Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-07

Record OF Owen Murphy, an Embezzler of
New York City Funds.


New YORK, July 5.-Politiciansi In this
city are very much interested in the re-
cent developments in Canada OF what
they term the contract boodling
scheme" in the Dominion. In the OIL
cial inquiry which is in progress this
week st Ottawa, witness Owen e. Muir
ply stated on saith that he had paid
$4,000 Of the Doodle raised by the con-
tractors TO Sir Hector Langevin, Minis
ter of Public Works, as the latter's
share of the bribery fund. Public opin-
ion has set against the Minister very
strongly, and it was announced yester-
day ia dispatches from Ottawa that Sir
Hector had decided to retire from pub
lie life.
The witness in this case, Owen E.
Murphy, is we'll remembered in New
York as the Treasurer of the Excise
Board who embezzled $40, 900 and fed to
Canada thirteen years ago. The story
OF Murphy's escapade is not without in
tereSt.
After coming from Ireland as boy,
he learned the trade OF a tinSmith and
prospered in his little shop in East
Houston street Taking an active in
terest in politics in the Seventeenth
ward he was sent TO the Assembly In
the year 1867 and also in 1870 from the
Tenth Assembly District. Through his
political influence he was appointed
Excise Commissioner, and it was while
he was Treasurer of the Board in 1878
that the celebrated contest between
Augustus Schel and John MorrlsSey
for Congress excited much attention.
Murphy, was in the vernacular ''fy-
ing high" about that time. He bet
heavily on Schell. When his favorte
was defeated, Murphy had to shell out
abont $40, 900 in cold cash, which broke
his heart, and made him thief. Or
course it was Excise money which had
been wagered, and when the Boards
Treasurer balanced his books the next
day he found that his accounts were
$4,000 short. because the city's money
had been freely used in other ways.
Notwithstanding the fact that Muir
ply was on the top wave OF success and
was slated for Fire Board, he resolved
to join the Doodle colony in Canada,
which was not extensive in those days.
So he went TO the safe one morning,
and finding $4,000 in bills, weighed the
package carefully in both hands, and
pocketed half. Two days later he was
in Canada, an embezzler TO the amount
of $50 900.
Going directly to his cousin, Mr.. Con-
molly, at ST. GATHERINGS, Murphy, with
tears in his eyes, told of his shame.
"WelL, it's very lucky" exclaimed the
cousin, cheeriy.
"Why, l am ruined man," said
Murphy, sadly.
Not bit OF it. Open that closet
door and you will find broken old
pitcher. Put in your hand and you
may take out S2S, 900 which was about
10 bank. Hasten babk 10 New York
and settle up like man"
Murphy, however, said that he feared
TO face the indignant citizens Of New
York, who had advertised him as
thief. So the embezzlement still stands
against the fugitive.
Through agents Murphy managed
10 sell his New York real estate for
S2S, 900 before the city could secure
judgment against him. He then went
10 Brazil and secured a subvention
from Emperor Don Pedro by which he
was to get 1900 acres of land for his
services in bringing q large number Of
immigrants TO Brazil. The scheme
failed, and Murphy drifted back to
Canada and set up in business as a con-
tractor on large scale.
For several years past Murphy has
succeeded in undertaking all cOmpeti-
tors, and bribery has moro than once
been limited at 1t is said that the man
has accumulated fortune OF 100000
by methods peculitr to himself, and
ia his latest Doodle scheme he has
forever ruined one of the brightest
political le aders in the Dominion,