The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-25
THE EXCISE MONEYS.

CONTINUATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS DEToRE
THE REFEREE-TEsrIMoNY OF COMMITS
sIoNER MORRISON.
Tho proceedings In the action of John McGrath and
John Bohmialk plaintiffs, against George W. Morton
aud Others defendants, were continued before Ref
cree s. Potter No 81 Cortlandt street yesterday.
Commissioner Morrison, Of Tho Excuse Board, was
present IN response 10 subpoena, having brought
With him the ofnosl register containing the names
and addresses Of all those who applied for licenses
during the poriod commencing May 1, 1877, and end
Ing December ~, OF tue same year.
Commissioners Morrison, having been sworn. wad
intsrogaed length BY counsel for the plain
til in regard bis knowledge OF The manner In which
the AFFAIRS OF the Board OF Excise conducted
by his the number ofapplicaons granted
and GeeS received, appearing by the books OF ths
ONCE relative the subsequently made Of
receipts by tho old Board Of Excuse Tor money!
deposited application for censes where the latter
had not been granted. In answer to question rs to
the amount OF moneys which tho books should show
Tor licenses issued, the said, In substance,
that It might be difficult to arrive At correct estt
mate by simply taking the number OF licenses issued
a. IN the con fusion which necessarily snsued imme
diately alter the disappearance OF Owen Murphy
people cs the Excise Office and tor thirty dollar
receipt took away sevsnty-nve dollar license rhe
witness testified that since the accession 10 ofcc OF
the present Board reccpts issued by the Board OF
which Owen Murphy WAS member Tor deposits made
by persons applying for license aud VINO failed
10 receive had been taken up by the Board.
he aid not know, however. whether any Of the en-
ployos In the Office OF the Excise Commissioners
cured any Of them or not the witness said by
request obtained two OF those receipts some time
since but thai he did interest OF parties 10
a suit thoa under consideration. THESE two receipts
never been used Tor any other purpose.
EMPLOYEES OF rHE OFFICE.
On being asked whether he couia furnish from
memory the names Of all the employees In the
Excise office the witness replied tina. 10 was unable
ho IN N n n
made out ana furnished 70 the referee. .
Counsel for the plaintiff here inumated to Mr. Nor
insert also The OF those employees VINO have re-
Gently lett The office and whose positions are now
Ths witness At once SAID that this would be done.
Al Of counsel Tor tne plaintiff the witness
quirea The book books containing the 'slubs' OF
all the receipts for deposits made 0y applicants Tor
licenses not granted, from May l. 1870 70 DsUsmosr
the referee with . list oil all applications
Tor licenses, and the amount OF money
owing TO the amount OF clerical LABOR 1t entailed, this
would be ready, howsvsr, before seven or eight
10 q question as to whether the inspectors con.
nectea with the ONCE Of The Board Of Excise could tell
me names "a q s is7 aSs wssnr any q
sucn parties having deposited money and optAned
receipts proceeded 10 sell beer or lqoor and are now
DONG business sucn receipt without license, Inc
WI, ess replied that he did not know whether they
could furnish sucn Information or not
Loo Ponsr appeared as u claimant, under the order
OF The Court, eptlt,ea 10 portion Of tne moneys re-
celvod by the old Board Of EXCISE Having been
sworn, he produced cneck Tor $50 drawn on the
German Excnange Bank, aud dated December 20
1877, de testified that ON the date named ne made
application for license, ana at the same tune drpos-
lied this check with the Commissiouers oil Excise
taking u receipt Tor II, which he also produced.
TINS check deposited IN the bank men
toned with the endorsements vi "Owen Mur-
pny, Treasurer" December ~, 1917,
the same that that Official eit Tor paris then
known. The check was subsequently, returned to
the witness ~ having been paid and tho money do
posted by him with tne Board OF Excise mas not
been refunded. On being ssxed II he continued
selling alter had obtained the receipt the witness
replied that no did sell small quantities. out was
stopped. aud he afterward TOOK out new liceuse
from the present Excise Com mission. The check aud
receipt were marked and made part OF the record
Mr.. Theodore t. romiins0n, In behalf OF Messrs
Morton ana Patterson, he was desirous that the
oppos,ng counsel should understand beiore the
further that II tue EXAMINATION SHOULD be
SO conducted result In holding his clients rs-
spo sible for the existing dsnciency IN the excise
ma onsys hs would oppose II He mold that the city
was responsible for she dehcisncy as well ~ the
banks tho puolic moneys they naa paid out with
out warrant OF law
The referee 10 already IN possession OF the names
anu Of two Thousand persoos who paid
on an average than $50 zach to The Old Board Of
Excise when applying for licenses, which they have
long since gwen up all hope OF receiving Tho exam
inaton oil Witnesses before the referee will be
IN Ida