New-York tribune., 1900-11-30
MURRAY THREATENS SUIT.
DENIES EX-MAYOR HEWITTS STATE
MENTS IN CHAMBER SPEECH.
THE Fx-MAYOR REITERATEs THE STORY
OF HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER
SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.

l.
SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.
William Murray. ex-Superintendent of Police.
made a statement last night in which he said
that the statement made by ex-MayOr Hewitt at
the meeting at the Chamber of Commerce on
Tuesday last regarding certain expressions Mr..
Hewitt said he (Murrayl had made to him
about officials of the Police Department
untrue He threatened to bring suit against
Mayor Hewitt. His statement is as follows:
Owing to nv feeble condition of health during
the last seven years I have been unable to read
the daily papers. except as my family draw my
attention 70 important matters from time to
time and il only to-day that l learned thai
there had been a meeting at the Chamber OF
Commerce relative to the suppression Of certain
classes of crime. and that ex-Mayor Hewitt de-
livered address, N which ne stated that ne
had an interview with while he was Mayor
and ! was superintendent Of Police relative to
the enforcement of law, and where he says that
l made certain statements TO him about my
self. other officers in the Department and ms
political friends ] pronounce 10 be untrue IN
every particular l never had such a conversa-
tion with him rs he stated before the members
# the Chamber Of Commerce. IF ne as Chief
Magistrate Of this city had such information as
he stated he had, why did he not immediately
ro before the Grand Jury and submit the facts
, T. = ~ body
7 shall consult my physician. and If he thinks
it viii not imperil my life l shall Immediately
begin proceedings against eX-Mayor Hewitt.
When asked if re had any reply to make to
Mr. Murray's statement Mr. Hewitt said last
night at his home, No 9 Lexington-ave:
AS Abraham Lincoln said, there is no use
crossing streams until get to them. I don't
see how there can ne any ground for a suit, as
it is simply a question Of veracity between Mr..
Murray and myself OF course. he would swear
that the conversation did not take place. and I
would swear that it did. AS matter of fact,
the conversation took place right in this house
ei, ;,,b
t;sm. There was no one else present so II
would be impossible for Mr.. Murray To prove
that the conversation did not take place or for
me to prove that it did. Although I was sick
man at that time. l positive that my mind
was perfectly clear. I understand that Mr..
Murray is in very feeble health; his mind may
o. may not he impaired
1T pains me to know that my references TO
Mr.. Murray in my address at the meeting at
the Chamber of Commerce have been miscon-
: strued. ! never questioned Mr. Murray's sin
cerity nor his integrity. on the contrary,
had AT the time I was Mayor, and have always
had. the utmost confidence in his honesty and
his devotion to duty. I have always felt great
gratitude to him for the efficient manner in
which he performed his duties and for the aid ne
gave me in my efforts 70 suppress dens of vice
in this city when I was Mayor. l never thought
for moment that ne had ever received money
construction of my speech has led any 10
think otherwise. There was no good reason for
referring to Mr. Murrays wealth in my speech
the other day. l was speaking extempOraneously.
and that conversation between US happened To
enter my mird.
"Th- moral condition of the city when l be
came Mayor was almost but not quite as bad
as it : now on taking office at once set out
to do my best to close up the Illegal resorts.
EenS i'll the time l asked Mr.. Murray to
come and see at my house in order that
there might be delay in the matter. At that
time there were rumors in the air that there
was corruption in the Police Department.
tried to place my hand any who had
taken money as d bribe, but l never succeeded
il discovering any person who was guilty OF
such wrongdong. The reports about corrup-
tion We're many
Il asked Mr. Murray if he thought any one
in the Department corrupt Mr.. Murray
replied The general impression is that money
is collected. l certainly don't sst any Of it, he
exclaimed. 1 am man of means l am worth
N}tNOun' Where did YOU get it,: | asked. He
said. J made most # it through fortunate in
Vestmeuts in Wall street and IN real estate in
Then asked him if the dives could be closed.
He replied. Certainly. # you want II done. l
then SAID to him. Why don't you do IL Mr-
Murray? Mr Murray replied that he could do
:" If the Mayor told him 10, but that some OF
Ihe Mayors influential friends ""uId oe d.
fectrd, and that my political career would he IN
danger.
Il told him / elected 70 see that the law
enforced, and that these places must be
closed. / also told him that my political future
had nothing to do with the matter. nor was such
an order affecting any of my friends to be con
sidered Mr. Murray then went ahead and car
ried my order efficiently, and those resorts
closed,
AT the Champer of Commerce meeting
simply referred 10 what had been accomplished
during my term Mayor. because l believe
that the Mayor has power to see that the laws
are enforced In fact Mayor Van Wyck should
be- able to close these resorts more easily than
! could for the reason that when l took office
all four of the Police Commissioners were in
office, and had nothing 10 do with the appoint
ment OF anV If them Every member Of the
present Police Board is appointee of Mayor
Van Wyck. and ne should be able 10 exert much
more influence in having the Commissioners en-
MARVELLOUS ALE
and prepossessing-m SO by c. II. Evans & Sons