New-York tribune., 1872-04-01


the deposit as Wood might not require Tor
personal expenses.
About the time of the introduction to Gould,
that is to say in January, 1870, Senator Wood
became acquainted in the Legislature with WI
liam NJ. Tweed, and it was remarked that ne
supported many if not all OF Tweeds most
notorious jobs, including the tax levy, the Guy
charter, and the amendments to the CODE
Either in August or September, Wood applied
to Mr.. Tweed for loan of $4,000, which was
promptly granted again without inquiry or
security. He gave his note for the amount,
at three months, and there have been four or
five successive renewals, the note being now
overdue and unpaid. This money was also IN
vested in Chamberlain'5 liquor business. There
were further deposits of about $4,000 to Woods
credit in the Bowling Green Savings Bank,
the source of which the Committee was unable
to trace. There were money dealings also with
one Al0nzO Bradncr of Livingston County,
confidential agent of Jay GOulds, In whose
hands Gould placed the overdue note OF
Wood, "to be used up there for some
purpose and who also holds a note for
5000 given by Senator Wood in connection
cages in Livingston County at was ascer-
"tained by the Committee upon attempting to
"secure the attendance OF Bradner on this inves-
"tigation that he had recently left the State ana
"would continue absent therefrom for some
"timer Tho Obscurty OF these transa ;tlonS
could not escape notice, and the suspicion Oh
the Committee seems also to have been excited
by Mr.. Woods inability to explain his account
with the Bowling Green Savings Bank. Be-
tween April. 1870, and May, 1871, the deposits
10 his credit in that institution amount 10
ga. $50; the balance due him is $3.50; yet no
could OnlyiprOduce checks for about Si3,o'o, al
exccpt two small ones being payable to tho
order of Chamberlain. The rest of the checks,
together with O letter from MIR. Tweed ana
other papars connected with this New York
account, he declares were mystcriousy aD-
"stractedr from his Office in Geneseo. 1t Is adj
mitted, however, that $1,000 was drawn out of
the bank for his personal use.
When Mr.. Gould advanced this sum OF SlO,OOO
and Mr. Tweed the further SUM of $4,000, it is in
evidence that Senator Woods business credit
was notorOusly bad BY his own and Cham
berlain's testimony, he is shown to have been
worth from $4,000 to $4,000; but in the
Clerks Office of Livingston County eighteen
unsatisiicd judgments appear recorded against
him. amounting in the aggregate to nearly
$4,000. Anybody who believes that William
NJ. Tweed and Jay Gould advanced large sums
of money to man Of this standing, with no
sort of security, and as an everyday business
transaction, has original views OF the financial
shrewdness Of those eminent gentlemen which
it seems hardly worth while to cOntrOvcrt. And
if it be asked why Wood should be held respon-
siblc for loans that were really made to Cham
beran, and of which he only acted rs the in
termediary, the answer is that Wood and
Chamberlain were partners The Senator ex-
planned the loans when they were first brought
to light, by saying that they were negotiated
entirely for Chamberlains benefit and not at
all for his own. But it has been proved before
the Committee that this liquor concern was
carried on in the name of two nomnaliy dis
tinct but really identical companies i'll which
Wood, by the expenditure of about 5000, had
acquired over $4,000 worth of stock. He and
Chamberlain were to divide the profits equally,
and all the stock and property stood in Woods
name.
The case seems to us complete. Senator
Wood takes from Jay Gould $4,000 and from
William NJ. Tweed $15,000 and puts the money
into his private business enterprises. He is
pecuniary irresponsible, but is not asked to
give security. The money has not been repaid
and the lenders do not apparently expect it to
be. Mr. Wood obtains this money from men
to whom he is practically total stranger, and
he offers them no equivalent for it. He is n
Republican, but he votes for Mr.. Tweed's pet
measures, and if he does not vote for any
scheme of Jay Gould's it is because no Erie bill
is introduced at that session, though the repeal
OF the Classification act is agitated outside.
"What other conclusion can reasonably be ar
"riyed at" ask the Committee in closing their
calm but damaging report, "than that Mr.
"Wood's conduct in this matter is inconsistent
"with his position as legislator, and must
necessarily embarrass his action as such in
"regard to any measures which may be brought
"befOre the Senate in which these men may
abe Interested ?" And what conclusion must
the public arrive at if, in the face OF this report
and the testimony by which it is sustained the
Senate permits Mr.. Wood to retain the Office
which he has disgracedq
POLITICAL IhDICTHENTg