New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-04
LEGISLATIVE CORRUPTION.
THE CASE OF SENATOR WOOD.


MITTEE g. ANOTHER TERRIBLE EXPOSURE
FROM THE BOWLING GREEN SAVINGS BANK.
To me Ed1tOr Of The tribune.
SIR: The whole nation has been aStOunded by the
disclosure Of the gigantic villainies and frauds per-
petrated by Tweed and his associates that have
already been brought to light But the people have
not vet been informed by whose agency Tweed So
cured the legislation that enabled him to perpetuate
those frauds nor who among the members of the
Legislature received share of the plumber. There
are strong reasons for believing that members
of the Legislature who have aided Tweed in passing
his Iniquitous bills were elected Republicans. 1t
| is therefore the duty of the Republican press to
point out these men, and to lay before the public the
proofs Of their guilt to the end that justice may be
done in the premises.
These proofs from the nature of the case, must be
circumstantial proofs But where the testimony is
clear and full this class of evidence has always been
regarded as the most conclusive and satisfactory
that can be offered. One or two witnesses might
testify falsely but it is impossible that concurrence
of circumstances all tending directly to establish
! the same fact should lie. or be mistaken.
1t is to a case sustained by circumstanal evidence
| that attention is invited.
| Two years ago last Fall, James Wood of Living
ston County was nominated and elected to the State
| senate as a Republican. At that time he claimed to
Door. The State then held and still holds judg-
nent against him for several thousand dollars, which
was recovered in 1855 and the records Of Livingston
| County now show old judgments against him in
| favor of individual creditors that remain unpaid
and unsatisfed.
At the end of his first session at Albany tls70l this
so lately bankrupt Senator returned TO Livingston
! County with plenty of money He invested consid-
cradle sums in real estate securities and spent money
freely. THIS attracted attention and accustomed
! comnent because it was known that he had voted
for Tweeds CITY Charter, and other bills known as
Tvveeds bills at Albany His friends explained that
| the investments were made by him as agent of
| Sew-York Insurance Company. 1t was thought
little singular that he should take securities for such
Investments in his own name, if he only acting
as agent but the matter was alOwedtO pass without
strict inouirv. and ne was reelected to the Senate
last Fall almost without opposition in the Republl-
| can ranks.
| When the Bowling Green Savings Bank went into
! the hands of a Receiver. in November last it was
discovered that this Senator had kept account in
| that institution from the 18th day Of April 1870
that he had deposited, at sundry times, S4,S5O in
said bank; and that at the time the bank suspended,
there was balance due him Of S216O IS. copy of
the account isnclOsed. Youar requested to publish
IT, " will be observed that the first item a credit
of $1,000, which was deposited six days after the
passage of Tweeds City Charter-the second item OF
credit 5000 was deposited May 8, 1870, ten days
after the passage of the Tax-Levy bill. 1t will also
be observed that the 18th of February 1871, the
! account was overdTawn more than $780, and re-
manned so oyerdrawn until the 18th of March follow
ing when there was deposit of $3.50 and that
while interest is credited TO the Senator on his
monthly balances, no charge of interest ia made
against him for the balance Of $500 for month
| These facts suggest several inquiries. How came
| this Senator in possession of these large OF
! money thus deposited on INTEREST," How came it
that he made these deposits in one of Tweeds banks
| in the City of NewYOrk, over three hundred miles
from his place OF residence, when he could have OBJ
tanned the same or higher rate of interest at per-
fectly safe savings bank in Rochester within thirty
| miles of his residence2
These facts having been freely discussed in Lv-
inqston County for some days, reached the ears OF
the Senator, audihe went to gentleman IN Geneseo
and volunteered an explanation. He denied that he
had ever received any money TO influence his vote
| ON anv bin but said it very easy to get money
at Albany and he had got some for his friends; but
did not state from whom he got it, nor for whom he
obtained IT, He admitted that he had borrowed of
| William NJ Tweed $4,000 which did not enter into
| his Bowling Green bank account, for which he had
given his note and stated that Tweed had lately
written to him requiring payment Of the note
The Senator's explanations and admissions are quite
rs damaging to him as the other facts III the case
They need No commentary where he is known lie
went TO Albany poor and, after two sessions Of the
Legislature he comes home comparatively rich lie
certainly voted for Tweeds bills in the Senate He
acknowledges receiving money from Tweed. The
device of giving note and afterward calling for its
payment is too thin hide the real nature of the
| transaction
The Republicans in the Senate owe 1t TO them
selves and to the Republican party OF the State and
| Nation that this whole matter shall be promptly
investigated and if this Senator any other Senator
has sold his vote to Tweed or to anybody else, let
such Senator be at once expelled and then punished
as the law prescrbes. Tweeds purchased bondmen
should be punished as well their master. Our
Republican Legislature should purge itself Of
| Tweeds hirelings. REPUBLICAN.