The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-25
WHAT COMPTROLLER KELLY KNOWS.
The Story as Told in Tweed
Statement.
WOODlN AND WlNSLOW ACCUSED
Three Hundred Checks in Tweed's
Possession.

the Comptroller Of the city, He proved TO DO tho
author OF tho alleged confession OF Mr. Tweed and
sumed the responsibility of the statement that It
tanned charges OF corruption against Senators Woodn
and Wnslow, and that 800 checks the pos
sion OF Tweed and that they were largely representa-
two OF moneys paid to State legislators during the year
1870. He founded this assertion the authority OF
verbal statement made TO him by Attorney General
Fairchid and subsequently, confirmed by Mr.. J. d.
Townsend, who read to him extracts from the confes
sion on the night before Mr. Townsend took II 10 Al
biny 10 present to the Attorney General.
All the evidence after this and unsatisac-
tory, although IL included the famous plasterer Mr.
sandy" Garvey
Tho committee signned their appreciation OF Mr..
Key's story by unexpectedly adjourning Congress
Hall, Albany, where The inquiry will proceed to-day.
II is understood very reliable authority that they
will summon before them Attorney General Falrchld
and ask for tho production of the his pos
session purported TO be made by Afr. Tweed.
TESTIMONY.
Mr.. George Jones the first witness, and he was
examined by Senator Schoonmaker He said:-I was
publisher Of the New York Times In 1870 and 1871
had control Of the editorial matter in that year; in
March, 1870, certain editorials appeared in tho Times
in reference the so-callcd Tweed charter; do not
remember the exact language used In tho editorials
only remember that there very structures
upon the Tweed charter; there specific charge
against any individual; l have not any knowledge OF
any money that was used for the purpose Of tho pass
ing Of the Tweed charter; don't know whether the
articles referred to any particular Senators cannot
say whether reference was intended by tho
structures TO Senator Woodin; think tho
reference was to the Senators who voted for tho
charter; tho general feeling then that the charter
passed by appliances that justified those srictures
OF course am speaking of matters that occurred
I'll in
my recollection MS II they matters of recent
occurrence; l have only general impression that
fund raised then 10 influence legislation in Albany;
do not know why any one Senator should be singled
corrupt than another cannot tell at this
moment who wrote the articles; think they were not
all written by one person; believe that passage
of the charter obi aimed by corrupt means; share
In the general belief with respect to this tho evidence
more nferental than otherwise; Mr. Snow was
| the Times correspondent ut Albany at that time.
| To Mr. Spriggs-I havo knowledge that Senator
| woodn induced TO vote Tor the passage OF the
charter Tor any other reason than that OF q party
character
To Senator Carpenter-I don't know Mr.. Tweed; 1
have ham once only know the general and pub
lie reputation OF Mr.. Tweed and those who were sup
posed 10 act with him.
/ To Senator Sprague-I presume that examined
the provisions OF tho Tweed charter; my Impression
| Is that the Tipses opposed It,
| COMPTROLLER KELLY.
Comptroller John Kelly was sworn and examined by
Senator Carpenter. He testified tuat he Albany
in 1854; in Congress 1857 and resigned in
'5S; Sheriff OF New York In 1s59-Gl and again In
ls8a-7 had been Identified with the regular oreanza
ton OF Tho democratic party-that OF Tammany Hall
had known William N. Tweed since 1854; him last
editor Of tho World: had known him by reputation
very well Tor tho last three years had been on
friendly terms with him and saw him last Saturday
was also acquainted with Mr.. Ballard Smith, city ed-
tor Of tho World read the article published that
paper on tho l7th inst; purportng to be confession
| of Mr.. Tweed.
Mr. KELLY TELLS THE STORY.
In reply to the questions OF the Senators Mr. Kelly
Mr. Smith previous 10 the publication OF the article
question: gave them tho most Of the information
tanned In that article do not know OF my own know
edge that the statements made are true; do
that Mr. Tweed had any pccuniary transactions with
do not know that Mr.. Tweed gave 70 Hugh J. Hast.
ings check OF $50, 900 to give 10 Senator woodn
in reference TO the city OF New York their supposed
tendency Is TO reduce tho expenses Of the city do not
snnk d ina; .ney WIZ 40 sci stand .ns they
reduce all salaries beyond 81 300; about two months
| ago Attorney General Fairchd called upon in ref
erence 10 a letter that Mr.. Charles OConor had
ccvcd from Mr. Tweed; Mr.. Falrchld stated that tho
Boss purposed 10 give such Information would
enable the city oil New York 10 take such action in
matters now pending before tho courts would defeat
fraudulent claims, aud to become witness Tor the
State; Mr.. Fairchid said That II his were
CURED In this that he would desire full state
ment to be made by Tweed. and think he said hs
called upon Tweed alter receiving copy of the letter
from Charles O'Conor the purpose OF asccrsanng
In what Tweed could be used alter seeing Tweed
he called upon me again. and n general conversation
took place US 70 what Tweed was willing TO do he IN
formed mo that Tweed's statement not supported
by any corroborative and that Il was hardly
worth while to have any further communication with
him unless no was perfectly assured that he would,
without reservation, give full statement OF all the
facts he possessed In references TO these frauds the
matter remaUcd In this state for some weeks; the
meantime Mr.. Townsend, who had been retained by
Mr.. Tweed without my knowledge, asked mo II Mr..
Fairchd had in relation TO matters connected
with Tweed; l told him that he had; ! think
he told mo that hc wanted to sur
render all the property he had and to give evidence
tina, mad improperly used for purpose OF leg
slation and paid 10 different indivduas-in fact to
make general surrender; Mr. Townsend then in
formed ms that he had had some further conversation
with Tweed himself, and had told the latter that II
would DO nonsense 70 attempt to do anything
position by which he could as far possible indemnify
Tho CITY; Tweed had told him IN reply
that he did not think no could give
the names OF those whom he had pad;
IN the meantime Townsend had communicated with
his client and had acted ON MY intmaton; he after
ward showed me some memoranda OF Tweed, and I
saw that the contents wero very important; / asked
him he would permit mo TO make a copy OF u, and
he agreed to do 80, provided would 1t; told
him that would not but IN the meantime the points
with Attorney General Farchd told subs,an-
italy what Townsend had told me- from his state
mcnt II was that made copies
z. From tho statement OF the Attorney General or
the statement Of Tweed1 A. Tho memoranda Of
Townsend contained what ! had heard already from
q. Did MI. Townsend leave his copy With your A.
Ito did, bat he left me nothing but what had full
knowledge OF before
now rnn STORY WAS PUBLISHED
About the latter part OF March, Mr.. Kelly said Mr.
Hurlbut cainc into my Office. me about this
matter hut In general reference was made
10 Mr. Halls light; Mr. HurIbut seemed in sympathy
with HIM, and said he believed him TO be an honest
man, and lie piticd him under the circumstances by
which no was surrounded we'll, said sbpiy that ho
had better not DO TOO sure about that nd him that
IL he Knew all the facts connected with the
old ring hc would not think 40 and
that II no had known these facts ho would
rot have written the articles IN tho World sy,npathlz.
Ing with Hall, and would not tako favorable view.
until tho confession OF Tweed Ia the banda OF Inc
Attorney General; ho asked mo II would SEQ him
again or smith, ana said would SEQ Smith: Mr.
Townsend came TO my house tho SATURDAY. evcn,no
a. ne had promised, before sending tho confession to