New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-06

years ago and this city with his parents
WHEN he a child lie began TO be active IN ina
politics OF tie city before he nineteen years
ole, a Tammany ward worker, and was sen
fenced to BIackwelTs Island as an election rioter
in lS5S. but was pardoned by Governor King IN
1866 he was elected an alderman as a member OK
the Young Democracy. and he kept that office uh-
til 1869. when he elected Sheriff as the candi-
date OF the Reform Democratic party. supported by
Samuel J. Tilden in 1869. That same year Richard
Croker was elected alderman in OBrien's district.
The two became bitter rivals for the leader
ship OF the district later, and when Croker was a
coroner OF O'Brlen's Heutenhnts, Mckenna'
was shot dead In al election fight. Croker was
tried on the charge Of shooting Mckenna' and
OBrien testified at the trial that he saw Croker
fire the shot There disagreement and the
indictment against Croker was afterward dismissed
The eumity between O'Bren and Croker never
ceased, however. and while Croker was the Tam
many leader O'Brien was opponent of Tam
many Hal.
In 1870 Mr O'Brien was elected a State Senator
with Mr.. Tildeo In 1872 he independent
Democrats candidate for Mayor and was defeated
by William f. Hayemsyer. but he ran the next
year as an independent: candidate for Congress
against Abram s. Hewitt and was elected. In 1875
he defeated Orlando b. Potter for Congress as the
candidate OF the Irving Hall Demoeracy lie Sc
ceded from Irving Han in 1855 and organized the
Independent Democracy IA order 10 run for Regis
ter OF New York County. but was defeated,
The next year he organized the @ brien troteo-
ton Democracy as an ally OF the hepubHcans
and he repeated the performance IN the next Pres,
identiaI campaign ISIS. His ofer 10 aid I'm lsg2
was rejected by the Republican managers In 1884
lie became ally OF the Committee OF seventy
and organized the city Democracy, but failed
10 get place the ticket headed by William l.
Strong The next year Mayor Strong appointed
one of O'Brien's followers 10 the office 81 Com
missioner Of Docks. A few other minor places IN
the city government went to the CITY Democracy.
In the last May1ralty campaigns MI . brlen
tried 10 make terms FOR the recognition Of E!s or
rauization bv the opponents OF Tammany Han, but
fe was ignored, ana gradually dropped out Of po-
IfIcaI activity until Charles I. Murphy became
the leader Of Tanmauy Hall. Then Mr.. OBrlen
was taken back into the regular organization from
which he had been debarred many years by his
old enemy. MI Croker.
Six years ago "a suit for divorce was begun IN
the Supreme Court Iy Mrs. o Brien, and the tes-
timony taken AT the trial showed that she and
her husband had lived many months IN separate
parts of the house. No. u West s6th street which
MIR o. Bren had bought home for his family.
seldom speaking 10 each other and quarreeiiilng
,vhen they did sneak. Mrs. - Brien accused her
husband of refusing provide properly Tor her
support She made other charges and MI o Brien
made similar counter charges. The SUIT was as
missed by Justice MacIean on May i, 1891.
since then Mr.. O BTlen had lived IN hotels IN me
CITY He had acquired a fortune largely 10y sPecI-
lation hts friends understood ana MS c4lel btsl-
ness was 6peCUating in stocks.