Phelps George H.
Lyon, Secretary Of the General Committee, and =
daily journals. The latter were not admitted
anu the messengers Of the District Attorneys
once were employed IN watching them and PIE PIE
The business OF the office was virtually suspended
after the hour named, and the callers amused
themselves in reading the calendar Of burglars
murderers and other offenders whose cases are
entered for Monday. Assistant District Attorney
Allen passed in at four, and smiled through his
'tinEling bell OF the District Attorney had been
at work, IN imitation OF Secretary Seward's and .
number OF politicians had made their exit and
entrance by private door on the second moor.
The unkling OF the bell continued at inter-
General Pinckney, of the committee, came out and
stated to the representatives Of the press that Mr.
Lyon would give all the de tails OF the caucus Mr.
Lyon gratifed the press by announcing that the
meeting had Deen informal, and that all they had
done was to read protests, &C., and arrange Tor tho
hearing OF cases, as fOllOws:-
MONDAY NExT-The committee will sit at Repub-
lican Hall ana hear evidence as to the contested
tricts; the Sixth district being first considered.
TUESDAY NEXT-rne contest in the Twenty first
Assembly district Will be acted upon and the pro-
gramme ior future ACTON WILL then be decided
upon.
In this connection 1t may be stated that Secre-
tary Lyon remarks that there Is little or no Diff
Guilty, or any trouble in the General Committee,
except in the cases OF five or six delegates ia
tain wards, and that the admission rejection OF
the delegates claiming seats in the General Com
mittee must be passed upon by the committee OF
which Mr.. Patterson Is chairman.
Per contra. one OF the committee suggests that
If there journal sufficiently enterprising to
invade the Assembly districts in which there is q
contest and interview the contestants In the late
primary elections something rich will GENE out