The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-01-21
NEw YORK., January is, 1853.

execution, not even Tor old stove. unless he was
fully fortified with an Indemnity bond He said he
never knew II to fail, when the bond was lacking
for man dispossessed Of his goods to sue the
sheriff for damages aud, sheriff Riley added pathet-
cally, he always got them. II has come down as
matter OF history In the New York sherin's once
that In a suit before Jury against the sheriff the
plaintlh always won. There must he something In
the system OF drawing jurors that makes them savage
against plaintiffs, just now we arc having perfect
epidemic OF yerdcts for heavy damages. First the
herald lost a s2O, 600 libel suit. Then the Truth
had to pay IS, 900 for an ndlscreet publication.
Next trade paper, the Unn,d States Tobacco
Journal, had to pay e. 600 damages for anImadycrt.
lug upon a certain crop Of tobacco of which dealer
had q large stock Miss Marie Prescott then got
heavy damages aud advertising galore for libel
circulated by the American News Company The
Financial Chronicle and itoU Street Nsics were the
next victims Of n ew York Jury. Last week the
epidemic spread to Brooklyn and Miss Livingstone
got a verdict OF sT5 600 damages against the presl.
dent OF the New York Petroleum Exchange. This
week In the Brooklyn courts suit for as, 600 has
been brought by Miss Hildergarde u. Iiet1leben,
Jewcss, against Alfons V. Dicks, Christian. The
two worked In store together, aud II was under.
stood by their friends that they were to be married.
The alleged couttshlp extended period Of four
years aud was then broken of, owing, It Is said to
the opposition OF Miss HerSleben's parents Three
D
late hauce thinks his failure to marry her has in
Iured her feelings at least s5 900 worth. Brooklyn
jury, In view Of the prevalent epidemic, win probably
give her the moneyed balm she asks.
The funniest suit FOR damages, however, Is that
has Just been entered against the Sun. Some time
ago Sun reporter went In quest OF information to
certain politlcan-one OF the kind OF men who are
oracles at ward gatherings, and whose dtoppings Of
wisdom are principally heard IN the classic shades of
corner gin-ms. The reporter told, with much
dignity, that the Information desired would be given
to him provided that the name OF the Informant was
coupled with the Information In print. To this IN
his eagerness to get the the reporter readily
sented and when he handed In his copy he took paths
to Insert the name OF the politician The city editor
however took rs much pains to strike out the name,
and that particular bit Of Information given to the
world as solid chunk OF news. The politician there
upon professed to be greatly aggrieved. ' Every
/ man In tho ward, " said he, with strong Wexford
accent, 'lOoked up to me as their father. was the
originator and special keeper OF this valuable uor-
nation, and to separate from 1t In print was to
destroy my reputation and influence among my con-
sutuents.' lie therefore brought suit for $40, OOO
damages. The SUH In their answer say that their re-
porter had authority gvs the assurance that any
particular fact or name would be ptinted To which
the oracle replies through his lawyers that the re-
porter was an agent OF the SUM- and as such his acts
bnd his principals. This latter point Is what will
make the suit interesting, because 1t viii likely de-
termine what legal relations reporters bear to the
| papers they serve In New York.
Abiding tn the sheriff ONCE In the foregoing para.
graph reminds me of what deputy sheriff told me
the other night about Manager John NIcCaul. You
now that nearly four years ago Col McCaull opened
the Biou opera House, with Charles r.. Ford "a son
OF John r. as his partner. McCaull put into the
partnership go, 900 against Charley Ford's expe.
rence and know ledge At the end of the first season
the partnership ran on TO the rocks OF bankruptcy.
Charley withdrew in timely season. and, aided by his
father retrieved his fortunes through an opera com
pany which gained big success In Your city as wei
as throughout the South. NcCau was left to strug-
gle all alone amid fearful odds. 1t Is related that
about this time u collector from the Electric Light
Company called for the payment of bill three month.
overdue. 'What - shrieked the doughty Colonel,
when the bill was thrust into his face You dare Il
here for bill that only three months past due
Why, you ought to be ashamed OF yourself. I ow,
the gas company for bill that has been due for ve
months. What would they say If I gave you two
months advantage of them? They would undoubt
edly shut OH the gas. No, sir; take away YOU
bill, and walt for three months more before pre-.
senting 1t, and then III pay It," But, notwithstand
Ing the Colonel's nerve and courage, creditors he
came unmanageabe, and one night, when the hous,
was In spendor of light and the office was ais,
agow from the sheen OF greenbacks the sheriff stepped
upon the scene. In an Instant all was confusion o.
course everybody acquainted with the facts though
that McCaul's career as n manager had closed Bu
1t hadn't. The perform that evening went OF
uninterrupted, and the audience was not aware thn
Sheriff Bowe had suddenly became theatrical mana
ger. The dt putty telling me the story said: ''W,
went to the Bijou opera House expecting to gut tn
place. We found Col. McCaulls such a gentleman tha
we left him In possession of his place represent
ative. lie frankly said that If we would give hlu
time he would pay every judgment against him, an,
he has kept his word. why, do you know,
continued the deputy, ''that q many time H.
would pay a judgment one day and borrow the none
back from us the next to satisfy more importunat
creditor. And many is the time that we have nc
tually loaned him our own good money when he wa.
hard pressed. Now he dou't need any help. The
BijOu don't owe anybody a dollar and besides Col
McCaull is the principal stookhoder of the Ne,
Casino.'
/ have told this true story simply and frankly, bu
am not so sure hut what 1t should have been wOrke
over and given to the world 1t is for the first time
under n sensational caption Of GLOW New Yor
Sheriff Became n Theatrical Manager
Poor Mayor Edison Is beginning to find out that
mayor lot is not happy one aud especially the lc
OF mayor OF New York city. Mayor Edison ha
been In office little two weeks. and the Metro
polan press Is already loading their guns with crap
and canister. Not that they dislike Mayor Edso
less for his first official acts but they hate ohm Kele
more because he Is suspected to be the iuspirer an
mover of them. 1t is notorious that John Kelley
seen closeted u great deal with the mayor and that
coupled with the fact that Tammany Hall has bee
given all 1t asked In the matter of municipal appoint
ments, makes the newspaper belief common that Mr.
Kelley Is bOssing our new mayor Perhaps you wi
better understand the power and patronage OF tn
mayor when state that In the city departments
schools etc, there o. 1872 persons who draw owe
SlO OOO 600 every year from the city treasury. II
this do not include the army Of hboIers employee
In cleaning the streets, In the public works. etc.
whose wages would considerably swell the sum. 4
his last message Mayor Grace expressed the opinio
that this force could be reduced third and wit
great benefit to the public but It does appear tina
lie made any earnest effort to that reduction
Tho trouble with all our Mayors has been that the
are not directly responsible for their acts to the people
While the mayor has great power. 1t is claimed tina
the heads of department practically defy his powa
through the Board OF Alderman, and the plan ha
long been talked Of In the Legislature OF giving tb
mayor absolute power In municipal affairs, and the
, hold him responsible for the outcome OF his acts
Young Mayor Low, of Brooklyn, is committed to thi
plan, and tue Sun insis,ently urges its adoption
Mayor Edison, seeing the hue and cry which his frs
oncal acts raised, thought to placate his critics. an
so he got Whtelaw Reid to invite him to dinner las
, Saturday night at the Lotos Club As lt companions
ex-Mayor Grace and Mayor Low invited an
were present. 1t was known that Mayor Edison woul
explain his association and fellowship with John Kelly
and, after some cheerful patitudes this what e said
am compelled to express the popular will as fin
II, 1t IL my deliberate conviction, after n careft
consideration Of the whole subject not only since IN
election, but long before that II Is absolutely impos
sible TO carry on the Government successfully II III
executive ocer shall, on assuming his Onical posi-
tiOn Immediately antagonze those who elected him
IL the people expected that soon as / reached tn
5 mayors ONCE would repeat what has been don
during the past eight years, and would maintain
constant autagOnlsm that has prevailed not only he
tween the various departments, but within the re
spectiye departments, whereby great and needles
expense has been incurred, they have indeed, mad
great mistake, SO long as hold the ONCE Of mayo
shall recognize the existing condition Of affairs no
that deem II by any means perfect even tOera
BILE, I shall recognize and respect those whom III
people have elected 10 OfiiCo as would recognize an
4 respect the people themselves.
\ In other words, Mayor Edison recognizes Tamman
Han as the power which elected him. and John Kel
ley, therefore, by analogy, as the concentrated yoc
Of the people OF New York.
The Germans are going 10 have great time her
= IN 1855. When say here I really mean Brooklyn
but the great bridge win be flushed In 1856 aud III
two cities VIII have bond Of union then In fact
I they have now In fancy. The initial step for III
great German jubilee In 1855 taken last Sunday
A meeting Of delegates from the German singing so
4 oieties OF brooklyn was held, aud Organization
effected which viii be known as the Society OF III
D United Singers Of brooklyn. This society win max