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

!
| amount Of Excise funds. few moments before
| II p. m. carriage was driven up to the Police
| Central Office and Excise Commissioners Morton
| and Patterson alighted They appeared to be much
excited. Inspector Thorne, who was Oh
| duty, received them in his inner Office
and remained closeted with them for a
| few moments. The Commissioners related
briefly that Commissioner Murphy left the Office Of
the Excise Board on Saturday before noon, com
planning that he felt too i'll TO attend to his duties
| He went away in can. and nothing more
| was seen Of him by the other Commissioners. They
called to see him yesterday found that he had not
been at home after he left the Excise Office. They then
made some further inquiries and found that he had
! visited on Saturday the German Exchanga Bank at
| No. % Dowery, where the Excise funds were de-
! posted, and had drawn a check for $4,000. The
| bank had not the requisite amount Of
! bills on hand at the time, and was not
able to cash the check. II was learned
that Murphy had then gone to the Pacific Bank, and
| had drawn $4,000 on the check, which had been
| certified at the German Exchange Bank. The
| Commissioners expressed the belief tuat 3lr.
Murphy had led, and asked that orders for his az
| ret b. issued at once. They based their belief on
/ the ground that ,he Commissioner of Accounts was
/ t. make an examination of the accounts Of the
| board to-day and that Mr Murphy WHO has been
| treasurer Of the Board of Excise, would be respon-
| si5la for any ilreguiau,ic. discovered.
Inspector Thorne at once sent ont TO all the police
| preciuc;s ia tie city tie following dispatch:
! Arrest Oxen Murphy, treasurer of the Board Of
10000. InoGNE.
Mr.. Murphy's residence is at No. 70 Second-aye.
soon after Inspector Themes order was sent out,
several detectives and y sergeant from the
Seventeenth Precinct Police Station surrounded the
! house and erd,ayored 10 obtain al entrance. They
! pulled the bcll-handle and knocked heavily at the
door for some time without being able 10 OBJ
/ tain any notice from within. / light burned
/ dimy I'm "a front room on the third story OF the
dwelling. brit no one could be seen moving about.
! The detectives remained to watch the house all
night.
owen Murphy was born in ireland, and, It
! ia said came to this country Whca a youn
man. Ills first appearance in public life WAS ilnc
yearsago whea he sent 20 the state Legislature.
! Last year lie was appointed Excise Commissioner
| by Mr. WicliLam. then Mayor of the city
II is asserted that Commissioner Murphy
was APPOINTED at the personal request OF
Mayor Ely, then Member of Congress.
The names of owen Murphy, George ". Morton
and Jacob u. Patterson. jr. as Commissioners
Of Excise, were sent to the Board of Alder
men at a special meeting on the afternoon
! Of April B. 1876. as successors to ID. D. /. Mar
| shall John l.. StewGrt and William IL.
Stin.r The term Of office was tor ths'e years from
! May 1. 1876. On motion of Alderman PGToy, the
nominations were laid over until the next regular
meeting. and were confirmed short time after
,vorl There va, some disappointment eY-
pressed at the time that the German interest
had not been recognized in the selection OF the Com
mission but it was asserted that an agreement had
becn entered into by the Mayor and the Custom
! House managers in relation to filling vacancies
| i'm municipal Offices during the remainder
OF the Mayors term which would yield far share
Of the patronage to both parties, and That tins al
leped agreement controlled the present appoint
ments. The appointment OF Mr. Murphy
MT the balance Of power in the hands
Of tbe Democrats At the time he was
a leading politician of the Seventeenth
ward. having been elected As>cmbyman from
the Xth Assembly District, first in lSds
and ogain in 1870. lie was the candidate of
tic Mozart Hail Democracy for A'Scmblyman
:, 1SCS. and during Lis second term in
1870 was one of the minority who voted
AGAINST the Young Democracy Charter
for this city. At the time OF has ap-
n,ntucnt rs Excise Commissioner he was one OF the
! ward school trustees. He gained considerable
prou,iucure n member of the Volunteer FIRE
| Drpartment being at one time foreman OF Hose
/ Compapy No. IL. He represented ms district
in the Tanmany General Committee. lie was
Looked upon rs a man Of considerable wealth, which
Inc accumulated in the plumbing business ana also
a, a dealer in real estate.
Mr. Murphy is at present about forty-iive years OF
ogc. lie is rather stout and somewhat under
fine medium height with hair somewhat
cIos,Iy emf. His face is smoothly shayen, with the
evccrtion of growth Of beard upon the chm. lie
sn,aks IN a quick, nervous manner, and with d
strongly Celtic accent
gentleman who has known Commissioner Mur-
nhv for more than sixteen years, as personal aho
nautical friend could hardly be persuaded last even
ipo that he had appropriated money from the hXcis,
| c,ods Owen Murphy, he said, was a man who would
ont otr hi, right hand before he would dishonesty
.aLo - cent whether il belonged to an ind
,,Ju,I or a corporation. He had built up q
lr,o and independent fortune as pluml'
or and though jolly sort oil Ielio"
with 4 half-carelcss way OF transacunS business
he was not the sort OF man TO place his property Oh
himself in a hazardous position NO, no. '''u tn''
Cri.ud "You Will find that some grave mis-
take has been made this Tine "heh IL
was told that Commissioner Patterson Ha'
corGr,,od the news. his good opinion of Murphy re-
ceiyed q terrible blow. Commissioner Mor'on 3 Su'
ncions. he said. were so easily raised that they di'
not amount to much, bat JACOB la''oI'on "'''
thought till he knew"
COMMISSIONER PATTERsONS STAIEMEN
Commissioner Jacob NJ. Patterson IT, said las
evening that the story of Commissioner Murphy
cri,ne hal ceased TO be a suspicion-he had con
Grmcd il by direct evidence. Commissioner Mur
pbv he sad. had complained OF sickness
am