Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-05-12
Government by Ruiiianism.

On Friday, April z, a pardon signed by
John T. Hoffman, Democratic Governor
of New York, was sent to Sing Sing for
Patrick Duffy, a member of the Tammany
General Committee, who was sentenced
on the 9th of June, 1870, for a period of
nine years and six months. Duffy's re-
cord, compiled from official sources, is as
follows:
l. In the summer of 1857 he was rid
ing down West Broadway with two COM
panions. When they reached the corner
of Thomas street they saw colored man,
named Sackett, sitting in front of his
house. Duffy drew his revolver, pointing
the attention of his companions to the
negro. He fired, and the ball entered
Sackett's brain killing him instantly.
Duffy was arrested, but owing to political
influence, he was never tried.
IT In 1859, he almost murdered
steamers his punishment was nne VI siA
cents.
III. In 1862, he enlisted in the "Aveng-
ers, " and was elected Captain. He first
signaliZed himself by a bloody duel with
one of his Leutenants.
w. While in New Orleans with his
regiment, he shot two Union men for re-
fusing to sing the Bonnie Blue Flag"
For this double murder General Butler
stripped him of his uniform, had him i'm
prisoned, and finally dismissed from the
army.
V. In 1867, having returned to New
York, he shot a gas filter. For this muir
der he was not tried.
VI. In 1868, he and Frank Mccormick
entered restaurant kept by German
and his wife. They called for food and
drink, which were furnished, and when
the German asked for payment one of
them stabbed him through the eye with
an ice-pick, killing him instantly. Both
fed; sometime after, the wife of the muir
dered man disappeared, and the two muir
derers returned to the city.
VII. Duffy next shot Daniel Varrick, a
colored barber, without provocation. He
was not tried for the murder.
VIII. His next crime was the attempt to
murder officer Dyckman. For this he was
tried, convicted, and sentenced to Sing
Sing for nine years and six months.
His relations with the Tammany Gen
eral Committee did not cease during all
these years. He is the known and willful
murderer of six men; three others barely
escaped murder at his hands; and one
woman was done away with for his ben
eft He nevertheless continued to repre-
sent a Democratic district in the Tam
many councils, and the men with whom he
was politically associated demanded of
Tweed and Sweeney his release through
the Governors pardon. Since they could
not succeed, as in all previous cases, in
keeping him at large by buying up judges,
they were resolved in getting him out of
prison by terrifying Tammanys tool, John
T. Hoffman.
They have succeeded. Tweed demanded
Duffys release; the murderous ruffians of
the Fifth and Sixth Wards were waiting
to receive him like another Barrabbas.
Hoffman hesitated, stricken with terror
at the enormity such a pardon would be;
but Tweed demanded, and Hoffman
signed the papers. Duffy is now
enjoying a short pleasure trip TO Europe
at the expense of his political friends 1t
is men like Duffy who are the power in
the New York wards on election days 1t
is their presence at the polls that makes
Democratic majorities and induces Re-
publicans, by moral fsrcc, to stay at home,
| if they have any fear of murder 1t is
men like Duffy who oppose registry laws
who cry lOudest against Federal baynonets
on election days; who swear solely by
| State rights; who love the World as a
| Democratic paper and the New York Post
and Chicago Tribune as Republican or
gans. 1t is men like Duffy who will be in
favor OF either BTair OF Hoffman for the
| Presidency, and who will sustain and per-
petuate Tammany so long as Tammany
obeys their behests. Ii was one of their
kind who killed Avery ID. Putnam last
Wednesday night, in street car, for at
tempting to protect the ladies whom he
was accompanying from insult at Villains
hands 1t is men like Duffy who govern
New York who form the mob of De-
mocracy everywhere, North and South
and the Democracy, North and South, is
responsible for their existence. Dutfy's
release by Hoffman will enhance the count
of Hoffman ballots in the next convention.
I-Chica00 Post