New-York tribune., 1891-09-24
MORRISON STILL IN HIDING.
DE LANCEY NICoLI TRIES TO THROW THE BLAME
ON THE NEWSPAPERS.

Every development in the of John X. MOT
rison strengthens the suspicion that powernl Hiehus
are protecting him from prosecution, and helghtens
the Impression that there is something rotten. IN the
District Attorneys Office. Morrison was deputy
superintendent OF the Cleaning Department ana
was discharged in March. Three foremen complained
that he had tried to extort money from them. V. F.
Flanagan made affidavit that Morrison had obtained
$40 from him. When Flanagan refused TO pay him
any more Morrison charged the foreman with neglect
of duty In a short time Flanagan lost HIS job
Thomas Everett had similar tale TO tell, except
that he refused to give Morrison any money what
ever. In q short time he toe dismissed from
the service william Dalton, deputy superintendent
OF the department Investigated the charges and Nor
risOn was discharged. At the time the afdavits
of Flanagan. Everett and another foreman sent
to Dstrict-AttOmey De Lancey Nicoll. 1t was
rumOred that Morrison merely acted the agent OF
men higher in Tammany Hail. and that the strength
Of the Wigwam would be eXerted 10 save him from
punishment or even prosecution.
The history of the entirely justified these pre-
dlctlOns For mC1ths Mr.. Nicoll had the aiidavits,
but he never even presented them to the Grand Jury
The Tribune called attention 10 the delay Mr.. Ncol
at the time being unable to tell just why no steps
had been taken to prosecute Morrison. few Gays
afterward MIR. Nicoll said that he had made mis-
take which had saved Morrison from Indictment.
Mr. Nco had referred the papers to his assistant
Mr. Stapler, and that official had reported in favor
of prosecuting the charges OF Everett and Flanagan
Mr. stapler had, however como 10 the conclusion that
the third affidavit was too weak 10 present to the
Grand Jury. AIR Nicol, he says, looked over the
report hastily and thought that Mr.. Sapler had recon-
mended that none of the charges be pressed. Mr..
Nicoll had thereupol laid the papers aside so much
was printed about the Morrison case in March That
it seems strange that Mr.. Nicol should have paid SO
little attention to the report on IT,
After the publication Of the article in The Tribune
the afidavs were laid before the Grand Jury. Last
Friday morning Morrison indicted and at O'Clock
in the afternoon warrant for his arrest was Issued
lie had received warning, however. and fed. The
detectives have not yet been able TO find him. De-
tecves Won Gerlchten Reilly and Trainer are look
ing for him. They say that they kept trace of him
until last Thursday but he disappeared on the day on
which he was indicted II looked much as If some
one had warned him.
To a reporter Mr. Nicol said yesterday that he
understood that Morrison merely hiding until he
could arrange to get bail When asked IL lie suspected
any of his subordnates OF warning Morrison, he said
that he did not If anybody is TO blAme," he con
unucd, sit Is the newspapers which published the
fact that the Grand Jury was considering the case
This must have given Morrison warning
The reporter showed Mr.. Nic0n that the articles
in question published saturday, long after
the detectives had begun their search. Mr. Nic0H
said nothing TO this.