The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-15
TRENTON'S BATTLES
W. E. Sackett Reviews the
Political History of the
Past Quarter Century.
STORY OF HAMlLToN's FLIGHT
bow DR.. Gordon Forced the In
dictment of the Ballet Box
Stutfers-A Valuable Book.
STORY OF HAMILTON's FLIGHT

has just issued a book entitled "Modern
Battles of Trenton, " in which he portrays
the more important events in the political
history of New Jersey during the past quar-
ter of a century.
A keen and intelligent observer of men
and events, with an intimate acquaintance
with every man who has occupied a public
position in this State during the past twenty
five years, and himself a participant in
many of the scenes he SO graphically and
entertainingly describes, Mr.. Sackett is
admirably equipped for the work he has
undertaken.
He begins with a brief preliminary review
of the history of what he designates 'the
monopoly charters of the State, and the
efforts to establish competing lines with the
old Camden and Amboy Railroad. He then
takes up the Republican gerrymander of
1900 and the election of Joel Parker over
Cornelius Walsh. After relating the cir
cumstances of the appointment of Benjamin
F. Lee to the clerkship of the Supreme
Court and giving a sketch of Mr.. Lee, he
devotes his attention to the exciting events
which led to the passage of the general rail
road law of 1878
Mr.. Sackett next proceeds to take up a
subject which has always been of great inter
est and the cause of great contention to the
people of New Jersey. and especially those
of Hudson county-the manner in which the
State established her title TO the Riparian
lands, and devotes the income she derives
from that source to the support of the school
F--l T Lo-... x-s4l H. o.,1- o0r%anfinn
concerning the ownership of lands under
water, touches upon the sold wharf act"
n describes the invasion OF the Hudson
county shore front by corporations and
private individuals.
The shay existence of the Riparian
Board is discussed. The memorable fight
with the sugar house people for a bridge
over the s'Gap.n at Washington street, is en-
~tertainingly set forth, and every phase of
the much vexed question is treated In detail.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The author then comes to events which
led up to the last amendments to the con-
stitution. He shows now the abuses which
had sprung up in the Legislature created a
popular demand for general laws. The in
famous Republican scheme for the govern
ment of Jersey City by commissions APP
pointed by the Legislature. and the flight
or Alexander Hamilton. Jersey llIyS he
publican treasurer with 100000 of the city's
money, arc shown to be two of the leading
events which brought about the Legislative
revolution. The story of Hamilton's fight
IS one of the most interesting features OF the
book. This is it:
"A few months later the State was treated
to a more picturesque object lesson on the
subject, consequent upon the disappearance
from the City Hall of Alexander Hamilton.
the ring State Treasurer, with thousands of
the city's money. Police Inspector Benja-
min F. Murphy's romantic pursuit of him
among the outlaws Of lower Texas and Mex
leo served to bring the system herepresented
into the brighter glare of publicity. Because
OF its importance in giving drift TO public
discussion, as well as for its own intrinsic in
terest, the details of this incident are worth
narrating.
RAN AWAY WITH AN ACTRESS.
Hamilton was a low-lived fellow, given
to evil associations. and the first notion,
when it was learned that be was missing, was
that he had gone off on a bit of a spree with
WiDetta Montague, a vivacious variety ao-
tress, who had recently appeared upon the
boards of a Jersey CITY theatre. His con-
tinued absence and the discovery that he had
robbed the treasury led to the conviction,
however, that if he had gone with her he had
gone to stay.
First tidings of his whereabouts were
brought several months later. in a dispatch
lbttlftu ny 0ulSL IL i OIlCC Dt4IGiDlA AolU
ney. Of Jersey City, from a constable named
Carson, in Brownsville. Tex. stage driver,
who had just come into Brownsville from
Corpus Christi, told the story of an anxious
traveller who had tried to board his coach.
.ssMy business is urgent this stranger had
said, when he feared for want of room he
might not be admitted to the coach. and l
must reach Mexico at once if. it costs a for
tune
"A desperate named Hutchinson. who
overheard him, volunteered to take him to
Mexico for a hundred dollars, and when
Hamilton accepted him for an escort, Hutch
inson took his cousin, Thomas Parker, who
was the chief of police of Corpus Christi,
and Just as base q man as himself, into his
confidence. The two, before starting out
with him, sent couriers to notify outlaw con-
federates of theirs that they had a rich vic
tim in tow, and when Hamilton had been
carried forty miles beyond the town, Par
ker and three pals, who Joined him, over
powered him and took $500 in cash from
him. Hamilton had cunninglyconcealed the
rest of his plumber, and. believing that they
had stripped him of all he had, they handed
him over to Pedro Manuel, one of their
gang, and ordered him to conduct him into
Mexico.
g IT he doesn't reach Mexico safely Par
ker cautioned Pedro as he parted from him,
well take your brothers life in Corpus
Christi
DISCOVERED IN MEXICO.
ssPedro, on reaching Brownsville with his
charge, boosted of the robbery on the plains;
and a woman. whose husband he had kip d.
confided the story to Chief Carson. Carson
surrnised at once that the traveller was no
other than the missing Jersey City defaulter
and FASTENED to notify the Jersey City police.
Inspector Benjamin Il. Murphy was fitted
with railroad passes within an hour after the
dispatch arrived and sent in pursuit. When
he reached Indiana, he learned OF the Corpus
Christi incident and employed a boatrlan to
carry him across the bay to that town.
ssMav I leave my satchel with you ~ he
asked Of the seaman vixen he was preparing
to depart.
nsCh yes,' laughed the boatrnan, with
cheerful good nature. The other night [ had
the valise of the Treasurer OF New Jersey,
with a million in it, for a pillef. Ii d a
known on it, there'd a bin another capn on
this ferry today
CHIEF MURPHY IN PURSUIT.
aWben Murphy reached Corpus Christi he
learned that all the officials and outlaws OF
tl;a region were after Hamilton to rob him
In their various ways. Hamilton himself
reaiizing tiat DO had fallen among a lot OF
fbieyes had meanwhile offered a notorious
o1tlaw. known as Happy Jack" any
~ 20 r,1-mv RI rr0tacf him. and /