Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-06
EXILE MURPHY'S STORY
HE TEiLS OF ELS HlesT FROM IHa UEIYHD
STATES.
Re Ussa Mercy Ct he New Ycrk Ex5ss Board to
Hslp a Frisnds Nsctoa-Sicls Some
E5rs and Skippsd-Ths Boodls
Practices IN Canada

Greevy, NJ. P, has been nearly com
pleted before the House Committee OF
Privileges and Elections. The witnesse:
upon whom Mr.. Tate, NJ. P, relied
mainly for proof Of his allegations were
Robert Il. McGreevy, brother OIL
Thomas, and Owen Eugene Murphy
erstwhile OF New York. The two are
defendants in q number OF suits, civil
and criminal, now before the courts OF
the Province OF Quebec, in the most i'm
portant Of which Thomas McGreevy is
plaintiff. So that the whole trouble may
be said 10 have arisen out Of a quarrel
between the brothers McGreevy.
The story related by Owen E. Muir
phy is interesting, both from its blunt
charges Of bribery and because OF the
history of the man. The hrst be gave
glibly enough in his direct testimony;
but il was only upon crOSs-examination
that be submitted the circumstances
under which he came TO Canada four
teen years ago well equipped with capt.
tai and experience for participation in
transactions which have resulted disas-
trously 10 the public purse and to pOlit-
ical morality as well.
AN EARLY EXILE.
According 70 these admissions Muir
ply crossed over 10 Canada in December,
1877. having left New York City under
what might be mildly called a cloud.
For twenty years previously, he said,
he had worked there as a contractor,
building houses on his own account and
selling them. He became member OF
the Board Of Excise Commissioners, was
elected treasurer and was still holding
that Office when he left for Canada,
about $50, 900 short in his accounts, as
the audit showed.
This is MUrphy's own version OF the
episode, as given in the crosS-examina-
tion the other day
II used SEQ, 900 in the election, some
of il for myself and some for my politi-
csl friends, and when the time came
that they promised 70 pay the money
they did not make IL good in the excite
meut OF the fight between Kelly and
Tiden Ia the election of 1876. I had
been carrying a great deal Of real estate
and 10 fell and deprecated very much,
and with the expectation Of making IL
good I drew an extra $4,000. That is
the whole story, and I do not care who
knows il.
"You were $4,000 shOrt?"
II Will pay every cent OF it. All
these men knew Of these things. Mr..
Thomas McGreevy knew 1t and Sir Hec-
tor Langevin knew it. will answer
any Of these questions.
Then, as 3 matter Of fact, you left
New York defaulter 10 the extent Of
$50, O00?"
Yes"
and that default remains against
yss.- no matter whatwas done with the
funds?'
ut remains against me-"
When Murphy fed he went to ST.
Catharines, Ont, and there met Nicho-
las X. Connolly, his cousin, who was
working as a contractor for the govern
ment. After a two months stay In 81.
Catharlnes Murphy went 70 Montreal
and crossed 70 the old country. After
q short visit there he took steamer for
south America, where he remained
about year, making voyage up the
Amazon aud visiting most OF he cities
along the Atlantic coast. Tropical
life doesn't seen 10 have agreed with
the deisultlug treasurer. He came
back 70 CsHada aud settled IN Quebec.
ZINE WORK.
There his cousin Nicholas was doing
we'll as a contractor in the firm OF Lar
kin. Connolly & Co., at that time en-
uaged en- one OF the most important
public works In Canada, the completion
Of the craving dock at Lewis, opposite
the Quebec citadel. Murphy purchased
an interest IN the contract and pro-
ceeded NJ once 70 turn his talents to &C
count in the way of securing bigger
pr0fts for the concern. The money
voted by Parliament for the completion
of this work was being expended under
the Joint control OF Sir Hector LANCE
win, Minister Of Public Works, and the
Quebec Harbor Commission, OF which
Thomas McGreevy was the chairman
and leader. The two were old political
associates and fast personal friends. To
profit By this intimacy Murphy induced
the firm 10 take in as partner Robert
T.. McGreevy, Thomas brother, giving
him thirty per cent. interest IN the
contract, an arrangement at which, &C
cording TO the testimony for the prose-
cution, Sir Hector himself connived.
Parliament In 1852 voted the sum OF
SAYS. 900 70 carry on the work OF dredg-
ing the harbor, and the contract was
let 70 Larkin, Connolly & Co., who were
70 have finished the contractis October,
1SSs. The series Of alleged corrupt
dealings began under this contract.
When the company took hold the work
was in charge OF an English engineer
named PinkertOn, whose method dld
not suit the contractors, and Murphy
undertook 10 get him out OF the way.
This he succeeded in doing. The next
move was the appointment OF Henry +.
Perlev. Chief Engineer Of the Depart
ment OF Public WOrks-Sir Hector'S
most trusted Oficer-to Superintend the
improvements at Quebec. Thereafter
the contractors seemed TO have things
pretty much their own way.
The next contract offered was for the
construction OF 3 costly work known as
tbe cross wall According 70 the evil
dance OF Murphy and Robert McGreevy,
the firm of Larkin, Connolly x Co. Sc
cured this contract by agreeing 10 pay
Thomas McGreevy through Murphy
SOS. 600 in their notes purposely ante
dated 10 avoid detection. The books OF
thefrm corrObOrated Murphy's evidence
upon this point.
IL was about this time, too, that teS-
timonial fund 10 Sir Hector Langevin
was raised, and to il the firm subscribed
$1,000.
SOMETHING BIG.
The completion Of the dry dock al
Fsouimelt, B. c., toward which the
Rrifish government granted the large
srbvention Of $500, 900 TO secure its use