The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-19
BLlINE'S BOSS,J.J.O'BRIEN
RECEIVED 100000 FROM JAY
GOULD
During the Last Presidential Flee
ton With Which to Tempt Tam
many 10 Defeat Cleveland.

New York Herald. The shot which
Colonel George Bliss fred yesterday,
in his Herald interview, at Mr.. Johu
j. OBrieD, the Republican boss in
this city, not only hes brought down
the bird il was aimed at, but has hit
bigger game-po less person han the
late Republican Presidential caudi-
date, Mr.. James g. Blaine.
Colonel Bliss charges, in brief, that
on Sunday, November 2, 1884, tSo
days before the Presidential election,
Jay Gould paid "a large cum, So, 900
to 100000" to John J. O'Brien, "un-
der some assurance that it was to be
used upon Democrats" OF the Tam
many variety to help defeat Mr..
Cleveland and to elect Mr.. Blaine on
the Tuesday following, and that
O'Brien pocketed the money and
thereby Mr.. Blaine missed
the Presidency. Obviously such
charge from such a source
requires an answer from Mr.. 0'Brien.
But even more il demands an answer
from Mr.. Blaine, for the fact that on
Sunday, November %, 1884, he was
fecretly coseted for four hours with
Mr.. Gould raises a presumption OF
knowledge on his own part. II Gould
paid 0 Brien the sum named f.rt q
purpose alleged on the day specified,
no sane person will doubt that the
payment and its purpose were subj cts
OF that conference. The New l ok
Tribune's enthusiastic editorial address
to country Republicans the next morn
ing, eotit'ed "rru't This City," is an
other corroborating circumstance not
to be overlooked.
Investigations and explanations also
are in order from Tsmmany. Co.
Bliss charges that "a high officer OF
the police force" was a party to the
agreement" between Gould and
OBitn, aud claimed to represent
Mr.. Kelly" Who wss this high
officer of the police force?" Uule:s
the agreement considerably antsdst ed
the payment, he scarcely could have
heen Police Commissioner Sidney p.
Nichols, for on November 2, 1884,
Nichols had been dead nearly two
weeks At the time OF bis dea h he
was chat man OF the Tammany Cen
eral Committee and member of the
Democratic State Committee, and
O'Bcien was clerk of his Police
Board. This would attract strong
suspicion to him but for the fact Of his
death on October 20. But if net
Nichols, who was the man? Tam
many ought to identity him and pill
lory him with Blaine and Gould and
O'Brien, in justice to itself and in duty
to the public.
Further specifications of the man
ner in which Gould exps cted O'Brien
toapply the $4,000 or 100000 during
the iorty.eight hours before the elec.
ton are also due to the public from
everybody who can throw light. Was
it intended that the Republican cleo.
toral ticket should be punched with
the TammaDy ballots? If that wal
the intention, who among the Tam
many workers were the men believed
to be capable Of such an infamous job ?
What WAS their ASSESSED price2
The mole this scandal is considered
land it is one OF the biggest scandals
that ever has hap ened in American
politics and it is bound to grow upon
popular at.ention) the more the public
is getting impressed with a conviction
that the swindle O'Brien perpetIated
on Gould--if there was such swindle
lis by no means the most important
feature OF it. On the facts alleged by
COL Bliss they are asking one another
whether Gould conspiTed to bribe
Blaine into the Presidency and
whether Blaine was not conscious
and willing partner in the plot.