New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-18
THOMAS MULVEY.

Those who have tried il generally admit that
It is a fine thing to be born rich. But there is
one man In New-York who has invented bet
ter scheme than hereditary opulence. lie WASH
born rich but he was born Mulvey and Thomas
is the first name of him. Thomas Mulvey Is not
the only man who has lived dual life, but no
body else that we ever heard Of has ever lived
inst his sort Of dual life To all practical IN
tents and purposes Thomas Mulvey Is twins
and he Is understood 10 be 'cherishing reason
able expectation of becoming trpets In the near
future. not to speak of additional multiplications
ne time goes on Ye who listen with credulity
TO the whispers Of fancy and pursue with eager
ness the phantoms of hope attend to the history
Of Thomas Mulvey, as DR.. johnson came some
where near remarking.
Thomas Mulvey was patrolman on the OLD
New-York City police force. His heart throbped
warmly both for his native and his adopted
country a Is the amiable custom OF hearts be-
longing to the Mulvey family. When. therefore,
he wearied of the dull and tranquil routine OF
his beat he found no difficulty in getting him
self translated 10 the more vivacious sphere or
an ex-patrolman on a pension Of $1,000 year.
But after a brief experience the giddy whirl or
private life got on his nerves and, retiring to
y
rIous suburb Of Brooklyn-he formed a connec-
ton with the local constabulary, and In due
order was engrafted upon the police system OF
that city when, in accordance with the statute
made and provided. New-UtreCht consented to
relnqush its corporate identity. Make par
ticular note of that for 1t was the beginning OF
the contamination of Thomas Mulvey's career.
In q certain year Of grace-or OF disgrace, as
some maintain-it Is not likely TO be forgotten
that New-Yorl was forced to bolt large
amount of outlying territory. Including the afore
named city Of Brooklyn. A painful attack OF
indigestion Immediately followed which mas not
vet been cured, and to which. though the CIR
cumstance escaped attention at the time, the SUD-
iect of this sketch contributed in his modest way
By the operation of the Consolidation act the sew
eral police forces belonging 10 the constituent
parts of the newly established metropolis were
merged into the Police Department or the city OF
New-York and consequently Thomas Mulvey be-
came once more a New-York patrolman al sal
ary Of 81 400 per annum while still remaining
an ex-patrolman on an annual pension OF Sl,OoO.
By q process Of reasoning which, considering us
source we have never been able to explain. the
Tammany authorities arrived at the conclusion
that there was a suggestion of incongrulty IN
the fact Of a mans claiming TO be his own I'M
derstudy, as II were, and entitled to compensa-
ton in both capacities, and they took the case
into court II Is not improbable that THOMAS
Mulyey was temporarily Disconnected, but he
was not dismayed With the eye OF faith ana
the essential sinews OF litigation he looked to
the tribunals Of justice for sure defence OF his
statutory duality, and he did not look In vain.
The Appellate Division has decided that he Is
patrolman and an ex-patrolman, that S240o
year Is his unquestionable due from the public
treasury and that just twice that amount is
what the city owes him as back pay for the
! period during which the authorities had the
eflrontery 10 dispute his status.
II is delightful to witness such a vndlcatiOn
Of unique and original merits. Nor can it be
supposed that this is all that we shall see. 1t
appears to us that Thomas Mulvey has only
! Just begun TO run his course. There Is great
amount Of contiguous territory still available
for purposes Of consolidation with this imperial
city For n man OF Thomas Mulveys penetra-
ton 1t will be an easy thing to pick ont a ham
let whose manifest destiny II is to be absorbed.
Having done this, he will doubtless become two
ex patrOlmen, each Of whom will obviously he
entitled to a pension of $1,000 year; at his
early convenience thereafter a member Of the
police force of the community which he has pre-
viously selected for the purpose, and in due Sc
quence be enrolled for the third time in the
police force Of NewIOrk. That will raise
Thomas Mulveys stipend to the comfortable
figure OF 81, 420 per annum, the next correspond
ing operation will make II 400, and unless the
canker OF a long peace hurries him prematurely
TO the grave a lovely succession Of thousand
dollar increments awaits him. We beg TO con
vey TO Thomas Muvey the assurance OF our
most distinguished consideration.
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