The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-21
MR.. SHEA'S BAD BARGAIN.
HE 7HOUGHT HE BOU0HT A PIER IN
STEAD or Il RIGHT 10 ITS RENTALS.
In a scheme to Drive the oy.termen from

In Schem 10 Drive the Oyatermen from
Their Customary Bulkhend. lie Finds
that He Has Merely become Their
Landlord, and That, TOO, Mt n Loss.
The application Of Frank Flandreau for an
order requiring the city OF New York. meaning
particularly the Dock Department. to show
cause why n mandamus should not be granted
compelling the oystermen who congreEato at
the hudson River bulkhead. between Tenth
and Eleventh streets, to remove their floats
and make room for the business OF the lessee.
came before Judge O'Brien in the Supreme
Court yesterday. Argument was postponed
until Monday.
The action dates back nearly n year. and
marks an epoch In the quarrel between Oyster
man Tim Shea and the New York Oystermens
Association. Last fall Shea gave away the Sc
cret doings Of the association at the investiga-
tlon Of the Dock Department by the Commits
sioners OF Accounts. The oystermen had occu-
pied the bulkhead for several years. under
leases bid in by James W. Boyle. Jacob l.
Housman. and others Mt from $500 to so, 800
rental, and hitched their floating business
houses to the bukhead One OF them was oc-
oupied by Tim Shea.
A year ago last winter tho oystermen be-
came fearful TINT the bulkhead would be lost
to them. and got n bill passed by the Legisla-
ture setting 1t aside for the oyster trade. At
the dock investigation Shea gave away
the fact that fund OF $4,000 had been
raised to get the bill passed. and had
been intrusted to Col. John O'Byrne.
Shea himself had refused to contribute to the
fund, and had peen openly denounced by the
association. Members Of the association were
RuhpTnaed by the Commissioners OF Accounts.
aud estied that the association did not get
the worth Of its money, since tho bill, when
passed. granted them tho bukhead only dur
Ing tho pleasure OF the Dock Department. Col.
OByrne refused 10 tell what no did with the
$4,000.
From that day there has been war between
Shea and tho other oystermen. This spring
the oystermen's bulkhead. which extended
30S feet north of new Pier A.. expired on May
!, The Dock department advertised it for sale
then held by Jacob /. Housman for the Oyster.
mems Association.
:, ON the day Of sale Mr.. nousman and Mr..
Boyle appeared at the Dock department and
hid the upset price. $1,000 But Mr., Shea WIS
Housmon saw him and raised him 1880;
Mr.. Shea was game, and he got tho call
1S5 two SSsE' Lease h!s psln g'4Sy
Housman held consultation with Mr.. Boyle.
aG FeHssf to bid hHher TIE DEs
who at once turned over the lease to Mr.. Elan
drenu, hardware merchant who had con
FlRndreaus, surety and tho real PRINCIPAL.
On May Mr.. shea gave PROMPT notice to the
oystermen who had floats anchored 10 tho bulk
head ana proposed to do business there: that
they could land all the boats they wanted by
paying him the legal rate Of wharfage. but that
he could not allow his bulkhead to be blocked
%p with hpfSrEes which We're really 9ating Of,
Of tho bniEhead the legal wharfase but that
only about half the rates paid BY other vessels:
and as for making, them move their floating
h@d s the
bulkhead for them. and they proposed TO oc-
Mr. Shea called uron the Dock Department
with his counsel. Townsend & MahOn He was |
told that the bulkhead belonged to the oyster.
Department that Mr. She" Knew the Situation alton
when he he bid in the bulkthead and that
iqr Clearing the bnlthead Of the el' Goais'
since he owned the pe Hs had
for two years at fixed rental the right to |
collect and retain all rentals which may accrue ,
10 be satisfied with that " "'A'. ''''''
Henry T.. Townsend. one OF Mr. Shea's coun- |
call upon the Marshal's, Office, or. any city de- |
psrtment to Sc. secure to Nj Shea his legal rights
ciai law under which the DOCK Depart De arr
ment OF this city was organized. and
eanfro tfs e s
only. power existing. short OF the State
Legislature. which could secure to the lessee
fad was the bock pfDeGrz
itself The Dock Department had refused TO
in the courts to compel i to do SO.
Dock Commissioner Matthews. when asked !
about the case yesterday. said that II oyster
men anchored their barges permanently 10 the
bulkhead for use as sRlesrooms and offices, tho
practice was illegal But Mr.. shea he said was
the lessee. and Mr.. Shea would have 10 cleAr
the bukhead, The Dock Department could
not be compelled 10 do It,
Mr.. Shea has mist aiken his remedy in bring
ing that action" said the Commissioner. He
added that even i the oyscrmen's floating Of
fees were cleared out Mr.. Shea had made an
improbable move, for tho Dock De-
partment would insist that none but oyster
boats he allowed to land al tho bulkhead. and
tho annual wharfage from these would hardly
return to Mr.. Shea half his yearly rental