The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-01
A TALE OF DOODLE.
JAY GouLD'S HELP TO BLAINE AND
HOW 1T GOT LOST.

ForthcomingButS Stolen BY his Agents.
What did John J. O'Brlen and Robert
G. McCord 90 with the $4,000 of Jay
Gould's money, which they received 10
help elect Blaine president IN 1884? Is
the question that is now bothering the
local republican politicians. Men who
are in a position to know say That
O'Brlen and McCord were handed that
sum of money, but there is great doubt
about their having used it for the success
of the grand old party. There have
been many stories told about the $4,000
which Gould contributed to brlbe voters IN
this city and Col. George Bliss has charg-
ed that money was put where it would do
the most good, and has insinuated that
O'Brien has not given an account CT the
manner in which the sum was spent and
that the result Of the election does not
show that the money was used to any
beneficial extent.
The true story of Gould's $4,000, as
told by one acquainted with the facts, is
as follows: "John J. O'Brlen and his
side partner in the business Of politics,
Bob McCord, went to Stephen B. El-
kins, and engineered an introduction
to Gould. O'Brlen and McCord had
consultation with Gould in the Western
Union building on the Saturday preced-
ING the election of 1884. O'Brien told
Gould that money was necessary to
elect Blaine that the machine in the
city had barely enough funds to meet the
routine expenses ofthe election; that if
a bic sum was not forthcoming Cleve-
land would poll heavier vote in New
York county than was anticipated.
O'Brien also told Gould that If he could
have good sized pile of greenbacks he
would scatter it among the district
leaders, who would use it to cut down
democratic majorlties on the east and
west sides of the city, which would more
than make up Tor the losses to the re-
publican party Som the independent
and mugWump vote in the centre of the
island. O'Brien also gave Mr.. Gould
10 understand that deal had been
made with Tammany hall. Under this
agreement Tammany hall was to give
Blaine 10000 votes and in return Grant
for mayor was to be run out Of the re-
publican boxes in eight assembly dis
tsicts. .O'Brien lntlmatcd that he and
John Kelly had formed the compact.
Tammany hall, however, wanted $685.
900 to be used by the organization to
carry the deal into effect. Gould listen
ed to O'Brien and told him to call on
Monday. O'Brien and McCord did not
fall. to put in, an appearanc They came
III carriage and fully prepared to carry
away the Doodle. They did not see MIR.
Gould this time, but met his partner,
Connor. O'Brlen and McCord had
s50,OO0 in bills in the carriage when
they drove away from the Western
Union building.
They were at once driven to the Me-
tropohtan hotel, where they hired a
room. The money was taken to the
room by O'Brien and McCord. After
they had remained there together an
hour O'Brien left McCord in possession
and IN charge. O'Brien hurried to police
headquarters, where all the district
leaders had gathered in his officc-the
bureau of elections-at his request.
O'Brien told each one to go to the room
at the Metropolitan hotel, where they
would fnd McCord, who would give
them their share for their districts. The
leaders all knew that there was to be
big sum distributed and most of them
knew it came from Gould. The amount
distributed at the Metropolitan hotel to
the leaders by O'Brien and McCord did
not exceed $4,000. The average was
sl,25O a district. Some district got
more than others. No one knows to
this day what became Of the difference
between 100000 and $4,000. O'Brien
denies that he ever received cent from
Gould. One of the republican leaders
wishes to know if O'Brien will deny
that lie received $50, from Connor.
After the election the leaders, who
had got what O'Brien and McCord
chose to give them, began to talk about
the distribution. Several Of them charged
that the entire amount of Gould's Doodle
had not been distributed and they limited
that O'Brien add McCord had not lost
anything in acting as bank the day be-
fore the election. Gould became sus-
picious Of O'Brien and McCord, and
gave his opinion that the $4,000 was
not properly used. 1t was. his opinion
that if the money had all been used for
the purpose for which it was given,
Blame would have polled a larger vove
in the city and would have carried the
State and been elected. John Kelley
heard of the statement O'l5ricn had
made to Gould about deal with Tam
many hall, and repudiatcd it. The e!cc-
ton proved that there was 20 deal with
Tammany hall. and that Gould had
political confidence game played upon
him.
A few weeks alter the election the
republican executive committee held a
meeting. Gould's donation Of $4,000
to O'Brien and McCord was brought up
for discussion. The charge was made
that O'Brien and McCord had received
that sum from Conuor directly, and