The New York herald., 1879-03-19
The COUNTY CLERK.
Mr.. Gumbleton's Successor Takes
Possession Of the Office.
CARRIED AT DAYLIGHT.
Hubert 0. Thompson and His Friends
Tell Their Own Story.
INDIGNANT POLITICIANS.
Views Of Those Wno Are Most Interested
in The Governors Action.
INDIGNANT POLITICIANS.
ANTI-TAMMANY JUBILANT

While the announcement of the Governors action
in removing County Clerk Gumbleton created
quite sensation in political circles yesterday.
the story Of the manner in which Mr.. Gumbleton
was dispossessed and his ofhce seized by his
successor of character to heighten tho
excitement around the City Hall and Court House.
1t rather difficult to gather the true story Of the
capture of the County Clerks Office by Mr.. Hubert p
Thompson, ex-Deputy Commissioner of Public
Works. his successor, for naturally enough the
accounts given by the friends of both parties
somewhat warped by their respective SYM
pathies According to Mr.. Thompson and his friends
only used force enough to take possession of the
Office order to avoid contest in the courts, while
according to Mr. Gumbleton 3 friends Mr.. Thompson,
with party Of friendly politicians and formidable
gang of shoulder hitters from saloon in Second
avenue, broke into the Office in the dead of night
burst open door and proceeded generally like set
of skilful burglars than like men seeking the
peaceabe possession of great county Office for its
rightful owner.
MR. THosPsoNs STORY.
Mr. Thompson, who has hitherto filed the post Of
Deputy Commissioner of Public Works lin which
Office he was also successor of Mr. Gumbleton, by
the way) gives this version Of the story:Hc only
ceived at very late hour Monday night the of
the Governors decisio. and of his appointment
He thought it important to gain possession
of the Office the very next day, and SO he mmedi-
atey proceeded to find his bondsmen and to get his
bond approved. He started out in search of
some friends and George A. Purser and Police
Justice Henry A. Murray readily consented
to go on his bond Then the party.
at three O'Clock in the morning, went
to Judge Noah Davis housoa and woke up the
Judge, with tho request that he might administer
tho oath Of Office to Mr.. Thompson and approve his
bond. which the Judge did in perfect good humor
and not in the least angry at having been disturbed
at such untimcly hour. Between five and six in
the morning the party came down to the Court
House, where the janitor, who held his appoint
ment from the Department. Of Public Works Us the
custodian OF all public buildings. recognized Mr..
Thompson and readily admitted him. They then
entered through the basement and penetrated
through the bindcry room. used for the
storage of old books and records up stairs to
the Office Of the County Clerk Here they re-
sisted by Mr.. Gumbleton's janitor, Mr. Cosker. and
the County Clerks private room, In order to retain
possession Of that sanctum but finally routed,
Mr.. Cosker jumping out of the window and running
FoRcIBrE ENTRANCE NECESSARY.
"What need there for this night raid?' Mr..
Thompson was asked. "why did you not wait till
tho Office opened and then demand peaceable
pOsseesiOn?'
Because know Gumbleton would not give up
the Office peaceably," Mt. Thompson replied. "I
heard last night that this janitor and watchman had
been placed here specially for the purpose OF securing
to him forcible possession
Mr. Thompson went on to say that he gave orders
to the jantor and watchlnan not to let Mr. Gumble
ton into the building. HE had no business in the
building" said he At six O'Clock in the morning
Mr. Gumbleton appeared but in pursuance of orders
was refused admission into the building. Then
a small force of police numbering about eight
or ten. sent for in order that clerks who
should refuse to recognise Mr. Thompson Mr..
Gumbleton's successor might be elected without
trouble from the premises As fast as the clerks
under the great seal of the State and asked them
whether they would recognize him not. which,
that they had no alternative but to do So Mr. Logh
lin. Gumbleton's deputy. scorned TO recognize
Thompson, and never even made his appearance ct
the Office
The appointment, which holds good to tho end of
the present year, reads as follows:-
TuE People NEW YORK, GRACE
Gop FREE ASp ISDErKSDESr-To ALL WHOM THESE PRES
Know yc that we have nominated constituted ana ap.
pointed and by these do 1o%nss mi % @ and
Clerk Of the city and county oNew York IN place Of Henry
i
State
said state at our city Of Albany tho 18th day March in
the Of our Lord thousand eight hundred and
iGrssi seall l.. ROBINSON.
Attostcd by ALLEN G. BEACH, Secretary Of State.
OTHER
Mr.. John Z. Wade. lien clerk of the County Clerks
Office and warm friend of Mr. Gumbleton. related
the janitor. and Dowd, the watchman and other
eye witnesses. He said that Mr.. Thompson
Henry css sh IN s ONCE wna%
he had appointed his deputy Henry
Z. Knox. member OF the Bar Associa-
City Record; several employees OF the Department of
Public Works. and gang OF roughs from gambling
saloon Second avenue. The janitor of the build
ing the secret aud when they arrived between
four and halfpast four i'll the morning mot between
quietly In They then stole down into the basement
and after harnmering ut the door leading from tho
6indery NJ into the Office they broke i open tore
Office: There they overpowercd McCosker and
Dowd and in order that they might not escape to
raiders they held these two men captive until Me-
Coskcr jumped out of the window. when they pulled
his legs. Costigan said to McCosker when they
entered. 'Mac don't you know Mr.. Thompson?"
wbs does Ss mean Pv breaking into the Office al tbis
time of the morning. Mr.. Thompson returned,
II am the County Clerk and can come IN any way
please." And he added, with majestic dignity, II
also custodian of the public buidings. Dowd
finally away and reported at tho City Hall station
that gang OF men had burgiariously broken open
the County Clerks Office. Tho sergeant said he mad
no men to spare but soon after sent Mr.. Thomp-
own projection showing that the police had been
''hxed" beforehand.
Mr.. Gumbleton, now ex-County Clerk told story,
from which would appear that quit apart from the
merits of his case. he had been treated with
essary rudeness aud discourtcsy. He said that while
| his premises had been broken open between four
and half past four according 60 his friends and
between Ave and six according to Mr.. Thompson
he received official notification even Of hts
| removal until precisely twenty minutes to ten by
| his watch. Mr.. dumbleton, who appeared cool aud
sclf-possessed but seemed to smart under OF
deeply felt injury, said that the FIRST notice he
ceivcd Of his removal was from reporter, who woke
him up between twelve and halfpast twelve the pre-
| vious nqht, and gavc him the purport of the Gov
crnors decsion which hao already boon tclcgraphed
| down from Albany. He went to bed again. but
shortly before six started down for the
| Court House. as he had heard rumors for
some days past that in case Of his