New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-24


dcnc, is overwhelming, that Owen Murphy is a run
away and a thief IL seems against tie mans NJ
tlra,"
TEE AMOUNT OF MONEY TAKEN.
4 gentleman whose position gives him an oppol-
tuni5y to know the facts in the case.
slid last night that Murphy went to the
German Exchange Bank on Saturday, and
attempted t. draw the amount then Oh deposit 10
his credit as treasurer of the Excise BOard-tAe
sum which had not been turned over to the tlty
Chamberlain. and which at the time the last
Grand Jury was in session amounted to about So
OOO HE amount has since been reduced II Is be-
licyed to about $4,000. lie was told at the
bank that, as it was Saturday, and rs tAc
drafts on the bank had been heavy, II would
not be convenient to let him have more
than $4,000 in currency but they would
give INN certified checks for the balance
This proposition he accepted. Later IN the day lie
obtained $4,000 at the Pacific Bank Of
this city on the certified checks, and an
other large amount was received IN
similar manner At q savings bank. Ills associates
Commissioners Patterson and Morton, place the
total amount Of his defalcation at 10000, but adj
dtioual information raises the total 10 $4,000.
Tine first information that anything was wrong
WAS not obtained by the authorities until last night
y
siouer Murph3 to ascertain when he had last been
seen at honc His sister, with little boy at her
side met the Captain at the door, and in reply
to his iaouiry stated that Mr. Murphy had
been at home NJ dinner time, after which
me went ont and had not returned. The little boy
innoccntly inquired at once, as he caught his aunt
5y the dress: won't papa be at home to-day at
all ~ The officer inferred from this that Murphy
had not been seen there during the day.
The money taken by Mr. Murphy consisted
entirely of deposits made b. the liquor deal
crs. for which they Only held receipts,
the licenses for various reasons not yet
having been granted No part of the loss therefore,
il is claimed will fail Oh the city, the money was
only held by the Commissioners in trust for the
dealers.
STATEMENT OF CHIEF CLERK CIiiLDS.
Casner c. Childs, the chief clerk OF the Excise
Board. who is, perhaps. more familiar with the
workings of the Excise office than any other man,
,,,os NJ the Office at Mulberry and HOuston-sts.
during a large part Of yesterday. When
asked about II a. IN. yesterday, what was IN
progress. he replied Nothing but private matter"
Mr. Childs was found in his bedroom about mid
,igbt bv reporter of The TRIBUNE.
Mr.. Chlds was at first ayerse to saving
anything in reference to Mr.. Murphy, but finally adj
mitted that lac had seen hun last on saturday morh-
ING. Mr.. Childs's further statement was suostan-
TALLY this: Mr.. Murphy was Treasurer OF the
Roord and had the right to draw from the bank all
the Excise money if ne chose; hc'could have drawn
500 900 or $4,000 if it had been there to his
credit The circumstances of the case are simply that
after Saturday forenoon Mr.. Murphy did not come
IA the Office There were rumOrs that he was after
,vorJs seen at his house, and that he was
sick. etc. Il don't know anything about
tbatv Mr.. Childs said. Now when man
has a large sum Of money at his disposal
and suddenly disappears, We suppose either that
he has fallen down dead or that somebody has done
so,netbinr to him, or that he has run away. The
natural superstition i'll regard to Murphy is that
Saturday being steamer day, he took passage ii
some outward-bound vessel AS to what is saic
oboat the amount taken. most of that Is rumor.
don't know what the facts are, and | don't thinE
| that either President Morton or Commissioner Fat
ter,on knows. The idea that Mr.. Murphy has
/ taken himself away was not entertained unit
this. sunday morning. Mr. Murphy is, judge. abou
/ fortv-fye years of age. He was appointed EXcis
| Commissioner in May, 1876, and has always beer
trcasurer of the Board. lie is promnen
member of the Tammany Hall General Committee
No one suspected that he would have done anything
Of this kind but in fact. in these times, it Is har
to know whom to trust