New-York tribune., 1871-09-07
HOW TAMMANY DEFENDS pTSELF.
REMINIsCENCE OF 1894.

TO ne Editor of The Trtbxns.
SIR: "They who SOW the wind shall reap
the whirlwnd" is O proverb wildly llus-
trated than in the events transpirng connected
with the City Hall frauds.
In 1854 It was discovered that among other frauds per
perated by the then rAcrs of the city, payroll had
been made up, comprising large army Of streetsweep-
ers on which roll names Of persons long dead 40
well as scores Of fictitious Names for all Of whom pay
was regularly drawn each month frVm ths treasury.
number Of citizens feeling aggeved atsuch an outrage
applied TO counsel for legal advice 1t was determined
that suit should be brought to restrain the city from
paying any bills except such should be asceraned TO
be genuine. The next question to be determined was
who should be the plaintiff in such @ suit The man who
consented was John Hecker gentleman Of wealth and
Of great beralty and largely engaged, among other
pursuits In the manufacture Of -four and bread
suit was brought; the Hon. Joseph +. DAILY, now one
of the Judges of Court of Common Pleas was the at
torney; Judge Whiting the counsel acting In behalf
Of an association then called the Citizens Association
In December, 1854, complaint was drawn and an In
junction granted by Of the Justices OF the Supreme
Court, restraining the city from paying money upon
these fraudulent payros until 1t could Dc ascerahed
who were entitled to the money.
Immediately after the granting Of the injunction the
street-sweepers under the advice Of men connected
with the City Hall swindles, gathered In large force
about the house Mr.. Hecker and with set and pre-
pared words OF camOr and with rotous demonstrations
demanded
n formed the mob that II the authorities refused to pay
any who had actually performed labor II they would
have their bills properly made out and authenticated ne
would pay them from his own funds The mob, under
instructions from their leaders, refused TO receive
money from any source except from the City Hall
authorities
On the 18th day OF January 1865, motion to dissolve
the Injunction to have been beard. On that day
Mr. Hecker called at the Office Of his regular COUNSEL
then Messrs Abbott Hull and suggested that Mr. Hull
should accompany him to the Court when the motion
against the city 10 be argued by Judge "htns'
While he and his friend, Mr.. Amos Hull were on their
way to the City Hail. and within few feet OF the Court
House steps, Mr.. Hecker assailed by Q mob and
knocked down; and was only rescued with life by the
police He carried through the portico door OF the
Court House by the police into the courtroom and the
door was barricaded- The horrid mprecaons OF brutal
men, who screamed XIII him! kill himp and that too,
within very portals of the Temple OF Justice fol-
lowed him. Judge Ingraham hearing the confusion re-
from the bench to an inner ROOM The yes OF the
mob In subsidng, the Court resumed business
with evident agitation and ALARM Judge Whiting the
counsel for the Association who had passed through
the mob, with great frmness but at the risk OF
his life, arose, and in @ few words OF eloquent
and burning defiance to the mob and indigns-
ton toward the officials by whom the missuided
men were inspired, predicted that unless the corrpp
tons then sought be restrained were condemned and
punished the honor Of citizenship in this great metrop
oils would cease have any charms men would be no
longer safe in their possessions, and corrupt officials
would divide as plunderers and thieves among them
selves the earnings and industry Of the people. Mr.
John E. Deven represented the defendans The story OF
the spread through the CITY, Among the partisan pa
pers of the day some laughed at Mr. Hecker some said he
had made fool of himself others sad No man should
should make martyr Of himself" Mr.. Hecker was sub
seouenty nominated for Mayor You Mr.. Greeley with
all the influence Of THE TRIBUNE, supported him for
Mayor yet It is doubtful whether loo Of the aboring
men for whom Mr. Hecker put his life in peril voted to
make him Mayor
Other men are now standing In the breach and defy
the Tammany Ring in all its corpt power in the very
courts 1t controls.
viii they dare again to employ mob TO defend them
against the suit John Foley backed BY an association
Of the merchants, largest tax payers, ana most In
fuental citizens Of the MetropOsi A. O. H.
Nep- York. Sept. 6, 1871.