New-York tribune., 1875-12-01
MIR. OCONORS PART IN THE RING SUITS.
STATEMENTS OF WHEELER II. PECKHAa AND GEN
HARLOW.

In0uiries have been made of the counsel for
the people in the Ring suits as 10 effect upon
proceedings IL Mr. OConor should never be able To give
any more assistance III them. Wheeler ii. Peckham said
to "A TRIBUNE reporter that while the death Of MI
OCOnor would be great loss to the community and his
associates engaged In the conduct Of the Ring SUITS those
actions were low good shape that they could be
prosecuted, he believed To successful conclusion M
OConur is 4 strong man, who could not easily be re-
placed I'm carrying the Ring cases he might help
somewhat in the conduct Of the proceedings IN court but
OF late he had acted more advisory counsel. Mr.
Oto tonor did not expect TO take an active part IN the
pleading The evidence in the Hing su; had been pre-
pared In good part by Mr. OCOnor aud was now ayeia
bic The suits win 20 right on, added NJ. Pecklam, as
fast as the law will allow, and with due regard TO the
magnitude OF the interests Involved.
Cen Francis G. Barlow who has been engaged In the
prosecution Of tie Ring suits since his taxing 0lfeo
Attorney General in January, ls72, and who was re-
t,ned 70 aid in the prosecution his Of office
had expired said that the death Of Mr.. OCOnor would
ne very greatly depored I'm all the cases IN wbi.h MI
O'Couor engaged, more especially In the civil SUITS
against the members o; the Tweed Ring 10 recover tie
money they hal stolen from tie city. ne had taken an
active interest When the adverse decision OF the Court
Appcas was announced Mr. OCOnOr AT once set himself
10 work 10 frame the laws which passed by the ess
aure and under which the late suits had been brought
For a long time Messrs. O'COnOr, Peckham aud himself
lad met Tuesdays and Fridays 70 consult together
the complaints and fntS ~"
Mr. OCon0r tho principal man In tho civil suits
In tue criminal suits he had not taken much interest
although he helped to draw the indie ments under the
Mock Auction act. Gen Barlow opposed to tic in
dctmcnt and trial 0g 4. Oakley Hall While Gen. Barlow
was Attorney General, 'r OCOnor occasionally differed
with him as to the conduct Of certain cases, but always
recognized the fact that the prosecuting officer for the
people the Attorney General was the person sponsI1e
Mr. O'Conor, Gen Barlow declared, was the back
bone OF the legal proceedings against the mem
hers OF the Ring who had stolen the public
moneys. IL would be lOng before the city
had q man 80 devoted 10 the public interests
aud so unsehsh nr. OCOnOr He devoted hs time 10
the prosecution of these suits free Of charge aud had
pended large sums OF money ut a time when II was IN
certain whether lie would he reimbursed oSnot. Gen
Barlow slad say that these sums had been repaid
10 Mr. O'CouOr. The cases In which hr. OCOnOr wa9
especially Interested the SS0o0,oO0 suit against
Tweed another OF Sl,o0o,0O0 against Tweed. the
81 600 900 suit against Peter H. sweeny, the suits
against Walsh and Conan the County Court house Com
msoueIs the suit against the estate OF the late Henry
W. starkweather and that against Cummings H. Tucker, all
begun under tho laws enacted by the last Legislature
The suits would be conducted By Mr.. Peckham and him
self They would miss the counsel ot MI OConor, but
the evidence was clear that the proceedings could
be pushed forward vigorously.