Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-29

In connection with the arrest of Connolly, the
ex-controller of New York and one of the most
rapacious and shameless, though not the most
courageous Of the ring thieves, it has been
claimed that his prosecution was a breach of
faith, because he had been assured that he
should not be molested if lie would contribute
TO the work Of reform by putting Andrew II.
Green in his place. When his courage failed
him and he listened to the overtures of Mr..
Havemeyer and Mr. Tilden, some assurance of
this kind was probably given him; but, if he
made bargain, he made it with persons who
had no authority 10 promise him immunity for
his crimes. Mr.. O'Conor, who represents the
attorney general had nothing to do with any
negotiations Of that kind, and having in
formation on which to establish a case
against him, he makes use Of it.
There is no analogy between his case
and that of a criminal who becomes
Estates evidence by agreement with the prose.
cutting officer, because here there was no agree.
ment with the prosecuting officer, no furnishing
of evidence, and no criminal prosecution Mr.
Peckham, Mr.. O'Conor's associate, denies that
Connolly has supplied any evidence, aud says
that to all inquiries whether information could
be obtained from him, the answer has been that
it could not. Moreover, though full disclos
ure of all the facts that might be useful to the
public officers in the prosecution of his conled
crates might be a sufficient reason for allowing
him to escape the punishment of his crimes, il
ought not, Of course, to excuse him from the duty
OF disgorging his plumber, and to recover that is
the object of the suit now brought against him
Mr.. Connolly is treated by the sheriff Will
distinguished consideration. If he had beer
arrested in an ordinary suit for the recovery o
petty debt, he would have been clapped int
Ludlow street Jail, and the doors closed on hira
without ceremony; but, as the suit is brought
to recover stolen Millions the sheriffs, who can
be gruff and peremptory enough 10 an ordinary
customer, were the most polite and Obliging Of
hosts, entertaining Mr. Connolly at the New
York hotel, and, instead of few hours, which
is the utmost time allowed in general TO obtain
bail, giving him as many days. 1t is uphill
work bringing rogues to this sort of justice in
New York. All the machinery of the law
from the sheriffs and policemen who make ar
rests, through the whole series of public officers
the prosecuting attorney, whose duty it is 10
press the accusation, the commissioners who
select the jurors, and the judge who presides at
the trial, is controlled and lor years has been
controlled by the very men for whom justice is
now sought. The cases of all these corrupt
officials are now being pressed upon the grand
jury, but, though their guilt is apparent to al
men, it seems impossible TO make the CRANE
Jurors see that they have done anything wrong
New Workers are beginning to believe tina
grand jurors area contrvance skillfully adopted
10 screen guilty persons from punishment.
Last Sunday, one of the Hartford clergymer
preached a sermon, which we find reported
briefly in the Hartford Post. 1t was good ser
mon, evidently; but we find in it this passage: :
"The great English poet says:
THE good that men do lives after them;
The evil is inferred with their bones
This is true and false. True that the goof
lives, which was illustrated but while men il
charity agree TO say nothing evil of the dead
their wicked influence is not buried with them
but lives to entail curses upon their memory"
We have some curiosity to know what "grca
English poet" the preacher quotes This poet i
new TO US and we desire 10 get an introduction
10 him. Another great English poet, namely
Shakspere, does not agree with him, and, in fact
take a wholly different view of the matter
Shakspere says:
1.-The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft inferred with their bones"
The preacher would have done better if he ha
quoted Shakspere whose views on the point j
question are more nearly IL e his own.