The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-28
THE EXCISE COMPLICATIONS.
7HE TTiffLY U.fRNfNG TUfT WAS
GfJEN ny 4 GRAND JUHr.
Where Mayor wv First showed his rrnnd-
NJ. 'ioron'. tsuess The Grand Jury. Pro-
test-Thc Whereabouts of Owen Murphy.

test-rhc Whereabouts of owen Murphy.
Commissioners Morton and Patterson owl
IDENTITY desire 10 creatc the impression thst their
skirts are clear cf tho lat dofalaat,on ot Com
missioner Murphy. but the facts show n caro-
lcssnces thai Nigh, hc cnllcd criminal
After Judge Days's notol charge concerning
the action Of the Excise Bonrd the Grand Jury
began an Investigation. Mayor Eiy's hand in
s,nntly appeared. Il is wcll known that he was
warm friend OF Commissioner Murphy lie
sent the jury q not, requesting them 10 re- ,civo
tho counsel to the Excise Board. They refused
to receive him. and invited the Commissioners
themselves to come before thcm. They came.
Mr.. Morton. the President. was first admitted.
and examine as 10 the workings OF the Office.
Among the questions the jury asked him was
how much money the board had In hand. Nor
ton replied that he didn't exactly know but he
supposed II was about $50 600 all " which wns
deposited in the German Exchange Bank. Mr..
Murphy was Treasurer. and he could undoubt-
edly e'vo then. the exact figures. The jury
seemed surprised at the smallncss OF the sum.
in view OF the number of license receipts said TO
have been given.
After Morton had retired, Murphy and Patter-
son were admitted 20 the jury room together.
and the same question was put to Murphy. lie
promptly answered that the German Exchange
The jury nskcd why they carried so large n sum
OF money without paying II into the City Trcas
ury;. They replied that the money came from
ce}p,s oi The Board therefor II thcir iicenses
were refused. the Board might be compollcd to
return the nor W aud Il 1t had been covered
largest amount ever len in the Gcrman TX
but added that he lad turned sli6ooo Of il over over
10 the CITY Chambcrlaln. This was untrue. as
th' latest developments show that he paid the
Chamhcrlgin only 100000. and depos ted si0.-
600 In tho Butchvrs' and Droycrs' Bank.
:, In answer to further Inquiries. Murphy said
German Exchange Bank because hc kept his
monty near the oflicr of The board There Ind
been no arrangement concerning interest on
the deposits and none hnI boon received. The
Jury protested to lwih Morton md Patterson
a. isi Mnfpby Mn by"3' saia ,n one Sens If
them. 'supposiug the German Exchange Bank
the loss would havo II b. borne 10y tie board.
end his colleague. Mr.. Patterson. did not do
mnr.
The Jury. in the most emphatic manner.
warned nll the tnWm l-rioncr, against placing
such lgrsc amounts ia small banks. md nd
visrd them I, Sec that 1t wa, pnt In a trust COM
rnny. whore the, would Hot soma inter, st. and
Two weeks passed. Tley had no powcr IN
enforce Tho warming. and lrit tho matter with
tho Commits 'on"rs. Sudd My Morton md
Itittcrs n rushed te Muny- hou,r Ia a siai.'
Intelligence TINT III" Treasurer had ilnd with
heavy portion u the cNs4sc fund. Despite the
s2lemn sng. wrnHi w e, Of ina nry ,a,re had gp no
fathl,ss Commissioning had packed up anl
carried of what 4" pleas !. Thore was no
evidence bcior" th' Jury that ANY record -
th money rec,ivrd was kept. No record was
shown. and M,s,rs. Morton and Paiil rSon
to-day claim 10 he In iguoranc" OF the amount
taken.
The jury were evidently arprchensivc TINT
the money might be leopardzod in the event "
IA ~ Ia. IA nj In xtli t.l. A
WIS dep -li". hui Murphy wn- not a bonded
oiisrr. ml th" other 'mmis~ ~lonrrs held no
viii. and without the signAturc of his colleagues
ns =" r'snr has shown. The Grand Jury
made prcsoiimcrt cundemn'ng the praC ticr II
taxing MONEY without sriniIng u license. and
recommending that the system be- changed.
Theregpon tho committee granted hundreds ~
therefor. to the dolielt ~ Murphy and all thos,
who were in with him. Under the circun-
stan 'cs il Ia no wonder That Morton has irans-
ferrcd hls property. but 1t seems singular that
Patterson aid not follow his example in time.
His friends. however. express great sympathy
,commisslonors Morton and Patterson held
short ,"s. ion los',riny;, Before leaving Presi-
dent Morton sent the following letter:
osus' %, uie Roam or psct.r.
." Mrfn,Er, .resfr. SgW ionh.
Having road tc .t.r nom Mayor iiy to the psper. Of
Tramp, a I' s, # & -. s ~ IN. Of, o q r,9 ard
ihelN ir inmctIAie cAaAli.aLou wiN lc cNtfrioi ly
TS i,e Comni,,.oncr
Superintendent Wnlling received Information.
yesterday. that confirmed him in the belief that
Murphy j. In Canada. and lac trlrgraphcl 10 In
specior Thorne at tho Central Onico as follows:
check on radac B,nl Tor sinnnl drawn ard PAYABLE e
Owen Murphy, sni hj manager ot tou>oidi iioi BANK.
Bank, Buffalo, for collection.
il was said that Murphy Deposited Excise
money ia Tue banks 10 liS own credit, hut that
Is now donied. Tho practice of the previous
STAMPED dt posted to the credit OF the Board
ot Excise Mr.. 4. lloilender sent q check Tor
400 to the Commissioners on the 18th inst.
mad, payable to the oider - the Board Of EN.
German IN hange Bank OF New York to the
credit uf The Board ~ l.N 'i4n, ~ and beneath the
words: Owen Murphy. Commi~sionor of IA
cis", Treasurer of Boar. per b. n..l IA. elk. II
change Bank, N.w York. 'nio, semen, corrort."
The liquor dealers claim that that nnde tho
city liahlr and secured il.cm cithcr thc,r
licenses or return - tho money they lad paid
rhy yn Slturday. hnl which II j. sA,d w.s paid
ont 10y h's brother Peter on sunday, wns re-
cehrd q, the Pacific Bank through its eN-
changes from the Oriental Banh on Wednesday.
Commise toner's Of liN ieo had notified the bnnk
10 hold the entire 10000 10 await the order OF
the count.
There las hocn mn erroneous impro sslon in
regard 90 Murphy's dealings with Nr. Michael
MoGoN"rn. Tho latter has lost nothing 10y the
Mayor fly vii! appoint n successor 10 Excise
Comini--iunor Murphy m soon rs he has re-
ceiyed the Corporntion Counscl's opinion ms 10
whether the appointment mny he made by the
Mayor alone. OF by the Mayor with the consent
Of the Aldermen.
Coy. Robinson hns called upon the Mayor FOR
formal and specific charges against the ENcise
Commissioners. Mayor Lly's letter bcln. re-
Earded ns too vague