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

inspector after him, who returned and SAID ne was
not at home. Knowing that he had taSh,
ion of saying he was out when ne WiSiieu
not 10 be seen, | went home to BED sup
posing, he had done this because OF illness Ih'S
morning, however, | myself went TO his mouse
and received a similar response to inquiries lot
him. 1t noon, l began to think, rs he ga
not appear at the Excise Office, that
if lie were well enough 10 20 ont
at all, he was also well enough to come there es-
pecally at such an important crisis. SO began
to look about me, aided in the work by Oohuh'S-
siOHer Morton, who was suspicious OF wrong ever
since yesterday morning. To my utter surprise
found that Murphy had drawn check Of $780,
600 on the German Exchange Bank whefo the
money received from liquor dealers wac deposited,
had got it certified and deposited in the Pacific
Bank that he had then drawn $4,000. after
wards had drawn a larger sum, | believe
$4,000 upon it, aud then fed. After patient
inquiry at all the places he was accustomed
to frequent can find no trace of him later than
the transactions at the bank OF course, have had
the assistance in my search of the best detecVlVo
talent in the city. There is absolutely no shadow
of doubt that he has left with the money
eve had about 500 900 in the German Exchange
Bank and the board has been discussing for some
time the propriey of taking it out and placing IN
n city depository. Commissioner Murphy had
been so fully trusted that his drawing
the check excited abolutely no suspicion at the
bank. The cause Of this defalcation, | have 10
doubt will prove the old story of necessity tempta-
ton and opportunity. Needing money, he drew out
the $4,000; then, finding that he could
not replace it in time TO avoid exposure.
he drew ont the rest, and Skipped az
tie saying goes. The accounts of the Board are
,f nd
ever ne has taken will come out Of the fund received
from unlicensed liquor dealers.
81 have known Commssioner'Murph for many
years and can say there is 10 man in the Seven
teenth Ward who was more respected, or who could
borrow $loCO with greater ease titan he. At any
time | would haze lent him that sum, u /
had had il on hand, aud | know hundreds
of others who would have done likewise. Not OILY
was he supposed to be strictly honest, but he was
REGARDED - maa of large property, valued at least
at $4,000 perhaps S200,oOO Among the real
estate he owns, or has owned until very recently
is a building at Seconl-ayc aud scc0ud-st; another
i'm Thirl-ayc two doors above Eeyeuth-st.; third,
think. az 9th-ayc and Fogty-secoudst., and still
another in Forty sevcnth-st have been with Lin
to some Of these places, when he collected us
rents, aud know that he has owned them, ana |
feel sure that lac still OWNS them. What the Seven
tenth Naid mas thousht OF MIN - s"oNh ia 'NN
Offices it has bestowed upon hIm. He was
twice elected to the Assembly from tIAs
district, once in 1868 and again ii 1850.
He was appointed a member OF Tie
Excise Board ia Nay, 1876, and IN addition has
held position on the local school Board. lie made
his fortune as plumber, but has been ont OF business
f1rssycra! year. Ofmyow knowledge, know That
he has an honest capable wife and two children
living. lean scarcely believe now, though the evil
deilc, is overwhelming that Owen Murphy is a run
away and a thief. IL seems against tie mans NJ
tlre,"
------ --r.,.-. IL. ,.-..-r., u. INV