Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-16
How John MOrrlsseH Won.
beni reney poore n Roston nndrcL.


Johns character mt that time didn
stand very high in the religious com.
munity who were largely represented
in the district he proposed to run for.
He was only known as a successful
pri2e-tghter, a king pin among the
boys. q cunning and adroit gambler
and hacker of Illegal lottery schemes.
In fact was rather heavy we GIFTED for
such race. just then Sam Ward,
who, in those days, sometimes, in graf
flying his epicurean and yared taste,
sought the tiger in his lar struck up
a strong intimacy with the would be
Congressman, who, in turn, came to
consulting Sam quite frequently; and
when the question of overcoming The
difficult eS of his election came up, Sam
readily solved the problem by or ginut-
ing the plan which, carried out by
Morrl,sey, insured his election.
"Pshawn said Sam, that's easily
done; all you have to do is to let me
write one of my peculiar letters for
you that'll fix it" Soon after Nor
rissey issued through the press the fa-
hiON' l'NbNl bohllS NbltSs WI lllt
ground, among others, that he had
ceased lighting and sold out his inter
est in all lotteries, was about to close
his gambling houses, and, for the sake
OF his only child, desired to reform and
establish character such as his hope.
full might be proud to quote and boast
of. Besides this Morrissey called Mt
hAnpn Ia, ia, Il "a
insisted on seeing MS many of the
occupants, male and female, ms posi-
bic. "I am John Morrissey, the gam
bier and pri2e-iighter," said he. Il
am trying to reform and am running
for Congress; help me, good people,
with your votes. and so help in my re.
formation. Many II piouS voter
went for John and he was triumphant
ly elected.
Soon after his election, and Just be-
fore taking his seat in congress, John
fanc,ed himself insulted by one of the
white KID fraternity. TO wallop HIM
would have been cons dered undigni-
fled in a member elect to congress and
recourse was had to Sam. "WhN
challenge HIM, of course sad Sam.
"You want Just the peculiar cci0t that
a duel will give you to varnsh over
other shortcomings. The challenge
was at once written, and then the diff
iiculty was to find fitting party to de-
liver it. This was impossible for Sam
to do, first, because he was a member
of the church, and next, the party to
whom the m ssive was addressed was
amember of his club. Among his ac-
quaintanceS was u certain broken
down, impecunious Bohemian, who,
having once been known in the club,
yet maintained sort of quasi reputa.
ton rs gentleman, and was recog-
niZed as such. He was ostensably
real estate broker, and held a com
mission as notary public. sam took
him into their confidence and called
his services into requsition. AT war
with fortune, the business was exactly
to his hand. A little seedy in appear
ance, Sam suggested that he be newly
fitted out with clothes, which was done
at Morrissey's expense, of course, and
he departed with the war-like missjve.
Finding the party to whom it was adj
dressed, and to whom he was known,
he delivered the document 1t was
read and then returned to him with
the complimentary remarks: "Bill,
my dear old fellow / know you've had
BANKED bad luck and don't want to
hurt your feelings, but you must have
got mighty low down when you would
condescend to bring me such Il note as
that from prize-hghter; take back
TO him and tell him if he don't leave
the city in twenty-four hours I'll make
John c. Heenen give him the blankest
threshing he ever got in his life"
The popular idea at that time was
that the Hon. John had wholesome
fear of the stalwart Heenan, who was
only too anxious to redeem the laurels
he had lost by treachery at their last
encounter. Our friend Bill, somewhat
mortified and crestfallen, returned to
Morrissey's headquarters, where Sam
and John were awaiting him. The
answer brought bothered Sam and
startled Morrissey. 1t was denoue-
ment he had not looked for
whats to be done now?" he ex.
claimed. This is bad S0ycz hQn-
guile" said Sam, rellectively. who's
that?" said Morr,ssey. ri have it, ! !
have itn' exclaimed Sam. ''Our friend |
Bill here is notary public. He shall |
protest it for non-acceptance. Give
him ten dollars, and he'll get it up for
you in good st,le."
"AlI right, "said John, "hurry it mp.
I'll expose the coward" and lie was
soon in possession of the document |
which was to give him a position at
and gain him recognition |
among the fire eaters even of the most
ultra cast. John showed the docu-
ment among his friends, and it was
some days before he found out how
good thing had been played upon
him. Then he went for Sam, who had
slipped off to Washington, and it is
perhaps needless to add that Sam and
John were no longer on speaking
terms.
When | went to MorriSsey for the
facts concerning himself needed for the
of the Congressional Di-
rectory, he answered my first question
as to his birthplace, by saying, TEN
plemore, Tipperary County, Ireland,
Feb. u, 1881" Next, I asked his oc-
cupation. Faro dealer and prize
iOhterin was the renlv. but notininU