New-York tribune., 1871-09-13
THE DEMORALIZED RING
CONTROLLER CONNOLLY REF CSES TO
RESIGN.

REPLY OF TIE CONTROLLER-HE PLEADS
INNOCENCE AND COURTS INVESTIGATION
THE MISSING VOUCHERS UNRECoVERED-Ho
EFFORTS MAKING TO RECApTURE THEM.
There was suppressed indignation in Walls st. and
the great commercial marts yesterday. In the City
Hall confusion rcigned, and angry counsels dis
tracted the Ring. Among the citizens whose aggres-
sive spirit gIows with each day and every minor
success. there was conviction that the broken Ring
WINS disposcd to fight and all felt that it needed
ONLY few more determined assaults on their part,
or few more stupid blunders on that OF Connolly
and Hall, to forco the enemy into disastrous
panic. In the Committee Of Seventy, prepara-
tions for renewed attack on vulnerable positions
were made; in the Committee of Citizens searching
inquiries were made into the manner in which Con-
nolly has conducted his office; while in the Supreme
Court it was conceded that Connollys abstraction
of his vouchers virtually ended the suit, and made
the continuation Of the injunction an imperative
duty on the part of Judge Barnard. 1t was looked
upon as an argument for the plaintiff and people
which tho Rings best legal talent was unable to
answer, and whose influence the decision nothing
that it was possible to say could counteract.
Among Ring adhcrents all confidence seemed lost
in Hall and Connolly. The latterS shallow trick OF
stealing his own vouchers, crime which 1t was said
was virtually confessed by the action of his con-
federates of the Ring in demanding his
resignation, was comm ented upon as another
Illustration of the old historical truth that
merely cunning criminals become amazingly
stupid in trying emergencies. Mayor Halls letter
demanding the retirement of Connolly was received
with equal contempt lie was alluded to as one who
had PLAYED not only shallow trick but as a traitor
TO his friends who was ready to sacrifice his con-
federates to save himself If c hoped to win public
applause. or to gain sympathy by his letter, he GER
tainly missed his aim, for while all hoped
good results from it as demoralzhg 10
the Ring none spoke Of it in any other
than contcmptuOus terms. "Who VIII now demand
Halls resignation % q question which seemed
naturally to suggest tsf TO scores OF men OF various
habits of thought and it invariably caused laughter
wherever heard Tammany Democrats generally
spoke of Hall and Connolly as lacking the spirit and
courage to stand the pressure brought against them
from their own ranks well as from those OF the
oppostion party but it generally believed that
that Hall and Connolly would fly to avoid the
responsibility of the alleged robbery of the Treasury
Ia nd this was made by more than one person., was
laughed at as impossible under the circumstances,
for they could not carry their property with them
and would not abandon it.
Late in the afternoon the letter of Controller Con-
nolly refusing to tender his resignation, was pub
lsbed and caused general excitement. The Con-
troller was in doubt early in the morning as to
what action he should take, and it was only after
being urged by his friends, and, it is said by his
wife, to refuse to resign unless Tweed, Hall, and
Sweeny did, that he finally ventured to send the fol-
lowing communication TO the Mayor:
CONTROLLER COSNoLLYs LETTER.
CONTROLLERS OFFICE, NEw-YORK, Sept. IL, 1871
Hon. A. OAKEY HALL. Mayor.
MY DEAR SIR: Your letter OF Sept. H. asking my
resignation Controller presented to Inc last night
at II o'clock at an interview sought by myself Similar
verbal requests from yourself and others, have been
within the last few weeks received and declined The
official source and subject matter OF yonr note as then
read TO me, and published by You In this mornings
press demanded and has received earnest consdera
tion criminal abstraction Of papers from the Finance
Department seems the reason for your letter. so I as
any is therein suggested
In common with other city officers, now stand before
the public and our constituency" charged with NAL
feasance in the administration Of high trusts so long
confded TO my The legal proceeding wherein such
charges are made. and to be subsantiaed II at ALL Is
now on hearing before fearless and Just tribunal My
answer thereto is before the public and my complete de-
fense ready to be presented both to that lGh Court,
" opr constituents" and to the citizens OF NewYork at
large NV counsel has urged by my wish, speedy trial
ard rigid investigation. am fearless or the result ana
anxious the procedure During the many years oimy
administration this office have not seen and failn
TO see any dinnutIon OF public confidence ana suchfact
would have been readily marked nothing being more
financial
tion beg leave to differ from your Honor In thinking
the robbery OF my Office creates any expected or
sudden emergency" lam not apprehensv' 'hat either
yourseh or this community will suspect that am an
accompee in that depreciation. am happy TO assure
Won that it has effected serious mischief the archlves
OF the Dcpartme containing abstracts OF all the stolen
papers whoever planned executed the crime has
reaned no benefit and inflicted no injury upon
public interests. Would not my reSIsha'oh at
this particular time give the advoca'es ol INC
partisan attacks upon the CITY GoVcrhmeh' just
cause TO believe me to plead guilty not only 10 parc
patton lat least passve III the burglary out as "
ALI the charges now made in the legal proceedngsi so
q sceus IA me- NV official acts have been supervised
and pproyed by your superior vigilance 80 Tar as my
admnistra questioned equal a''aches
TO yourself In your answer ana aihda't reau III inc
pending litigation you have adopted ana Nh"icateu
those acts You could not justify yourseu without so
doing Consequently do not perceive why my resigna
ton sbould be asked or how II rendered. 1t would have
sny iust influence in appt asng public clamor Conn.,
dent therefore in the steadfast good opinion OF friends
in the ultimate judgment to be rendered by the
Courts. cannot consistently with selireSpect accord
TO your desire unable to submit myseN as vica-
rious sacrifice satisfy the hungry appeu'e OF adVer-
sares for victim Or at this juncture and under these
.n,ar ctrcumstances betray weakness Of position
ies, Of rigid in, cation by rendering my resignation.
Icannot now anticipate the effect upon this determna-
,,on ,nture events may produce When past admin
,trat,on shall be yindcated and pending accusations
shall be repced shall not fail TO act as may seem to
cir M nee xhi