The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-27
NTulvaney.

The post of Under Sheriff of the county
of New York is one Of considerable public
and political Importance. Under the adj
ministratlon of HUGH j. GRANT as Sheriff,
H. was first held by THOMAS F. GILRoY,
afterward Mr.. GRANTS successor as Mayor.
The office was afterward held by JOHN b.
SEXTON, who became, in turn, Sheriff of
the county and it is to be held, so 1t Is
stated, after Jan. / by the Hon. II. p. Null
vANEY, colloquially known as Little
MuL,"a popular citizen of this enlarged
town, who has long enjoyed the distinction
of being a target for the undeserved ridicule
and abuse of the EUeniag Post.
Mr.. MULvANEY is now one Of the deputy
sheriffs. He has been for many years an
employee Of the Sheriff's Office in various
posts of profit and trust. His case Illus
trates two important phases Of city politics.
First, the pharisaical insincerity of the
professional reformers; and, secondly, the
peculiar. undeniable, and congenial fitness
for public office of so many capable and
efficient "Tammany Hall workers."
In the number of these political workers
in the old rallying ground of Democratic
statesmen, the Twenty-irst ward, in the
politics of which RICHARD CROKER is tho
most distinguished graduate, the name of
MULvANEY is not unfamiliar either to the
friends Of Tammany or to its generally
worstcd opponents. When, In 1890, the
Peoples Municipal League, 80 called, the
pioneer in foolishness of the Cts Union,
began its warfare against the Tammany
Hall administration of that period, Null
vANEY, then an employee Of the Sherif's
office, was the subject of invidious attacks.
Tho voters of the city were admonished
that, unless great care was taken to provide
against such a disaster, MULvANEY would
be continued in Office. AS the Evening
Post expressed it at the time, "Tammany
would reign supreme"
In the election of 1894 the Tammany
ticket sustained defeat. The o~utcries of
the professional reformers were loud
against the victims of their animosity,
spitefully described as "heelers." Some
share of the blistering rebuke may, for all
that any one knows to the contrary, have
fallen upon the hapless Little Null" But
when, in January, 1895, a reform Sheriff,
so called, came into office, he retained
"Little Null" This was one of the few
| creditable acts of an administration which
has been very expensive to the people of
New York, but has contributed much gay.
ETY. and amusement to persons residing in
other places.
"Little Null, the worker :" Little Null,
the heeler;" "Little Null, the Tammany
Hall henchman." was retained in office,
and was, in fact, promoted. He became the
Sheriff's confidential adviser. When there
was any trouble, and troubles have been
many in the Sherif's office under its ere
form" administration, Little Null" was
detailed to attend to it. When the average
number of escapes from the Jail was OK
ceeded in any week or month, martial law
was established at Grand street and Lud
low with MULvANEY in command. And
it is no more thar the truth to say that ir
all these posts of honor or difficulty, in al
these positions of responsibility or prefer
ment, he has acquitted himself so well thai
/ he is to become, on Jan. l, the Under Sher
if Of the county, superseding SCHERRMAN
the reform" Under Sheriff.
Little Null" has earned his promotion
and Tammany is still on guard