New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-23
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE

CHARGES AGAINST RECORDER HACKETT.
FACTS THAT THE PUBLIC NEED TO KN0w-ALLEGED
GROUND OF Mr. KEIIY's OPPOSITION TO HIS RE-
ELECTION.
70 the Editor OF The Tribune
SIR: Believing that the independence and
impartaity THE TRIBUNE may, usual be trusted to
present they exist ask the insertion OF the FOL
lowing observations For some time past several OF the
city newspapers have been attacking Mr. John Kelly be
cause he opposes the reelection of Recorder Hackett
The question which interests the public is not what are
Mr. Kelys motives in opposing Mr. lIaeket but are his
statements Mr. Hackett true and his reasons Tor
them sufficient to warrant the public IN sustaining his
conclusions Let me aualyze the charges against Mr.
Hacket siuco the papers which undertake to prove his
fitness reelection by attacking Mr. Kelly have not
published them.
Ills charged first that Mr. Hackett, while Assistant
Corporation Counsel was appointed Recorder March g..
1866 and that he drew his salary Recorder, amount
ing to 66 for the months of January and Fehr
ary during which Office vacant and he rendered
no services and second that in the ID months following
his confirmation rs Recorder. during which he drew the
salary OF that office. he also claimed and was PAID
S2l727 80 for assisting the Corporation Counsel
third that in charging the Grand Jury ut the beginning
Of tie in October 1865. Recorder Hackett indicated
the proprcty of its ndctng the Citizens Association Tor
libel in calling attention to certain municipal abuses, but
that instead OF ndictng the Citizens Association the
Grand commenced aCllon, CiuSVh ny PiV'h'
ing that In their opinion the Citizens Association of
New-York has strven zeaously and efficiently to protec
The public interest. and is entitled to the rcSpec
Of the community. This presentment was suppressed
II was charged further that Recorder Hackctt
vas member OF the Board Of Supervisors from 1870 TO
1874 and during this period voted for many OF the
ar,nory leases ana other Jobs by which the City Treasury
was depleted rarely opposing any bill for the payment
Of money II chiefly through the ccuniyanco OF TINS
Board OF Supervisors that the ling f0hOcreS WcTe per
petrated. Next charged that Recorder hackeit
Sl,adf he iutlir gail
Woodward in the Fall OF 1872. and also by indtctOn
cured failure of the suit against Mayor Han vi
answer defense made thus far has been Nltleiaton
of Mr.. Kelly for making them pubic Another charge
has since been made TO the effect that Recorder
Hackett was 1866 and 1867 Commissioners WIN Jonl
j. bradley to assess damages, etc, in laying out the
Eighth AVennc Circle. and that the bill OF costs Tor ices
and expenditures of the Commissioners tor taking ABOUT
two of private property amounted 10 5000 ~
which was allowed by Jud George Barnard ana rlid
III these charges be true, II seems 10 aic that MI Hack
ets intimate connection with the Ring Is established ana
that Kelly has rendered signal service To the people
by bringing the facts a. light. Certainly abusing MI
Kelly will not convince the public Of Mr.. llaoRettS nj;
ness judicial Office. IL Is curious spectacle tht the
friends candidate for responsible judicial position
opainst whom grave and detailed OfCuscs charged.
should find no other way OF rebuttug them than by
illuminating the gentleman WHO brings them, ana thl
papers friendly the candidate should refuse tOacquant
their adeTs with the charges against the man thcy are
urged TO support An answer should have been MADE
long since il satisfactory nc made. denial OF
the truth OF these charges made so short time before
election that VliGcatlon VIII he Impossible untll dcl
ward will II. in order u establish reputa
ton for vigilance and zeal, our model police seize on
frendless Vagrants and bring them before magistrate
as criminals something more than mere severity III pun
ishng such offenders needed to rendera Judge proper
representative of the purity, impartay ana Justice OF
y model judiciary. H. A. D.
Ner- York. Oct. IL, 1879.