New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-05
SCENES IN THE MAYORS OFFICE.

SCENES IN THE MAYORS OFFICE
COMMISSIONERS WHEELER PRESENT WITH his CouN-
sEI-sERvICE OF THE wRIr-AsfoNIsHNAN4 Vi
THE MaYoR-TALK or POLITICIANS.
Mayor Cooper's case against Police Commissioners
Wheeler for alleged deficiency IN his accounts was
set down for hearing in the Mayors office at
o'clock Yesterday At haf-past ~ o'clock the only
occupants of the room we're the Mayors private
secretary James L. Morrison, who Us also chairman
of the General Committee Of the Tilden-Cooper
wing of the City Democracy, and County Clerk
Hubert o. Thompson. The Mayors numerous retl-
nue. of clerks was busy elsewhere, copying reports
and prepi ring papers the case, that there might
be nc delay "a hurrying the removal papers to the
Governor. This part of the Mayors case was about
completed the clerks had been forced to work all
day Sunday in preparing 1t,
AT TWENTY-FIVE minutes to 1 O'Clock, w. s. An
drews, who was the manager of Mr.. Tilden's Liter
ary Bureau in the campaign OF 1876, entered the
room from the Mayors private Office. 1t is said that
Mr.. Andrews expected to have been made Secretary
of the Police Board in place of Seth O. Hawley,
when the Mayor attempted to remove Commission
ers Nichols, Smith and Erbardt in March last but
ms the Mayor could only get the consent Of the Gov
erpor TO remove Mr.. Nichols, Tammany sachem
Mr. Andrews failed in his mission, and since then
has been doing political work at Albany. More re-
Gently he visited members of the State Committee
In the interest of Mr. Tllden, hoping, it is said to
win promotion as the successor of Commissioners
Wheeler. The next persons to present themselves
I'm the Mayors Office were Maurice J. Power,
Thomas j. Costigan and other members of the
Anti-Tammsny party. They peeped in from the
MAYORS private entrance. but. perhaps because
they thought their presence at that time might
make too prominent the Mayors political motives
they betoOk themselves to room in the base
ment, where they received frequent reports
of tho proceedings in the Mayors Office
Chief Clerk Tracey who was secretary of the Cooper
Campaign Committee at the last election, came in
with Captain Walsh and a number of policemen.
Captain Walsh was somewhat annoyed, because no
had planned vacation beginning Monday morn
ing which he had to abandon IN order to be present
to "put the counsel out" he said, providing the
Mayor found it necessary TO order" Aldermen
Herman, Haughton, Jacobu5 and Others who failed
TO persuade the Mayor to nominate Sheridan Shook
In place of Mr. Wheeler next appeared on the scene
followed by Excise Commissioner Morton, eX-War-
den William johnson, ex-COroDer Flynn, Alderman
Slevin and Others.
Att o'clock the room was about half full, but
neither the Mayor nor the accused official were
present. At 1;15 Commissioner Wheeler, accom-
panied by his counsel, George Bliss Ehhu Root and
John I. Davenport, came into the wating-room. The
Commissioner remaiaed outside. but the counsel
missioner French, Assembyman Strahan, Alderman
Perey, John J. O'BrieD, Scion b. Smith and other
Republicans also entered about the time.
Commissioner of Accounts Shearmau took his seat
near the Mayors chair, aud tho clerks weTe busily
running TO and from the Mayors private Office with
law papers, law books, etc. Secretary Morrison
shook hands with the counsel and looking curiOusly
about, asked them if they we're ready to proceed
Mr. Wheeler not being present" Mr.. Bliss replied
Yes whenever the Mayor is" "Will Mr.. Wheeler
be here 2" asked the Mayors secretary. Yes,
shortly" was the reply of the counsel. Mr. Morri-
son then went into the Mayors private Office and rer
turned soon after, saying that the Mayor would
have to ask the counsel to wait patiently until the
Corporation Counsel could be present, he having
had to leave his consultation with the Mayor some
time previous to attend matter in court.
THE PROCEEDINGS SUDDENLY STOPPED.
Soon Mayor Cooper came from his private Office,
and going up to the counsel, he shook hands pleas
antly and half apologized for keeping the court
closed. awaiting the presence of his counsel, Mr..
Whitney. Just then Joseph Kunzmann, managing
clerk for Elihu Root stepped up to the Mayor and,
handing him some law papers, remarked: Your
Honor, serve you with writ of prohibition from
the Supreme Court, cnjoining you from proceeding
with this at this time, and the affidavit Of Mr..
Wheeler in the case. 1 exhibit you the original
document with the seal of the Court and the sigma
ture Of Judge Van Brunt.'
The smile that usually appears on tho Mayors
face at once fOrsook him, and with grave and
astonished look he opened the paper and began to
scan its contents. After a few moments the smile
again appeared, looking somewhat forced, however,
when the Mayor said al will have to ask you TO
wait until can consult the Corporation Counsel"
"Oh. YES, we will watt" said Mr. Bliss; adding soto
voce and you will have TO wait, too" The Mayor
Immediately repaired to his private office aud there
was a buzz of excitement about the room, every
body rushing forward to know what had happened.
"is il over :" How did it happen 2" What is the
matter with the Mayori" ais he sick 2" and other
explanations came from all parts of the room. The
faces of the COUNSEL were wreathed in smiles and
Mr. Wheelers friends looked jubilant. 1t was soon
ex aimed that q writ of prohibition had been
served on the Mayor, returnsbe the third Monday
in August when the Mayor is ordered to show
cause why the writ should not be made permanent
on the ground that ne can only remove Commits
soner Wheeler by appointing his successor with the
consent of the Board of Aldermen.
"Its all up with now" sadly remarked an
Aut-Tamnany politician, and the faces OF his asso-
ciates grew prOportionately long. At this time
when conversation was lively all over the ROOM
ex-COntroller Andrew ii. Green appeared at the
door. and seeing that matters were not going as he
had expected he withdrew. to learn from attache
that the plan to capture the inspectors of elections
had failed. Soon afterward be was seen turiously
pacing up and down the foor of an adjoining ROOM
where he remaiasd for some time until he gained ell
trance to the Mayors private Office by back door,
EFFECT OF THE WRIT.
"This will at least postpone the case until after
the appointment Of inspectors of election" said Mr.
Bliss, and longer 1t is a curious fact, however
that within thirty-slx hours after the Police Board