The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-02

Morrissey quietly purchased the Saratoga Club
n mad been completed he ,old oae-haif share OF il
for $4,000 cash. Since then II cen run success
fully Mr. Morrssey keeping to himself thrse-eignt hs
interest 10 Inc enterprise, having disposed OF
eighth to friend. He subsequently, also sold the
gambling house IN West Twenty -iourtn street for
gambling house In this city. HIS man object
IN dsconnectlng himself with all gambling
tho political weapons OF those OF MS opponents who
might use such an argument against MN during tho
various pont cal campaiins through which he has
passed When, in fact, he FIRST for Congress nc
WAS rxcee dngly well on Ho had just torn himself
loose from number OF games and sold out his inter
ess al great advantage to himself But still Wall
street Kept tickling ms fancy, and sJohn., though
sharp Was altogether too honest tor tho brokers he
had 10 deal WITH Losses here anu losses there per-
secuted him, until day his very best friends
0esecched him 10 disembarrass himself OF all sorts OF
stocks. But Morrissey WIS not the person TO take
anybody's advice. lie acted IN accordance with his
own view OF matters lnancal ami year alter year he
iouna himself really poorer man.
add to this his generosity said one OF hts bosom
friends TO the BKRALp reporter "lud you WIN soon
wealthy and independent man. The truth was that
Nr Norrissey wnen he entered upon political Ifo
knew that he had 70 overcome great many OBJ
stacles anu ho did overcome them with money
Many morning when called upon by sisters Of
charities or emlssarlcs from all sorts OF rehgious
societies he turned 10 Mr. Scrbuer, his bookkeeper
and told him, ''Givc these people check Tor $500
or 81, 000" Again, some 1nc morning brog en- down
merchants or toned genllemen's sons would call
him assistance, ana checks for 5000 or I'll 900
were as easily obtaiaabo IRON him under such CIR
cumstances as a good Havana cigar He was
spectcr OF persons Whoever needed his hop ned
IL Protestant or Catholic Jew or Gentilc-and 10
all OF them he gave II with n lavish hand. espe-
caly ut the time that he had made up his mind 90
into politics. Then too, when Ia the OF politi
Cal. campaigns his high-toned associates needed
prsierment they '.porrowedr from hin, two OF
them--one Governor, another Mayor-no
less ihnn $4,000 apiece. THIS is given on tho
veracity OF gentleman who all his litctime
nearly has been Mr. Morrissey's true friend an
adviser. sHe mi ght as well have taken his money
and thrown IT into the gutter" said Mr. ScriDner
lately so Thoroughly reckless with tho funds
he had accumulated during series of years. A
story having got abroat that Ut ono time Mr. Nor
rlssey owned $780, 900 worth OF New YORK Central
stock, and was ready to sell and proceed TO Europe
there to enter upon new career but that he lost ii
all OWING 10 peculiar manipulaIons Is cnphatically
denied by those who knew him best, especially that
part of the story whore Mr. Morrssey ~ reported to
taken the Commodores tmeaning Vandcrbllt) 40 vice.
gentieman Intimately acquainted with the now de-
(Morrssey's) wife that New York Central would 20 10
go, and that he had heard Morrsscy say subse.
quently, II have known in tho course OF
my life burglars, lighting men and loaiers
but never havc ! Known such bad fellow as
Commodore Vanderbilt" In TACT on tho morning
after the ommodore died, Morrssey Is reported to
have SAID 'Weil, he died without making bad debt
or leaving TREND. See how all Of Thorn went bed
some gentlemen NJ tho Fifth Avenue Hotel MorrsseS
said, 'Vanderbilt destroyed everything that camo
near him except a bug; nothing could live or
M0RhIssEY's ESTATE.
Mr. Scribner, as attorney tor Mr. Morrissey, has
opened for several days. II rs understood, however
that entire estate, real aud personal will not ex-
coed $4,000 Tho assets are composed Of three
eghths snare OF the Saratoga gambling house and
interest OF $40, 600 IN tho race track at tho same
place. He has also some ferry stock and sleeping
hares, but Othcr railway shares 10 any
bic sxtonL His lifo was not insured.
AS sARAToGiAN.
Mr. M0rrissey was identified with Saratoga, cspe-
IIo waa ~
idol OF the people In that village Men OF the dis
tinction OF James A. Bayard, OF Delaware, father
Senator Thomas A. Bayard used 20 stop with b I'm and
bed with him NJ tho Saratoga Club House Senator
Anthony, OF Rhode Island, always took hts meals
with all his manly qualities at fun display, society
would have him n moral, no loss than
physical hero. Ho was very ambitious to learn to
knJ w, TO DO; no desired TO know what highly bred
people thought because no could only guess what that
class OF people were thinking about One day no
..Dh you ever SEQ New England peope-Yaukeo
pooplss,
eyes,,
.rhey strike me,n said Morrissey "as very con
scentious. people. l am an Irishman but like
respect tor mental power. But II coupled with a
hish-mindod pride. he looked upon Governor rildcu
as one oil his discoveries and always spoke well OF
but during tho last campaign, when asked had no seen
Mr.. Tiden, he SAID
mo; Scne ana tho nabobs tako him up now.
think they have great deaf of impudencc. But
never rush In. don't make my points that way"
now lie LOOKED
About the time he was nrst running Tor Congress
tho following good description OF him was pcnnod -
Morrisscy's personnel Is that OF man OF great
mu,susr ssnsh insom.oS and
inches IN height, Is very broad across the chest and
shoulders; has a large head. covered with bushy
with q smiIo; speaks moderately. but with
determination; has dcop, sonorocs voice,
IDEA nas he IL going TO be fairly deaf. wn as long as
Jonn Norrisscy has anything TO say In tho matter.
HIS eye Is dark sharp aud siares you straight IN the
right nor lett His admirers say OF him '.his mead
covers as big aibran rs there Is top of tito
iock'sn HIS counionance bears marks OF the
many encounters no has had, and In which no has
recsived punishment such as lew mon could have
survived. HIS nose Is somewhat indontei, aud there
n ugly mark on the side OF his face. In manner
he is polite ana agreeable courteous TO everybody
has great memory OF faces aud friendly shake Of
tho hand Tor all. Hc Is wonder to hts friends,
who know him intimately, but into the presence or
poiisuod rough and an unworthy member So
cioy, he comes as gentleman and On agreeable sur
prise
In later years his voice became very husky on &C.
count Of throat Affection and could not be heard at
any great distanco.
MoRRissEY As A POLITICIAN
The political career Of John Morrissey was ms pccu
liar exceptionally successful any other dstin
gushcd characteristic OF his chcqusrcd lie. As a
politician no was OF the vigorous, determined stamp.
lilo never took stand upon any question that II was
not fought out TO tho butter cnd Neither did
he pursue tho slippery, tortuous course common
Z" local statesmen vi the present day. Having deter
mined limo OF action he pursued It win indomit.
able perseverance, until tho goal or his ambition was
reached. IL this iron temperament las con ceded
by all friends ultimately acquainted with ms charac
tori that tended much TO MS alone Ia
politics, but IN 1uancc business even IN pu gilis
CONGRESS.
Mr. Morrissey made his hrst BOW to the American
public official station and actual political ic IN the
year 1865, when no elected to Congress- from tho
Fiith district OF TINS city. Ho received tho nomi-
nation from Tammany Hall ana was elected By a
majority OF 400. lilo sought tho positon
OF Congressman ior tho honor which 70 con-
icrrcd. He then stated that he wanted the
place simply lesson TO MS enomics,
boosted that he could not any event be elected
A strong affection for only also given q
tor entrance into olcia lie, as Morrsscy cx.
pressed a wish TO leave a somewhat different record
tv his heir than that which preceded tho year 1885,
lilo was 70 erected Congressman Ia ls6S by majority
OF 800 While In Washington no had good sen SO
TO rciran from making speeches or pushing bmscl
prominently forward In any OF tho important
then before tho country. Ho wac, too very
careful OF his reputation and never voted IN favor
any oil oil questionable character. His record 10
this respect stood him In good In his later polii
cal controversies.
PATHETIC pEFExCE.
While running 40 nrAt titne Tor Congress- attacks