National Republican., 1875-07-27
TAMMANY HALL.
" Jimmy 0'Brien's" "reminiscences and 0pin-
ion of the Tammauy Chiefs.

Jimmy 0'Brien's" "reminiscences and 0pin-
ION Of the Tammany Chiefs.
tFrom the Saratoga CSrresgondence of the New
met James O'Brien at Long Branch and again
at Saratoga. He is here now with his interesting
wife at the United States hotel-a man of youth
full face, good complexion, very light, amiable
eyes and almost beardless. He is noted among
young city politicians for his absolute temperance
and chastity. His only vice has been gaming In
flush days, which he has now given up Having
been sheriff Of New York, State Senator and q
prominent candidate for mayor, let US hear him
talk, as he did for me few days ago, when
asked him to explain how he exploded Tammany
Hall:
81 was sheriff of New York." said O'Brien,
when the false accounts Of Tammany H all were
published. Previously I had organized the Young
Democracy, o boiling organization, at Albany,
and won the dislike Of the ring. That organlza-
tion failed only by the purchase of its material.
Tweed and SWeeDy had corrupted everything.
Every man chose to help me they bought. But
was influential with Connolly, the comptroller,
having forced him upon the Tammany leaders
against their will. He had no particular sense Of
gratitude, but he was the creature Of his fears,
and afraid of me.
81 went to Connolly one day, when was broken
up generally, in friends and purse, and said, 4
want an office for friend of mine: 1 mean to get
IT, too. There will be no fooling about 1t; q big,
round office, at O., 900 year.
"'Who is your man?'' said Dick. 4 don't see
how can put him in
"'Yes you will. That's my ultImatum with
THE man. continued O'BrIen, "was William
Copeland, a very smart fellow, and faithful fel-
low. 1t was he who copied all those transcripts
from Connelly's books. He was in the Auditors
well" said 1, ''lt is popular opinion that one
O'RouIke furnished those transcripts"
MOT at ALL answered O'Brien; I'VE employed
O'RUurke to copy the arm0ry account for US, but
finding him a snake in the grass and ready to sell
envelope addressed to me and dropped on Uonnol-
ly's floor. 1t was picked up and opened, as we
expected, and all them foolish fellows jumped to
to save Copeland his IS, 900 salary, threw of on
O'Rourke. Copeland was unable, however, to
keep bis place very long"
TELL me-" said !, "the manner In which you
made your transcripts"
81 went to Copeland and told him that what
wanted him to 90 would Ess him TS year. Sa.
me underneath entirely, and l could do nothing
for him.
from you. What do you want?"
81 told him that knew there was vast stealing
going on, bat II could be proved only BY coplous
Stewart and Moses Taylor had pronounced every.
thing correct. I asked Copeland for Gsrvey's,
InseSNS, ,Ss s1S, dosa 10 nv osSSs
shsrifi's. There we set to work, and worked In
and out diligently until we had the kernel Of the
saitUin1 a6n say S Who%%h New YORK. % and o
fcred these papers 10 him, saying: This will bo
exclusive, and will put you ahead Of the press or
Of the accounts were not dated and that the whole
was llbelouS. Like every mortal one OF them
New York newspapers, be had been bought up.
daily press Of New York. Some OF them are very
fierce on corruption now, but they were all cor.
TuPtsd, rHSt and branch Sy Tysss ,ssx Why, The the
that Connolly, Tweed and o'Brisn were In q con.
Ipiraey, sgalnst two worthy gentlemen who
"unS6Is," eontinusd Mr. o'BrIen, 40 got any.
thing published, and menaeed myself with mur:
der and the States prison, started paper called
| the Free PrsGI. Here ! expected to get my hg-
| uieS published. The editor was already bought
| up, and what appeared was hidden 10 an obscure
| corner. At last met Jennings, editor OF the
! Timss In the corridor Of the Filth Avenue hotel.
That paper had been in receipt Of ring money. II
wss f'S SsS q JsS
nipgs Of the material possessed, and he grew tn-
teIested: He asked me to bring my papers 70
/ 10. would have the books burned up from which
/ the transcripts were made That was their pol
icy: to burn the books and indict Jones and Jen;
nlngs and me for libel Butthey were paralyzed
by guilt The only promise extorted from Jen-
nipgs was that he should explicitly call BY name
that ali which divided those fellows from Tweed
was social pretension. Tweed wouldn't mind be-
ing called thief. 1t would kill Hallland Sweeny.
| The public eye could comprehend It all. As soon
/ as those articles got under way was ouerea
100000 not to stop them, for It was too late but
| They were petrifed; they expected vigilance
| committee. But was decided and revengeful,
and did nothing except to make spersonalefort
.Ten me, said I, (which Of these fellows had
most force Of character, Tweed, Sweeney, Genet
HNone Of EN-" said o'Brien. "rhey were all
/ the most overrated men in the city. I told
| Tweed how he could save his liberty and protect
answered! AMI I We'll, lis just matter Of paying
/ more and more money without end. I'll make
the hght and beat you ALL never saw him
issked o'BrIsn how he came to prof. 50 little
/ by the revelations he had made. He had already
\ stated that he never received one penny from the
after he had aroused the tidal wave 1t carried
him to the State Senate, where he formed part
Of the court Of inpeaehmsnt that d Sondshned n,hs
| Then drew near the vexatious Greeley cam
paIgn with its cross coalitions:
| NOW" said O'Brien, "the ring had every hing
| hxed, but for my exposure OF them, 70 make John
/ T. Hoffman governor. Turned aside In this en-.
| deavor by the firm Of Tweed o., Hoffman and
not o Democrat, and If he had succeeded would
| have owed his success In New York to the same
old city hall crowd. 50 l made my coalition
| against Lawrence and Havemeyer Ths results
of this tangled contest were the election Of Re
| publican Mayor, Goyeynor, Senator and Presi-
| dent.
,sThe Catholic Church, which Is powerful els
| ment of the Democracy, got down on me because
4 in the consequences they lost some endowments
| their seAobls, hospitals and other Institutions
| Herman was 6efeatsd also-a Oatholic-by Gen.
eraI Dix. and this was attributed TO me. ALI the
| patronage Of New York went to the Republic ms,
| and couldn't provide for my friends. The
| Greeley Democrats were fncensed at me- For
| three years have stood up under all Of tnis.
| Tammsny He'll Of John Kelly, Just rs ! did
| Tweed's. John Kelly Is as big despos as ever
| was known in o city He is o buli.hesded prize
| lighter can prove that he fought ring fig {
| mn at Fort Lee But Morrissey isn't good onOu h