New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-30
JOHN 7. HOFFMAN, md THE TANn1NI
FRAUDS

CHARGE-ALDERMAN CoMAN'S STATEMENT.
There was q general expectation on the part
Of the public, in consequence OF tntmations made In
several city newspapers that the Committee OF Seventy
in its address the citizens Of NewYork would make
certain charges against Gov Hoffman tending to incrm-
mate him in connection with the Tweed frauds. The fact
seems to be that official action was taken by the Com
mittee OIL the subject it being still in the hands OF sub
Committee the report Of which, full Is not yet ready
A member of the Committee Of Seventy said yesterday
TO TRIBUNE reporter that the matter was incidentally
brought before the Committee the meeting Monday
evening and, while it not thought best to take &C
ton at time, the revelations made we're the subject
OF general comment and will undoubtedly be acted upon
at some future time. The same gentleman said that
the facts derived from the Controllers Office show
that the obtaining Of money on fraudulent war
rants was begun under the administration
of Mayor Hoffman in 1868. These warrants were not
signed by Mayor Hoffman, but by Alderman Thomas
Conan In the absence OF the Mayor The warrants ia
the Controllers Office show, 1t Is sad that ON some oc
casions warrants were signed the same day by Ho
man and Conan those signed by the former being for
small and probably correct amounts. while those signed
by Conan were OF the nature Of the lngerso Keyser
and Garvey warrants for excessive and undoubtedly
fraudulent amounts The fact OF the Mayors repeated
absence for brief periods when such warrants were
signed is considered evidence that he indirectly
allowed himself to be used tool by the Ring. These
mproper warrants were signed at different times be-
tween August and December, 1863
In reference to these charges, Alderman Thomas Co
man stated to TRIBUNE reporter that he only signed
warrants during the time he acting Mayor, namely
the last five weeks OF 1885, after the resignation Of Mayor
Hoffman Previous to that time he had not oiciaed as
Mayor moro than three times. and each time
by the request of Mayor Hoffman, who sent
for Mr. Conan to take charge Of the Mayors
eItce during his (Hofman's) temporary absence Mr..
Conan did not think he signed any warrants on these
oecasons II So certainly more than three and these
came to him properly vouehed for The Acting Mayor
had at that time no authority for signing ordinance
of the Common Council act OF the Board Of Super
yisors unless the Mayor absent for period OF
ton DAYS. The warrants signed during the latter
mart OF 1865 when Mr.. Conan was Acting
Mavor. had all been passed on by the Board
of supervisors signed by the Controller ana County
and ndOrsed by the Clerk OF the Board OF super
iors They we're all accompanied by the proper vouch-
and I'm cases where the amount involved was large
Mr. Conan examined the papers To ascertain that the
eourcs were correct The Mayor was not at that time
member of the Auditing Board and it is claimed by MIR.
Conan that he simply did his duty in signing sueh war
rants as came TO him in proper form from The Controller
MIR Conan also said that the warrants authorizing inc
naVment Of nearly million dollars TO .the gas eompa
nies which had been charged with signing, were not
signed BIZ him but by Mayor Holman.