New-York tribune., 1871-09-22
THE T1MM1NY BURGLARY.

Another strikingly dramatic scene of politi-
cal crime will to-day be laid before the Courts
of Justice. The vulgar Instruments through
whom some moro powerful though scarcely
wiser rogue effected the robbery of tho
vouchers from tho Controllers Office are to be
arragncd to-day to answer for their crime.
We give in full the circumstances which led
to the denuncation and arrest of the crmi-
mails. We have already suppcd too full
of such scandals to feel more than
a langud disgust over this last and
worst one. No one will now be surprised to
learn that the robbery was committed and
consummated inside of the Court House; that
and paid to guard tho archives of the City
and County, Ghstracted and burned them. The
influences under which this was done are not
as yet made public. 1t is, of course, impossi-
BILE that these two ignOble parasites should have
had any interest in the destruction of these
records Circumstances point to tho first
members of that oligarchy of ras-
cality which has been stealing 30
long that burglary appeared trivial
offense. 1t is source of sincere cOngratula-
ton that they were led by their mingled fear
and audacity to the pcIpctratiOn of this open
and fragrant crime. 1t now seems impossible
that they can much longer evade the crimi-
nails dock and the cells of Sing Sing. Ev-
erything is working together for the cause of
decency and reform. While Gen. Green and
his subOrdinates are engaged in the work of
sounding the depths of the vast expanse of
fraud in the Controllers Office, accident and
that spirit of wholesome treachery which luck
lily pervades every combination of plunder has
been preparing moose for the necks of those
malefactOrs who have hitherto laughed at law
and defed public opinion.
There is a q curiously grotesque complete
ness about this stupid and bungling crime.
The chief perpetrator, IIaggerty, is one of
that foul fungus growth which has sprung up
Of late from the rank soil of Tammany cor
ruption. As he appeared in Court, yesterday,
richly and showily dressed, his fingers and
shirt-front blazing with stolen diamonds, he
appeared like a visible personifcatiOn of the
vice and disorder which curses our municipal
affairs. HIS wife is a market-woman, he is
doorkeeper of public building on q small
salary; and yet he is member Of the
Americus and Blossom Clubs, the fine
fewer of our Democratic oligarchy, and
spent the night before his arrest drinking and
gambling at these luxurious and extravagant
resorts. 1t is the weakness OF vulgar des-
potism that it must be served by creatures
who exaggerate its own faults. If Tweed or
Sweeny or q Hall or Connolly require vile
work to be done, it must be committed to
some such blackguard as this, who is too false
to be trusted and too stupid to be safe. So it
hop ,rh;1a ha op6 RauIph had the
whole night and morning to work in, they
went 80 clumsily about their work that a
watchman and servant-girl saw the papers
carried off and burned
There is one thing in the conduct Of this
affair which will require very careful and dis
eliminating handling. There should be little
difficulty in obtaining from man like Hag-
gerty the avowal of the orders under which
he worked. He cannot be condemned without
dragging more notorious names with him In
MS fall. But there appears to be conflict OF
Jurisdiction in the case, which if not settled
may prove disastrous to the public interests.
The case was fully prepared before Justice
Ledwith, when Superintendent Kelso, possibly
put ON his guard by the action of the Citizens
Committee, himself took the responsibility Of
arresting Haggertv and Baulch on mere hearsay
evidence. The matter is therefore at present in
Judge Dowlings Court from which an attempt
will be made to-day to remove it. We should re-
gret to throw any doubt upon the prObity of
magistrate who has shown 90 much courage
and energy in dealing with former criminals
who have been brought before him. But it
cannot he denied TINT public opinion would
be better satisfied If this oase weas TO be tried