New-York tribune., 1895-02-13
POLITICS IN THE COUKT
urpGE MARITIME BEFORE THE GRAND
JURY.
JUDGE CowING AND GENERAL SESSIONS ATTEND
,xrs WHO WE'RE LIQUOR -DEALERs-P J.
o,BRrEN. FORMER EMPLoYE OF THE

a
COURT TELLS HIS EXPERIENCES.
1rdge MARITIME of the Court Of General Sessions.
was a witness before the February drahu jury yes
| terday 1t was known that he had o"nuie VI uoou
ments In his possession when he entered the Jury
oo,, hut tho nature of his testimony was not ind-
Gated The jury reported to Judge Cowihg III 'he
afternoon but made no presentmeht 10 Inu'ca'e
result of its investigation Of the court Ihere was
a small batch Of indictments which were sa'u 10 oe
OF small Importance ,
Among the attendants in the Court OF Eeherai
coosions who are said to their appointments 10
Judge Cowirg are five men who are iiquor-deaiers
or have been liquor dealers until recently. feter
I Seaman has been the proprietor OF the mite
House" in Centre-st. near the criminal 'our's
Building but there has been a report that ne hhd
sold out his interest in the place. william r. Dew
lin bas been a saloon keeper and henchman OF
Police Commissioner Sheehan. Alexander Mcqueen
and Michael quinn are saloon-keepers' anu quinn
keeps a lodging house John OReilly was nquor-
dealer There have been reports that some or the
attendants retained In their positiohs III 'he
court only condition that they 1oned lah'hahy
Hall Judge Cowng has denied that he was con-
troed by Tammany Hall in the selection OF attend
ants The reports give additional interest TO the
following letter. written by veteran who was one
of the attendants at the court:
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Judge Cowng, in his charge TO the ctahu
Jury stated that for the first time politics has in
vaded the citadel Of Justice" Let me state now
politics invaded the citadel Of justice when Ju'se
Cowlng sought and received the nomination OF ram
many Hall for hls second and at the dictaton
of Tammany Hal turned out court officers who
had served for years and whose only oHence was
that they were members OF the Republican party.
/ was appointed court attendant OF the court Oh
General Sessions by Judge Cowlng. on FEBRUARY
l. 1882 and such appointment was given TO me on
the recommendation OF the Republican organza-
bI,H Hfefri ief | a "A
late war and past commander Of Adam Goes POST
G. A. r. For nearly eleven years served as
such court attendant. and during that perod oi
time with the knowledge and appreciation or Judge
Cowing | was an active member OF the Repubiican
party Frequently served as n member OF the
County Committee and also a delegate or alternate
TO conventions on all OF those occasions. when
desired leave OF absence, Judge Cowns Always per
mitted me TO CO. because he knew or ana was III
terested in the object OF my absence during 'hIs
perod of years | served on Election Day. o. every
.Congress election as chief depuiy-marshai IN th'
Nth Assembly District. The fact that was ap-
pointed and served as such was wen kho"n "
Judge Cowing and no objection was made py MN.
In the month OF July. IS'2. ex-Coroner Johh NJ
gent. In conversation with me at the Barge Once
told me that II was all arranged that Judge Cowihs
was 10 get the Tannmany Hall nomination that
fall and that he had agreed TO turn the hepuo"-
cans out OF his court and give the places 10 IAN,
many Hall. In the early part or oc'oorr oi "'-
one day and told me he had been on the outing
., a democratic association the East SIDE the
preceding day. and that he had met many i''e'''
there who told him how hard l was WORKING 'o'
him: he said: Pat keep up tho good work for my
election and II Tammany Hail does not nominate
me- I will man every district IN the CITY
Ju5ge covlng received the Tammany Han nomina-
,,or and in the Republican County Convention. OF
which I was a member. there vas bitter opposl-
tion TO Judge Cowlnz receiving the Kepuo''eah
nomination on the ground that he was IN 'e"sue
with Tammany Halh
ON October 81. 1892. John +. Carroll. the he"N ny
nolnted clerk OF the court from Tammany HAN
o,, ,or me and asked me II was a United states
dcnuty.marshal ] tod him. Yes lie Sa'a'
cannot certify this payroll with your hh'he %" H.
I asked him why saying thai had sciVcn az
rcb every wear since had been court ofhccr. ana
that Judge Cowing knew H. re s''u "e "'''' W
on Sovember ?. 1892. received the following let
ter: New-York. November ?. i%2.
rI Dear AZ 5 Sir II II convenient win you come 10 the
Tammany ay.SSF Se ESol% SoTemSsr S T. ls ock
desire to see you relative 10 eiccti2n ION ~
ters Do not fall 10 call f. .''fp r FiTZPATRIcK.
Chairman OF General Committee.
, ,a ~, call AT IN. Tammany Club rooms and
took no notice OF the letter. on Election Day
ssrved. az usual as Chief Deputy United states
Marshal Election Day being holiday no court
was held. consequently lost no time from court
continued TO serve az court officer until the list
OF November when ] called upon Judge 'ow'hs
,p bis chambers said to him What Is there
about Mr. Carroll sending for me?" He said:
"O Brien think the Corporation Counsel mas got
vou technically" said: "In what respect lie
said. "In reference 10 being depuiy-marshaL
said 10 him: why you knew that was deputy
marshal ever since have been court ofhcer' every
alternate year. when the Republican party desired
my services and you never objected TO IT. lie re-
nlIed ..I am very sorry" He also said: MY wife
said to me this morning that II was De'ter 10 De
born lucky than rich II did not get the Tammany
Hail nomination. you see would nave gone no"h
with The ship" / said: us that al the notification
I get?" He said: Il don't know OF any other and
I bid him good-day.
On the next day | received .he following notice
New-York, November 81. 1892
You are hereby notified that your services as an
officer or attendant Of the cour, Of General ses
and after the isi day Of DsssmsS5 %s ss+IGRpn lssa
RuFEs FraFf B. oSRe5si G6WISG' Ses''0"'
FREDERICK snYrM' s!E ipds'
The Judges who signed this notice were the Judges
who were understood by all the court officers as
the judicial combine that ran the court.
NV salary was refused for the month OF Novern-
her and / had to for It, In that suit. in the
Supreme Court. the question was raised mat be-
cause had acted az United States Deputy Mar
shall had forfeited my right to the salary. and
the Judge threw the defence out OF court and d.
rected a verdict in my favor. That case was ap-
peaIed to the General Term and the General Term
has affirmed the judgment
was not the only Republican discharged by
Judge Cowing on account OF his nomination by
Tammany Hall and to make places for Tammany
Hall men, There were six others. was removed
to make room for Pat Divers man. Michael
Quinn. who kept fve-ccnt !odging-houSe at the
corner of. Pe,l and Mott sts.. and who now Keeps
a liouor saloon at the same place. and who boasts
that he sells a glass OF beer as large AZ plug hat
,rlaa assaliltnd q Good (inXeInmcnt