The Irish standard., 1903-05-16
How He Became the Absolute Autocrat
Of the Most Powerful Political
Society in the World.
His Policy of Cancellation is Bringing to
the Organization Every Democrat
in the City of New York.

Murphy prides himself upon the fact
that no woman ever drank over any of
his bars, and no arrest was ever made
in any one Of them.
In 1892 Edward Hagan, who, for
many years, had been the Tammany
leader for the eighteenth district, died,
and the honor passed down to Murphy,
who had been his second in command.
AS soon as Murphy got into the general
committee his ability and force Of
character was recognized by Croker,
who pushed him rapidly to the 'front.'
and when Van Wyck was elected
mayor he appointed Murphy dock COM
missioner. Before accepting the Office
he disposed of his saloons to his broth
ers or to the bartenders who had man.
aged them for him. His wealth was
then estimated at $35O,OOO. He is now
ranked as a millionaire, being. one of
the fifteen Tammany leaders who are
considered plutocrats. He is charged
with making a large sum Of money out
of the ice monopoly, which was organ
ized by Croker, and by manipulating
the remains of the city docks.
When Croker retired from the leader
ship Of Tammany and went to Europe,
you will remember that he entrusted
his authority to triumvirate, consist
ing of Mr.. Haffen, Mr.. Mcmahon and
Mr., Murphy, to whom the facetious
Devery, formerly superintendent of po-
lice, gave the name "Hayseed," "Two-
Spot and "Sport''- was
"Sport." This division of power and
authority did not prove successful, and
last September was dissolved. By
common consent, without formality
and without opposition, Murphy was
allowed to remain as the nominal head
of the society, and took command in a
quiet, unassuming way, as IL his
leadership was only ad interim. But
all the time he was gathering the wires
into his own hands and extending his
influence in every direction until he be-
came master of the situation, and, at
the annual meeting in January was
elected chairman of the executive COM
mittee, which is the nominal position
of the leader of Tammany Hall.
Mr.. Murphy lives at 300 East Seven
teenth street, modest house about
four blocks from Tammany Hall, for
which he paid $4,000 last summer
when he married Mrs. Graham,
widow who had livel in the neighbor-
hood for several years. The house was
a wedding present to his bride. Until
his marriage he resided with his broth
er-in-law, Patrick Gray, sergeant of
police, who occupies a similar resi-
dence in the same block, which also
belongs to Mr.. Murphy. His family
consists Of the four children Of his
brother William, who died seven years
ago. One of them is cadet in the
first class at West Point and will grad
uate in June. Mr.. Murphy is a men,
ber of the Roman Catholic church and
very regular in the performance of his
religious duties. He is liberal to char
ity and an officer in several religious
and benevolent organizations. Although
the owner of five saloons, he never
drinks liquor himself, but is habitual
smoker. His manners are quiet and
reserved and even more reticent than
Croker.
When called upon Mr.. Murphy the
other day at Tammany Hall found
him sitting in revolving chair behind
a big desk. He ore his habitual suit
of black, with black string tie-they
say he never wears anything else-and
a derby hat pushed over on the back
Of his head. A large number Of men
were sitting and standing around in
the adjoining room awaiting their turn
to see him. and followed one another
for brief conferences; but the double
doors We're wide open and everything
that occurred within could be with
messed by the entire company. There
was no formality and no one seemed
to be in charge. I applied to several
people before could induce anyone
to take my card to the 'boss," but