New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-07
INGERSOLL AT LIBERTY.
AN IMPORTANT WITNESS AGAINST THE
RING.


THAT iNGErsoIL MIGHT TESTIFY AGAINST TEE
RisG RoBBRRs-cHAELrs o'CONoR SAID To HAVE
rrrN AN ACTIVE NrGoTIAToR IN THE NATTER
Tug PROPERTY OF PErER II. swEENf AND
OTHERS LIADLx UNDER THE NEW CIVIL EEhk-
DIES ACT.
iBr TELEGRAPH TO TRIpuSEl
ALBANY, April 6.-The pardon OF Jas H.
IrCcrsoll by Gov Tlden has been the NAN suoeet vi
conversation daring the day In this city Ihere III"
been no hint OF the possibility OF such action ana te
fact that sach step would be taken had been entirely
unsuspsctcd here When the first tide of asonishment
had somewhat subsidized. people generally fen upon the
Srue solution OF the puzzng problem, and the uche'
was widely expressed tina: tho pardon had been granted
because Ingersols testimony was needed III Inc suits
against the chief Ring thieves Among Inc Wen
informed 1t vas stated that Gov. Tdcn's action haa
been taken ut the request OF Charles oCohor an"
Wheeler H. Peckhsm. 1t has always pech INC
policy OF those who were conducting 'he ehore'
10 punish tho Ripg robbers and 10 deprive 'he VI p
plunder TO make far as possible OF tne 'cso'
of subordinates against the leaders OF the hng' Au
Caryeys testimony employed TO good purpose anu
Inrcr.oIs evidence would have been used IS months
ago II he had been willing to give It, He refused 10
give 1t until recently. That it will be OF the utos'
value may well be believed when Mr. OConor ana sir'
Peckha urge that Mr. Ingersol shoaid he pardoned III
order 10 make use OF 1t.
Same months 100 Ingersoll seen In the prison o.
ubnrn hv oro of the lawyers the prosecution In the
Ring suits and the purpose has been KEEP: steady III
view to carry out II practicable In MS case 's " ma
Garyey the plan serve the ends OF justice u! INC S
Of subordinatcs against the principals In the'ey "
rerso was not convicted OF participation IN the nain
ofuses Of the Ring of forgery. and this mace less
aent tbe reasons against pardoning him In order 10
n,e him as q witness. No arrangements nave oeen
made for the settlement or compromise OF any SUITS
against Ingerso for tho recovery OF his share OF 'e
spojs OF the Ring With the aid OF the evidence 10 oe
furnished by Ingcrsol largo results are conhdeny eA
pccted from the suits be instituted against the King
robbers under series OF Civil Remedies acts OF ne
form bills, as they are termed.
In order not to embarass the proceedings to be taken
IN these suits IngersOlps pardon has been seooous
kept secret and the first tdlngs OF the plan feaencu
Albany this morning, with the press dispatch nom
Auburn that pardon had been received from TIE Gov
crnor the preceding night Persous In authority mere
are not willing make any personal statements IN re-
gard 10 the matter preferrng that their motives shond
lie msconstrued rather than that any important KNOW"
edge should he gained by the who will be defend
ants in the actions under tie Civil Remedies act
Incerso had more than three years TO serve on Ills
eeDtence 40 he sentenced on Nov d. 49, 10 I'VE
years imprisonment for forgery in the second degree
Inperso II Is understood, received his pardon about
o'clock on Monday night His father and brother con-
viewed II to him, and remained with him until the train
for NewYork passed through Auburn at O'CLOCK THIS
morning They secured closed state-room In palace
out the trip AtorneyGeneral Pratt was on board the
train and then first heard OF the release OF Tie famous
cbaIrmsker. Ingorsoll ead by few persons " no
obtained glimpse Of him to be looking much fuller In
nesh and healthier than In his most prosperous days.
stated here to-day by several persons TINT ID9er
coils pardon for confederation OF his turning states
evidence. had been determined upon by the Governor
nearly weeks ago. after consultation with Charles
OConor and upon the lattes suggestion The prisoner
had been approached on several occasions, and had
steadily refused TO give any evidence against his con-
federates until about week ago. when IL is reported
that propositions renewed by Mr. OConor in per-
sop The conditions offered then acceptedaud the
pardon delayed only in order that the safeguards
deemed necessary to securing Ingersors compliance
with the terms made could be completed and certain
legal steps could be taken TO prevent the removal or
Disposal OF Ring funds and Ring real estote likely 70
become subject TO attachment on tho strength OF
lngersoIls testimony. The facts OF tho negotiations
between the prisoner and the counsel and the fact OF
tho pardon itself were consequently Kept most pro-
foundly secret. Even the Attorney General Of the
State admitted having first heard OF 1t when told that
IngersolI was on board the train with himself
As TO the substance of Ineersos testimony few details
can be obtained. II said by some that he will I'm
plicate Peter B. Sweeny so completely that the mys-
terous complexities OF the law which have hitherto
rendered that wsser OF the Ring impregnabe to sher
III officers are and the city over which he
ruled may attack his property and he can be arrested
may send him 10 prison with his fellow Tweed Attor-
neyGenera Prat. stated in reply to inquiries yesterday
that he had heard nothing whatever Of the pardon until
IL had become an accomplished fact. The Governor had
not requested h opinion regarding its effect nor
corning safeguards that would seem TO be necessary
90 be thrown around Ingerso after his release Tie
Governor undoubtedly good enough lawyer. he
raid to decide upon such matters himself This was all
the Attorney General chose 10 say in the matter.
THE STORY OF JAMES II. INGERsoILs TRIAL AND
CONVICTION EFFORTS TO PROCURE HIS RE-
LEAsE-PRoBABIITTY THAT HE WILL BE USED
AS A WITNESS AGAINST TWEED VIEWS or
POLITICIANS AND LAwYERs-INTERvIEw WITH
WHEELER H. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PRESENCE
IN THIS CITY DENIED.
The pardon of James II. Ingersoll was dis
eussed everywhere Yesterday by the politicians and the
officials and subordnates OF the City and County Gov
ernments At DelmonicOs groups of men. formerly
recipients OF avors from the Ring talking
the situation and comparing notes as TO tie
which had induced Governor Tden to take this unex
pected STEP 10 the various public Offices the action Of
tie Governor freely commented on and the opinion
was generally expressed that Ingersoll would be used
a witness for the prosecution In the suits against the
members Of the Ring. reporter Of THE TRIBUNE
talked with several politicians well known in national
as well State and municipal aairs and was told by
all Of them that there doubt that the pardon had
been granted by the Governor after consultation with
Charles O'Conor Wheeler II. Peckham, Francis C. Bar
low, and Controller Green
One gentleman put Ingersolps case in this way: He
said that, although Ingerso had been connected with
ihe Ring and had been proceeded against by the State
and city officials for obtaining The public moneys, by
Of fraudulent bills or vouchers. the crime Of
which he had been found guilty by the jury only
notely connected With the frauds against the city, and.
after all. mere technical forgery not involving
moral guilt and which, under other circumstances,
xnuld haxn leen IlIshed 10 trial firm Of