New-York tribune., 1879-03-19

father had lately been treated by Tammany' and
there are other indications that the Sheriff has
changed his allegiance.
IL is generally conceded that the proceedings
nrsinst the county officers were secretly directed
by Mr. Tilden-in fact, the hands of his immediate
agents have not been disguised-and that II is now
a mart of the fight to gain control of the Tammany
Sorietv The threat Of their removal was first
made 10 influence the Syracuse Convention last
Fall, and kilograms 10 that effect were
seut to Syracuse from this city while
The Convention was in session. Having failed
IN bis purpose at that tlme 1t is claimed that Mr..
Tilden has kept up the fight with view of captur-
ing the Tammany Society by electiog sachems in
his interest partially by means of the votes which
can be controlled by the patronage of these offices
and with the hope of so Strengthening
his wing of the party in this city as
to secure the admission of his delegates
to the next Democratic State Convention. Charles
f. Mel Lean. who is q nephew Of Mr.. Tilden, and who
seems to be in respectable and intelligent way
the successor Of Nephew PeltOn," has been the
person most conspicuous In working up the charges
against the county officers and it is claimed by the
friends of Tammany that il was through his man
ngement that the Bar Association drawn into
the fight. On the part of the Bar Association
IL is claimed by those who are not politically in
why the county officers should be removed, and
that now. having committed themselves 10 the
feh they will not be content with any partisan ar
rapgement, but will carry the matter before the
Grand Jury. Artemas II. Holmes, one OF the
members Of the committee. stated last night he
bad been absent from the city for some time, ana IL
INV "deap had been made TO shield Register LOew
and Sheriff Reilly he would not be party to 1t,
bnt would go before the Grand Jury with the facts
in his possession AT the same time he did not hesl-
tate to say that he feared there had been kitchen
deal " at Albany.
County Clerk GumbletOn was not unaware of the
intended action of the Governor and to prepare
himself for any attempt to take possession Of his
office in his absence he recently placed two men III
charge at night. 1t was necessary for Secretary
Of State Beach to attach his signature to any
certificate Of office issued by Governor Robinson to
Mr Gumbletors successor. 1t is believed that Mr..
KeIlv and Mr. GumbletOn relied on obtaining in
formation from this sOurce-the Secretary Of state
beng opposed to Mr. 1ildcns plan-in regard to
the time when the new County Clerk was ap-
pointed, and then to refuse to give over the
Office until forced to do SO by legal process
which would consume several weeks. Tins lnfOr-
nation however, did not reach them in time to pre-
vent the forcible entry of the County Clerks Office
although the Secretary of state signed the certli-
said that word was sent by the Governors son to Mr.
Thompson early on Monday that the appointment
would reach him Monday night, so that when he
cot If M 1890 D. II. he had already matured plans
for obtaining possession of the Office. His bonds
were made ont, and his suTetieS, Justice Muir
ray and George II. Purser, went before Judge
Noah Davis, at his residence, and justified, when
Nh Thompson took the oath Of Office. AParty con-
ssting Of Mr.. Thompson, Charles I. Mclean,
J. Henry Ford, we'll known as the bosom
friend OF John MorriSsey, and who held
his place during all the time Of Nor
rlsseys opposition to Iammany Hail. Thomas Cos
tigau, Maurice J. Power Henry L. Knox. a member
of the Bar Association Committee and bis son, and
a numhcrof others, making abouteightcen in ALL as
semblci IN Mr.. ThompsOns house early in the morn
ing and took coaches for the County Clerks Office,
where they arrived al 4:30 a. III. They had taken
The prccauon to get the consent of Superintendent
Wallng to have policemen detailed to assist them,
and they came on the scene well prepared for
any resistance that might be offered Mr.. Thcmp-
son, as Deputy Commissioner Of Public Works, was
Custodian Of the Court House building and the
janitor was an appOintee Of his, thai no
difficulty was encountered in obtaining
entrance to the building and forcing their way into
the County Clerks office. Policemen were imme-
dately stationed about the offices, and all en-
frances
Inent of the clerks who began to arrive soon after
o'clock Each OF the clerks was shown
Mr. Thompson's official appointment TO the Office,
and informed that if he willing to acknowledge
the new Clerks authority he might IeSUIne his du-
ties Al! consented 10 this except John L. Wade
mechanics lien clerk and Charles Walsh, docket
clerk One of the first official acts of Nh Thompson
was the appointment OF his deputy, Henry Ford, who
tobk the place vacated by j. Fairfax Mclaughlin.
When Mr.Gumbleton appeared at the Office at a. m,
and again an hour two later, he was refused ad-
mittauce despite the fact that he did not receive
anv Official not ce of his removal until about 10 A. n.
Soon after the Office opened for
business n great crowd gathered to discuss
the situation. and the leading Anti-Iam-
many politicians, including John Fox,
General Bourke, Nelson j. Waterbury, Ex-Assem-
blyman DAILY Michael Norton aud many others
called 10 congratulate Mr. thompson The MEM
bers OF the Bar Association Committee were busy in
the Office all day tabuatng fees and assisting the
new Clerk IN the discharge of his duties.
Tammany politicians are very outspoken III their
condemnation of the Governors action, declaring
that in this he has made one of the greatest mis-
takes of his life, sacrificing all claims TO fairness
and all prospects for a reelection. Mr.. Kelly said 1t
was part of a general raid on all offices controlled
by adherents of Tammany Hall, and that MIR. Til
den was playing n desperate game to gam
control of the Tammany Society. but that he could
not succeed. Mr.. GumbletOn was reticent about
the course be would pursue; he regarded his
removal as part of a plan to control the
Democratic party in this city. His counsel,
William A. Beach. denied the Governors right to
appoint a Clerk as q successor of Mr.. Gumbleton.
and said the forcible entry Of the Office by Mr..
Thompson was an ndlctabe offence.
Considerable interest was manifested about the
CITY Hall over the probable successor of Hubert q.
Thompson as Deputy Commissioner of Public
Works Maurice J. Power is generally regarded as
the man.