New-York tribune., 1885-01-12
TAKING HALF HIS SALARY.
THE TROUBLES OF A COURT sTRNOGRA.
PIER.

MR. srRAssNERs STORY OF POLITICAL ASSESS.
MENTs"-nMPHATIc DENIALs DY PERSONS In
TRREsTED
The Democratic politicians of the Fifth Ju-
dcia District are talking about little tempest which
has been brewing for q long tme John Henry McCar-
thy Is the Judge in the Fifth Judicial Court He has
$4,000 year and three years yet to run, two clerp
with $1,000 year each and stenographer with 900
and no further time c should the Judge please
George s,rassner is the stenographer. aud will have
spent three years Of service there February Is.
Whether he shall be permitted to complete this term Is
doubtful; for short time ago he requested by tho
Judge to send in his resignation This he has stoutly
refused and his position q consequence has been
made extremely uncomfortable. Mr. strassncr said
yesterday to TRIBUNE reporter:
is true that have been ordered TO leave that job of
mine, but Pm nOtjust going to lie down like lamb.
have refused to pay political assessmcntsa species Of
blaekmail, indeed 1t may be called The money is for
Assemblyman Patrick Roche and Thomas Radey the
court keeper Ihave been paying half my salary In this
manner ever since was appointed, and few months
ago kicked and put the money In my pocket"
Is this regular system r. asked the reporter or
has 1t only lately grown upr
"A regular system - exclaimed Mr.. strassncr at
should 1t venerable and dceprooted and has
been practsed the stenographers in all the District
Courts. In the days Of Tweed there were no ston-
ographers In tho local courts the Judge took all the
HOtes OF tne nlnnscu ana
about twelve years ago law passed creating the
office of stenographer. When got the job three
years ago was told that the Judge had spent good
others OF the boys There were liyo places be ned
was told could have the position Of senographer II
paid certain political assessment TO meet these outays
agreed, thinking Of course i was only for time For
three years nearly paid half my 'alary-cose upon
$1,000 III s-unt some three months ago, when I
Judged the thing was getting monotonous II IL were
ha, Ip "s spoaa hava son,"sd =, lung oe b hp
that Messrs Roche andRadley were getting this money
Whom lid you pay the money TOT"
Z" Mr. Radley generally Mr.. Roche was always care
tg never s to ndorse the cheek 1t was generally for
"sincc you refused to pay tbs money have been
called upon for your resignation by the Judge ]"
" And what steps have you taken !"
lawful FOR any court officer directly or indirectly. to
% G the hs Sys penalty
what term Of permanent dsgS.nss
Carthy knows the law better than do"
Did Radlcy assault you for refusing to pay this
tell you the truth time my arrival the court al
o'clock Just as business Is beginning. That Is the
This Is how bolt in-Mr strassnsrs illustration OF his
passage through the temple OF justice was extremely
refuse 20 be interrupted This is how sometimes es-
cape-but 1t is hard to escape Mr. Radley" ,s,.
How do you expect TO succeed In nghtng out tnls
battei"
have succeeded In the hrst place am sure the public
seeing have right on my side, will support me then
have appeal cases III Wncn cOuiu aS
showing by the details nat perhaps the Judgment was
against the weight OF evidence The tenogapher plays
and Mr. strassner laughed knowingly. "Ibeeye / am
the only unemancpated stenographer in the city"
court Are you going to give me that now a. have
hope however that 1t will stop The stenographer
OF the Sixth Judicial District Judge keys court lost
his Job a few days ago because he would not submit TO
this species of exacton The men OF the Third and Tenth
District also resigned good while for similar rea-
SON. but I've mentioned all the present occupants are,
believe enancipated except myself"
Assembyman Patrick Roche was met by the reporter
a he leaving his liquor store In Market-st. sew
era ward politicians hanging 10 his coat tails
and the law maker was trying To shake them OF.
:. I am lust after arriving from Albany Good night
Pat How you Tom jim, will you have a cigar q
Who in blank are your
\ reporter"
ON blank man. How the blank DO know who I'm
What have you to say the charges Of Mr.. strass
:. Nothing. Tnever met the man but once and that
was at picnic last summer Ny dear fellow I'm never
mSpey SS ''S@S1TSs' a@y S Sh @ a@a @ %
and don't want money from any man"
" Have YOU been pushing the stcnographer a. no
saysr
Thomas Radley. the court olicerni The fith Juilch
District Court. No 10 MonrOe-si. lie
laughed when he heard Nj. StrassncrH statements
you knew that man as well a. me. ne sad' you
wouldn't have much compassion for him. He u one or
the ever met Why. y0u were blsckng your
boots and he standing beside you ne woud say,
Aren't you going stand shine for ne I'm scarcely
ever in that court you know. But, land Mr. Radcy be-
thoughtful for momcntl " III see thlt stras,n,r
isn't remoyed-now I'll just 20 that, mind ou. While
I'm here nothing will happen to him Dit ever take
half his salary Never got cent from the man IN ny
sweet life never a cent. aud never asked hun Tor any
Judge John Henry Mccarthy was seen at hrs oihce ~
Chanbrrs-st -" decline" said he, t. be lnterr0gatei
about matters concerning NY court. didn't hear THAI
Mr. Strlssner going to leave. Il ne Iherc ls no
use I'm trying to crosse xamne me as witness
ri answer no questions regarding the conduct of ahau
in my court. Ikuow what you're driving at Just az
you probably know why refuse To answer