New-York tribune., 1898-01-29
OUT GOES Mr.. MULLIGA
UPTOWN TAMMANY LEADER THROWN
THROUGH LOCKED DOOR.

LIVELY TIMES OVER HIS DEPOSITION by THE AN
NExED DISTRICT GENERAL COMMITTEE
MR. CROKER NOW TO BE ASKED
TO mako HIM RESIGN
The Tammany Hall General Committee Of the
Annexed District met last night to settle little
difference which has arisen between Thomas j.
Mulligan, the leader OF the district. and some
members OF the committee. and there was
fight In which the leader was badly used Null
ligan thrown through the panels of a locked
door. and his face was cut open in many places
Several Of his followers went through the same
door afterward. More than that" as one OF the
members Of committee put 1t later. "Mr Null
lgan was practically deposed the district
leader"
The meeting was in Parstt's Hotel. close TO
the entrance to the Morris Park racetrack
Ever since before last election. MulIigan is said
10 have tried run the district according TO
his own notions. and trouble has been brewing
William J. Hyland. the Councilman from the
district. who has many followers. set out at
once to try TO get the leadership. Their chance
came when Mulllgan tried to secure the appoint
ment in the Municipal Court of the district OF
Michael Rausch as chief clerk Frank FlshedicK
as clerk Charles Battenelli as Interpreter. and
objected and Councilman Hyland objected 70
these men They said that Rausch had been
accused OF wrongdong while an cial in the
old Westchester village court. that Fishedick
had not lived long enough in the district that
Battenelli could not speak English. and there
fore was not fit to be Interpreter. and that KEN
was plumbers helper and didn't know "ha'
it meant to be stenographer
The Judge and the Councilman headed a
committee which went 10 ask RichaEd croker
for advice and last nights meeting was the
result The meeting called ostensibly to
collect assessments from the members OF the
General Committee Of The Bronx
John NJ Hicks. a Mulligan man, was chair
man. and when he called the meeting 10 order
he was surrounded by Stephen Collins and
George J. Donigan, Mulligan men, and Multi
gan himself. There were 125 persons present in
all Hyland and Penheld having majority.
The trouble began with the call to order. From
the Hyland forces came motion to postpone ac-
t.cn in Connection with the assessment until after
February g. Mulligan moved to amend this by
putting the subject of for month There was
a vote and from the roar OF voices II was plain
enough 10 the opponents of the leader that the
amendment had been lost.
But the chairman did not see IL tnal way
Carried" he cried. There was roar or voices
from every side but above the din Mulligan
order Adjourn the meeting.
The meeting stands adJourned. shouted the
chairman.
Nobody could tell afterward exactly what
happened then except that the sergeant-at-
arms locked the only door in the hall at the
request OF Hyland and that there began a iot
Of fierce arguments. Hyand. however, appar-
emily made a speech in which he said that the
chairman had right TO adjourn meeting
while there was a question before the house.
The chairman insisted that no business could
be transacted as the meeting had been ad-
journed
Suddenly Mulligan. closely followed by HICKS
and twenty others formed a sort OF flying wedge
and tried TO break through the Hyland followers,
who had assembled in the lower end OF the nan
II protect the door. Then the fight was on. Men
rolled over and over on the noor, 1sts SOUNDED
against faces. chairs overturned and win
dows were broken. Several Of the MuIligan men
reached the door more or less battered The Key
had been taken from il, so they battered away
on the panels. These yielded and half the door
was soon down Then Mulligan, with his face
bleeding and his clothing torn, struggled or was
thrown through the opening-accounts olIer AS
10 which happened-and was otuside. Those
who had stood by him followed him; how no
body is sure. and the Hyland men were Ielt
alone
The Hyland men Immediately called another
meeting putting Stephen J. Collins IN the chair.
There were still 10 persons left. and these
passed resolutions denouncing Mulligan ana
declaring II the sense OF the meeting that the
General Committee OF the district did not ap-
prove OF his methods. Then William J. Hyland,
Thomas J. O'Neill and Henry d. Speers were
appointed q committee to walt upon Mr.. Croker
10 report that the General Committee was
anxious 70 have Mr.. Mulligan resign Another
committee Is TO the members OF the commit
Zee who were not present and get their senu-
ments. The committee that sees Mr.. Croker
,riu aak that Hyland be made leader.