The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-29

tnc tyranny OF the majority, the honest COUlnIS-
Thus far the conspirng Commissioners had kept
more or less closely to the letter OF the law, how
ever grossly they violated It's spirit, but the time
was coming when both the letter and the spirit
were to be sacrificed to the exigencies OF the party
scheme. Had no Tammany inspectors whatever
been appointed in the first instance, tempest OF
popular Indignation would have been awak-
ened ana great masses OF honest people,
voted for the democratic candidates local office
and thus have formed strength as Irresistible
in 1871 And yet II one honest intelligent Tam
many Inspector remained at a polling place the
preparation OF frauds would have been difficult
and dangerous. Accordingly II became necessary,
whenever frauds were designed, to corrupt or re-
move the Tammany inspector. TO the honor Of
our party, be 1t sad, the work OF cOrrupting our
inspectors was found to be almost everywhere i'm.
possible and but one resource remained. In the
last day or two before election q whole catalogue
OF trumped up charges was preferred not to the
Police Board. but to Oliver Charlick, against the
obnoxious Tammany inspectors wherever they
Gardner they were removed and their places were
supplied by the instruments oil Mr. James O3rien.
And 1t Is susceptible OF proof that MI. Charck
stated TO some OF the coalition politicians, III you
want your inspectors removed make afidayits
utterly untrue, as stated by the convicted Com
missoners In their letter to Your Honor that
made on the Sd OF November. That gentleman
states that at the meeting he attended only three
removals were made, yet some forty appear on
the minute book OF the Board. On election day
Itself 1t appears that a number OF removals were
made; yet Mr. Russell ana General Duryee state
under oath that they were AT headquarters all that
day, expecting some fraud or chicanery and they
never attended, were summoned to. or heard Of
meetings OF the Board seem to have been held in
this manner-Charllck walked INTO Smiths Office
and said, 9! want so-and-so removed" Smith said,
"All right" Gardner also assented, and the
Chief Clerk was directed to enter the result
as proceeding OF the Board. In two
ton Mr. Cnarick appointed Inspectors in the
place OF others without even asking the assent OF
any one OF his co, colleagues. Some doubt seems to
ness OF these proceedings, even in point OF form,
for on the 10th Gay OF November, six days after the
election, they passed through the Board, against
the earnest protest of Messrs Russell and Duryee,
a resolution directing the removals and appoint
ments which had been, IN fact, made on the Sd and
4th!
These removals on the Sd of November were
made in direct and Migrant violation OF the plain
letter or the law, which says that except on day
OF registration, revision OF registration or election,
and Tor improper conduct on those occasions, no
notice setting forth the causes OF his removal.
Some small pettifogging logic has been employed
to make 1t appear that the law Will bear differ
ent construction, but it is enough to say that
HOnJohn X. Brady has unhesitatingly repealed SUCH
an Interpretation. No doubt every effort was made
by 'COunsep' twas 1t Mr.. John D. Davenport I? to
distort and darken the plain meaning OF the law;
but when that construction involved, ii 1t were
erroneous. an erroneous usurpatlon OF power no
honest commissioner would ever have avaied
himself of it.
The case of Sheridan was one OF these cases.
He Is young man who had several times pre-
vlousy acted as an inspector OF elections without
any charge or complaint against him AT the late
fence for attack; the whole case turned upon his
testimony and had they been able to secure
ffonbt but thar thew would nave gladly .a avaiied
themselves OF itS But his character went un-
assailed except by the abuse OF counsel, and the
jury by their verdict showed their entire confidence
In the truth of his evidence. He was removed
on the sOth Of November without notice ana on
O'Brien. one OF the aflidavts against him was
forged, and purported to be taken by William j.
Copeland, who himself committed frauds as an
inspector on that election at the First district OF
the Eighteenth Assembly district, and the other
was signed by man of VIGOROUSLY infamous
Commissioner Thomas }. Barr tor directing Captain
Burden to break up low dance house for i'm
proper characters OF which he was the proprietor;
This latter man, on being asked why he signed
such paper, sad ave all had to do it," Upon
those papers ne was removed, without notice, and
another inspector Of the O'Brien stripe sent to
take his place, man named cunningham, who
was subpGnaed to attend the recent trial. and
failed to appear in answer. Your Honor may Judge
OF the reason. A number Of other inspectors were
removed on that day on the atlldavits Of vaga-
bonds Of men, who gave their addresses at vacant
lots OF political oafers in Short mainly followers
OF Mr.. O'Brien. Upon election day otner
Tammany inspectors were arrested by Davenport's
Immediately sent TO Police Headquarters Of the
facts they were removed, as being absent from
Is 1t incredible that Davenport was acting in har-
mony with the Police Board ring He was per-
peCually with them AT CneSe Headquarters, well
come and cherished guest. He was one of the
main members OF the republican mutual admra-
ton society, in whose interest they working.
His acts supplemented and assisted theirs just
where assistance was necessary; and. finally he
appears as their counsel when they are at last ar
raigned for their offences.
Now came the final step in the conspiracy. II
the count OF the ballots were correctly made no
man doubted the entire success OF the democratic
party. And yet IT would be u very difficult thing
TO prevent lair count If the law with respect to
watchers were obeyed. 1t became necessary, then,
they could discharge their duties and TO this end,
on the evening OF election day, after General Dur
zee and Mr.. Russell had gone home, the then
to the police captains, directing that the "wachers
should be removed outside OF the ratings" The
law makes It the duty OF the police to make
passage for the watcher to the inspectors" Yet
here were the chiefs OF the police requiring them
to be removed outside the railing. Ii Your Honor
will recollect that the railing IS always four or
five and sometimes from ten to fifteen feet from
the place where the inspectors Sit and that the bal
lots are generally printed III the smallest possible
type you will see that this order was tantamount
to saying "Prevent the watchers from seeing
what the inspectors are about" When examined
under oath Mr. Charlick could aege no other rea-
son Tor their action than that despatch from one
pecnet t ne there as dis
directed their subordinates to repress such dis
order, but instead Of that they chose TO the
Wherever frauds were designed this order was
obeyed. In the second, Eighth and Eighteenth
About thirty Of the inspectors in those districts
are now. under indictment, and against many
others charges have been submitted to the Dis
trict Attorney. BY means OF those frauds Schur-
man. Biglln and Genet were returned elected,
and Ledwith and Moore only escaped defeat for
Senator by O lew hundred votes each.
Such is plain history Of the proceedings of the
Commissioners up to and including election day.
The account given by the commissioners them
Selves III their letter OF resignation IN 80 far as 1t
is not q romance, consists mainly OF general
eulogy OF their conduct, without entering into any
details. few statements OF theirs, however, l
must notice. They state that their conduct was
not "the subject OF criticism by other than
the immediate and active managers OF Tammany
HAIL. II this statement were true 1t would not be
surprising, Tor aggrieved aud injured people are
generally the first to "critcize" their oppressors.
But, as matter Of fact, the assertion IS utterly
true. The Council OF Political Reform widely
known as a non-partisan organization composed
of number or leading citizens, had vigorously
protested against the course OF the Commits
sioners, as had Commissioner Russell, who
tainly is not IAN immediate and active manager OF
Tammany Hail." The Commissioners further EN-.
body in their appeal letter addressed to me by
Oliver Charck, on the SUth OF October, Offering to
m frauda tn