New-York tribune., 1885-10-21
orEEys COUNTY REPUBLICANS HOPEFUL

CONFIDENT OF RE-ELECTING COUNTY JCDGb uAA-
RETsON AND SENATOR BIRDsALL.
A political battle of uncommon fierceness Is
being fought in Queens County. Its chief interest
,ros in the contest over the county judgeship The
Democratic nominee is the notorious Ben Downing,
poitcian of considerable shgacity but OF wretched
record II removed from the Office OF Dstrlct-AT
torney which ne had held eighteen years, by Grover
Cleveland while Governor Of New-York For seVelal
years before Downing had been surrounded by such
an OF scandal that he had narrowly escaped
defeat in two elections though the counys usual Demo
cratic majority is 1000 The local papers frequently ac-
cused him OF using his office TO protect criminals OF
pige0n-hOng indictments and of being the frenu oi inc
pool sellers during the years when the gamblers heSVu
Long Island CITY, Two years ago case OF bribery was
made out against him. An association OF prominent
citizens took the in hand aud submitted to the
Governor asking for Downings removal Governor
Cleveland appointed Charles S. Farchild now the As
stant Secretary the Treasury take the testimony
A COPY Of the charges served on Mr. DOWNING VII
uesss were examined on botn sides, and the evidence
was submitted to Mr.. Cleveland. 1t showed that Down
ing had accepted 5000 checks which bore his ndorse
rent from the brother and OF man who had peeh
killed The expectation that Downing would secure
a verdict OF murder In the first degree against the
prisoner had been indicted by the Grand Jury or
mansaughter only. Downing obtained another indct-
ment alleging murder In the first degree wlch Ne suo'
tuted for the former one but 1t was So manlfesty I'M
accepted the lower plea OF mansaughter. The deHd
mans relatives were highly indignant at Downing and
retained Colonel Charles s. Spencer to recover their
5000. Downing paid bark the money upon spencets
demand condition that he receive back tue chechs
which his name adorned These were surrendered TO nm
and he tore up in the presence OF CooDe y
clerk.
DownIne's defence was that the money given him
for legitimate expenses in the action hut was shown
that there were no exI requiring any such money
and that the ore all expense in criminal pro
ceedug anyhow and had borne the expenses In this Iar
tcuar case Before the Governors decision was rem
dere1 Downing contrivcd to the Democratic nom
netion for state Senator The next day Cleveland an
nounced in a long memorandum his decision that the
charges we're sustained and ordered Downing TO vacate
his Oilice campaign then becdue one OI NlLdlca
tion," bur it resulted IN DownlnSs defeat oS paIoS
of about 1000 Before TINS drop III MS fortunes
Downing hal held almost absolute control OF the Demo
cratic machine IN Queens County liis salary wa. oHy
- 500 a year, hut mad amasscd a fortune, owning
about thirty houses including fine cottage al Rock
away He lost no time IN laying pipes lJr ine 1 lo,Ha
ton for County Judge The party split and though ne
succeeded IN capturing the pri1e oud chorus - noes
greeted the n lion to MAKE uhhiuo ne WI y,
IDEAL with A. \. Weller, the can idate for surrogate
They pooled their votes. FLUSHING Do~nlnss own own
town in which he beaten for senator cast SIX votes
against HIM on every ballot -,
Tie Republicans uulized their opportunity wei
Downing bad an eNhildTatihg tHecl on ,tHelI "noIo
county ticket. The nominee against him - "N-9urio-
gate Garret }. Garretson "a man OF eincauon Hin tno
highest character lawyer Ot hoiuy ana entcn',
practice. and judicial officer OF experience IL : ul'
son the Or. Garret j. Garretson long knonn TO
Long Islam els a. model Christian Iasior MI Garrett
son turned the Democratic majority of Queens county
topsyt furry when for surrogate. auG has always
carried his town. which Is heavily Democratic IN local
elections. His nomination has produced great ehtnusi-
asm among Republicans and he Is receiving assurances
OF Democratic support from all over tho county. a
Democratic club Wood7ida ana another ~ o ~let lay
have repndated Downing, ami i've Democratic news
raper- of extensive influence The J1aGicd Ntnddrd ne
GLn core Gdz.ue Ihc LING ISidHd CHU H1bn" me
Occns Coiny Sdfsgu0rd.aud The JoIndtcd D''"ccHnaVe
6oed from wuug and are openly advocating MI Jar
rctspus election.
The contest the state Senatorship Is also awaken
ing interest Major John Birdsa, VINO has brch l"'c'
before elected despite the large Democratic majority, is
the Republican caudidate against Edward T. Pagan an
unknown man. no held no other Oce than ihtI n
school Commissioner of four towns. Major Brlril
will almost certainly be elected The Democratic uoEl-
nee fnr A-sembyman in the lId District deserves 10
La "a ballv beaten "a he was lie elected
two wears ago and the nba-hing supporter "t All
the ior- I'm the Assembly. When he again the peop"
rebJkeI hp A. he richly deserved The Republican can
dilate against him th- year r. Charles = Allen, youHS
LAWYER q L EXCELLENT rel utatiOn.