New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-03
TAMMANY STANDS BY HIM.
WHY JOHN r. MORRISON is NOT PROSE.
CUTED BY THE DISTRICT-ATToRNEY

The case Of John f. Morrison, Distrlct-SupeI-
intendent of the Street Cleaning Department., VINO
was dismissed from Office for eXtortng 9noney
from subordinate, is on obIect-lessoh In lam
many Hall methods which reveals'the shameless
ness with which the laws are trampled under
foot when the welfare of Sany of the Wlgwam
members is imperlled. Last March, Morrison was
put out of hid position amid deal of seeming III
dignaton, and the sworn complaint against MN
was sent to District-Atiorncy DE laneey Nlcoll'
go that criminal proceedings should be begun
against the cuprit at once. Thus iar IN the a"air
Tammany Hall appeared TO good advantage
IL wrapped the mantle Of righteousness ABOUT III
self and publicly declared its horror at the man S
conduct protesting at the same time the most
Jealous desire that the law should punish him
And here the affair was allowed 10 drop After
this pyrotcchnic display the papers were aioweu
TO remain in a pigeon-hole in the Distrlct-AtVor-
ncys Office, and Morrison is as free to-day as II
iurv had honorably acquitted him of all faint
80 ,yronr-aoina The charge has been smothered
in a most barefaced manner The case has not
even been referred to the Grand jury, although
five months have elapsed since Mr. Nicoll received
tho affidavit charging Morrison with extoroon
In several instances in which accused men had
strong Tammany backing, they were indicted anu
then their cases were never called for trial ms
method of dsposng OF criminal cases without the
aid of a Judge or jury is disgraccful enough, ouC
in the Morrison affair the course Of MI NlcolI mas
been even more outrageously regardless OF ollcial
sincerity and conscientiousness lie stlned tne
prosecution. the instant the papers came lnOo hls
hands. and to this day the Grand jury mas never
been asked to pass on the complaint !hero Is
M nretext that the charges are too fimsy TO
tropDle the Grand Jury with-even lammahS
efrontry would not dare go as far as that Inc
District-Attorney has simply usurped the 1uncVionS
of grand Jury, Judge, and petty jury, ana mas
acquitted Morrison Of his crime
There can be no excuse that the granu Jurles
which have sat since March have been 700 busy
10 consider the case, for all of them have wl't'ouV
difficulty disposed of all the business brought before
-bo,, Pressure of affairs in Mr.. Nicolls Office
will NOT expain the negligence, because his stan
of assistants is large and abundanuy aoie W looA
after every detail of the public business Deeue''
the Morrison case is such a clear one, ohe lSsuo
presented is so simple and direct, the sworn COM
plaint is so positive that any Assistant DlsTctAt
toTney could Investigate Ui'e ""'' Ill
space of time
The onlv possible reasons for Morison'S i'm
,nunitv from prosecution are carelessness In the
Observation-Disclosures office, or we!l-dehned pan
IN nrotect the accused man. If shpshop methods
are entirely TO blame, Mr. Nicol should STIR up
his subordinatcs. brief review of the case, how
over Corcrs one to conclude that Tammany lnilu-
cnoc is the power that is stretched forth TO save
Morrison.
When William Dalton, Deputy Commissioner Of
Street Cleaning, held the Investigation whch
ordcd in Norrson's discharge from Office, it was
town-talx that the accused man had SIMPLY been
the stool-piecon Of Tammanv officials of higher
rauk. They hlcd him and let him understand that he
,vas TO rccoup himself from the pockets of those
baneath him When this light is thrown on the
case il is easy TO understand why the strong arm
Of the Wipwam should support Morrison. To let
tho law take its course would be to invite dis
closures from Morrison which would be highly
inconvenient not TO say damaging, to men of high
standing in fammany Hall. The motive that Mr.
Nicoll could have in suppressing tire charge Is
therefore as plain as the nose on mans face.
reporter who investigated the case learned in
The office OF the chief clerk Of the District-At-
torney that no indictment had been found against
Morrison and that Mr.. Ncoll himself had personal
charge of the case. When asked on Tuesday about
what Ind been done to prosecute Morrison, Mr..
Nicon was at first at a loss 10 remember What step
lie had taken. Then he said
oh, yes. l think | gave the papers To Mr..
Weeks, with instructions to report on them.
dou't recolect having heard anything about them
since"
Wouldn't Mr. Weeks have had time since last
MGIcu 10 tNuliuC ov SliuPlS q O"oC' doNNN NiiN
Tribune reporter.
Il should think So" replied Mr. Nicoll. Mr..
Weeks is in Elmira now, and won't be back until
next week Morrison was around here on time
seeking TO have the matter pressed. don't think
there is much in the case"
Was not the affidavit containing the charges
enough TO make out prima facie case, one of
sufficient strength to go before the grand jury on p
Yes, | think so. However, it is possible that
the grand jury considered the case and postponed
action on it,
Assistant Dstrict-AttOrney John d. Lindsay has
charge Of presenting cases to the grand jury. lie
il on his VACATION but'a clerk in his Office told
the reporter that Morrison's case had never been
laid before that body. Barlow S. Weeks has
won the reputation OF being among Mr.. Nicoll's
ablest, NEST industrious and most conscientious
assistants.
Morrison is q henchman of ex-State Senator
Plunkett, TamnIany leader in the ANllth Assem-
bly, District, and through him secured his place
i'm the Street Cleaning Department. Last winter
one of ti,. 1oremen. T. f. Flanagan. was accused
of neglect OF duty by Morrison and was sus-
pended, Shortly aiterward, Thomas Everctt, fore
man of District No "a Of the department, charged
Morrison with attempted eNtOTtlOn. lie declared
that Morrison demanded 50 cents from HIM for
every cart he hired to take away snow from his
district Everett refused TO pay this, anu was
discharged his neglect of duty being the preteXt
He at once told Of Morrisons demands. William
Dalton Deputy Superintendent of the depart
ment, was Instructed by Commissioner Beatty TO
look into the charge.
Everett having broken the ice, Flanagan ap-
1eared before Mr.. Dalton and threw further
Ight ON Morrison's methods. Flanagan tDld the
following story Morrison had come to him and
said:
:" If you don't put up. $40 month, I'll make
il UNPLEASANT for you. | am in this business not
for glory but for coin" Flanagan gave him S4O
in sums OF 81 and s.. and finally on December
refused to be bed any more. Morrison init
mated that few theatre tickets would place him
I'm a pretty good huu,Or, but Flanagan said he
could not afford TO pay any further sums Nor
rison then went on
You'ye cot some good hotels in your dis
trict Make them come 70 time. Leave the ashes
i'm front of them for few days. and when the
proprietor complains, let him understand that he
will have 10 pat up.
Flaracan refused 70 do this, and Morrison kept
demanding money. At last the foreman became
angry. ana on January % threatened 10 tell what