New-York tribune., 1896-09-01
:: TUESDAY, !
sSEPTEMBER I, 1868
s>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
GLEASON MUST ANSWER.
HIS RIGHT TO CITIZENSHIP TO BE DE.
CIDED BY THE COURTS.

DIsTRIcr-ATToRNEY BENNETT FILES THE COM.
PLAINT-sERIoUs CHARGES AGAINST LONG
ISLAND cTTY's BIG MAYOR
Patrick Jerome Gleason and his battle axe, or
Long Island City. will ;ow have 10 face the
music Whether the Mayor Of the City Of Smells
and queer politics will continue in his exalted
office or whether he will he ignominiousiy
fired" is now a question for the courts to an
swer. Yesterday District Attorney Bennett
filed in the United States Court complaint 10
which his own signature vas affixed. to the et-
feet that the burly and iorcible Mayor was still
an alien by reason years ago OF having Eaudu'
enty. by false swearing. obtained Ills cltizen-
ship papers. The story If Mr. Gleason's alleged
fraud Is by this time reasonably .amiiIar 70
the people Of the three cities. rhe Long tsland
Car has enemies in his bailiwick. and they 1t IL
who responsible. after many months of
threats and preparation. for he bringing of the
suit. Should the charges be proven. it Ill be
sorry day for Mayor Gleason. He will not only
be stripped OF his .day)ralty honors and de-
graded in the eyes OF mis- subjects but will likely
be compelled to stand trial for perjury, with eX-
cellent chances for Imprisonment.
The opening sentence Of the complaint reads:
United States OF America vs. Patrick Geeson.
known as Patrick ]. Clemson" II starts of by
alleging that the defenIant is still a subject OF
Queen Victoria and that his baptIsmsl name is
Patrick Gleeson. Stripped Of its legal NerbGge.
it recites that the doughty Mayor was born IN
Fishmoyne Parish OF Down and Inch. County OF
Tipperary. Ireland. prior to April -. IS4l.' IL
seems that the informant Of the District -Attor-
ney was not able to state the exact date OF Giea-
sons birth, but he alleges that 1t was within two
or three weeks of the last named day. The pd~
Ia nf
Hasset GIeeson 1t is alleged that 10th parents
were aliens at the time Of his birth. and never at
any time were naturazed citizens II he United
States The story of young Patrlck's departure
from Ireland and his arrival in this oourt~y Is
passed over but the com olaint continues tnat on
May "a 1867. Gleason. without having filed his
declaration OF intention TO become a citizen of
this country presented TO the Superior Court CT
New-York his petition verified under oath. 1t
reads follows:
State OF New-York ss
CITY rs sRd sesnn GSsny of Of Ne S the above
named applicant being duly sworn. says that he has
resided +, IN the uned States Years
cedng his arrival at that age and has continued
e five yean yS s ne he States
ing the three of his minority and that he has
this application. within the State OF NewYor ard
It tf has V been his real and honest intention 70 become
a citizen OF the United States.
Sworn N open court. this 22d day Of october, 1851.
JAS. NJ. sWEENY. Clerk.
TRUTH OF THE PETITION DENIED
Attorney Bennett, through the medium Of his
informant. then proceeds to say that "Gleeson"
we'll knew the statements to which he had
swOrn-that he had resided within the United
States for three years next preceding his ar
rival at the age Of twenty lone, and that ne had
then resided within the United States for Eve
years. including three OF his minorty-were
false and untrue that he arrived in the United
States within one year of his attaining the age
Of twenty-one years. and had then resided only
one year Of his minority. instead Of three years,
as his petition stated: that he had not at the
time Of the verifcatOn filed certificate OF no.
tice of his intention to become citizen Of the
United States The remainder OF the complaint
is of a technical nature and embodies matters
of minor value to the allegations already stated
About six weeks ago. when several citizens or
Long Island City called upon Dstrict-Attorney
Bennett. he heard their story, but did not take
Immediate action. He said afterward that, as
the complaint Of such serious nature.
with far-reaching results. at least to the Mayor
himself. he would write Mr.. Gleason note
outlining the complaint which had been lodged
against him. and hear what he had to say
before taking action. The communication was
duly sent. but it is not on record that the
lost any sleep over the matter. In fact. the
Mayors attitude all along has been one Of con-
tempt for his enemies.
What do | care for their threats" the big
Mayor is alleged to have said on one occasion.
when they get ahead OF Patrick Jerome and
his axe. they'll have to get up before daylight"
HOW HE DEFEATED THE RAILROAD
And so it has been all along Mayor Gleason
fought his way into the Mayoralty chair Of
Long Island City, and il is pretty safe to assume
that he will put up the siffest kind Of fight
before he gets out and will make it decidedly
hot for his accusers. II is said upon pretty
good authority II the Long Island Railroad
is the real hacker in this fgnt against Gleason.
About fifteen years ago the waterfront and the
street upoa which the present Long Island
Railroad passenger station at the terminus OF
the ferry is built were ntirely taken up by
lot of unsightly sheds The street facing the
river entirely closed up, and this was not
only an inconvenience to the citizens. but an
injury as well. IL was also equally eyesore
TO Mr. Gleason himself. He began a wordy
warfare with the officials. which. az the days
grew into a discussion acrid and fierce.
Ii is not in the nature Of a Gleason 10 stand
on small technicaties. Finally Gleason, whose
temper had been reused to the boiling point.
one day gathered a gang OF his heelers to-
gether and. shOuldering himself,
marched at their head until he reached the Of
Tending sheds
Goats of. boys" spoke out the pugnaclous
Mayor "and go at them sheds"
Patrick dvested himself of his outer apparel,
and il is recorded in the unwritten his
tory OF those days that his collar AMI necktie
came off and were thrown with reckless aban-
don to the ground. Then, seiZing his axe, and
swinging IL alOft he gave the signal for the
demolition Of the offending structures by bury
ing his axe deep in a supporting post. The la
borers needed no second invitation, but sailed
in. Soon officials ~ the road appeared and
frantcally bade the:. desist: But Patrick
waved them aside. alike Indifferent to threats
OF arrest and future imprisonment He bade
his enemies &c 10. and turned to his work. That
all. In a short time the sheds down,
the ruins cleared away. AMI the thoroughfare
open.
OF course there were complications afterward,