The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-12-26
Ex Mayer Opdyke VS.. Thurlow
Weed.

the plan.
Elk. Mayer Opdyke VS.. Thurlow
Weed.
The great libel suit Of George Cpd IKE
VS.. Thnrlow Weed, now Gu trial in the
Supreme Court, commands universal ex
element, and the newspapers are obliged
to furnish full reports Of the proceedings
George Opdyke. the plaintiff, is gentle
man of wealth, residing 10 the upper part
of this city His early life was spent in
New Orleans, where he engaged in the
clothing business, aud accumulated q
handsome fortune. Returning to his ma
tive State, New Jersy, be subs quently
determined on going into business here,
and did SO. The firm Of George Cpd IKE
d Co., from tho commencement OF its ca
reer to the expiration of The term of its
existence, maintained high stan ding and
realizing q handsome fortune estimated al
no. less than enc million dollars. Mr.
Opdyke, having thus acquired wealth.
concluded TO achieve political honors, and
10 1859 obtaiued the Republican, nomina.
lion for Mayor of New York. His com
petitors were Hon William F. Hayemey.
er, representing Tammany Hall, and the
notorious Fernando Wood, representing
Mozart Hall. Wood vas elected the vote
standing thus : For Mozart Hall, 30 $40
for Tammany Hall, e6.9i3; Republican,
81 AIT. Not satisfied with this result
Mr.. Opdyke, in the fall of 1861, sgaln OBJ
tanned the Republican nomination for thu
Mayorality. having previously in order t
defray the necessary expenses of the cleo
ton, supported Rufus T Andrews fol
Surveyor eff the Port, on condition tba,
Mr.. Andrews should if appointed, raise
sl0, 900 from the clerks to be appropriat.
ed for that purpose. Tie appointment
was made and the money collected. After
an exciting canvass. Opdyke was elected
the vote being divided thus: Opdyke
(Rspnblican), 1880; Gnnther Tam
many). 24,I67; Wood (Mozart), "a, l67;
Opdyke's. plurality, 6l3. Sometime af.
forwards. Opdyke's son-in-law, one G.
w. Farlee, obtained contract from the
Government for supplying large num-
Der Of carbines aud muskets to the army
II n which contract, it 8 alledged, OPP
dyke himself was largely interested
much so. 10 fact as to personally superin.
tend the business and defray the expenses
OF conducting it. In July 1868, the fac i.
tory in which the weapons were manu-.
iactured was destroyed by fire and subse-
quently the city paid nearly 5000 900 to
Farlee to indemnify him for the loss
the Mayor signing the warrant for the
money. and directing operations generally.
A large portion Of the money soon after
wards came Into his possession. 1t now
turns ont that the city was swindled ou.
of some s65.000-thst being the SUN
paid 10 excess OF the damages really sus-
tanned By the owners of the contract
Now comes In the interesting part of the
story:
Mr.. Thurlow Weed, of Albany, one of
the ablest, and certainly not the most scru.
pulous, OF q me'ican politicians, was one
of the earliest and most intimate of On.
dykes political friends, and gave him the
benefit OF bis counsel and assistance 10.
obtaining the Mayorality. For time all
went smoothly between these two worthless
but ultimately quarrel ensued, and
thenceforth war to the death was waoed.
Then came letters Of elimination and 70.
elimination between Mr. Weed and Mr.
OPdyke's friends eliminating fioallv IL
published charges of fraud and corruption
on the part of the ex Mayor--charees frat
given to the world through the columns
of the Albany Evening Journal. ant
thence copied into other papers. Acting
under the advice of his counsel and he
friends, Mr.. Opdyke thereupou brought
suit to recover damages from "Lord Thur.
low" for the alledged libel; and this il
The suit now pending in the Supreme
Court. Es-Judge Edwards Pierrapont i
the counsel for Mr. Weed. He is ass;.t.
ca by the Hon. William N. Eyart.-I
DaSld Dudley Field, ESQ, represents the
interest Of Mr.. Opdyke. Thus far the
made have been most inter |
esting 70 politicians, but the public Gen.
orally are Disguised with the details Of ,hs
corrupt bargain and-sales which the inler.
,,osatories Of oounse. bring forth The
iegradation Of city politics Is being fall.
Illustrated in the trial Of this celeh,,.sJ
'ase, and truth comp.Is me to saw ,h,,
'eIther political parry aspiring to r.is
aere 's possessed Of honesty or deceocy
aowever great the libel upon his ch,r.c.
er Mr.. Weeds fulminations NAV ha,.
wrought, the ex. Mayor should never h.vs