New-York tribune., 1877-06-09
CONNOLLY's ENORMOUS GAINS.

The publication in yesterdays TRIBUNE OF
the pending negotiations for settlement OF the Ring
suits against ex-Controler Richard B. Connolly
talked during the day political circles with much
interest Connolly, Of all the who participated in
the Ring frauds, is most disliked by the politicians.
| While in Office he characterized by extreme
seshpess and devotion to HIS interests. In money
matters he showed friendship. As the chief financial
officer OF the city government, he controlled the
penditures public moneys almost absolutely and levied
| blackmail on everybody. Friend and foe alike were
obliged pay toll in obtaining payment Of their claims
| against the city, wherever it could be done safely
and without risk To political associates who
sometimes complained to him OF this forced tariff
| he excused his action the plea that the
money in fact went to election expenses, was
used in the interest OF the party the passage OF
bills by the Legislature to provide places for needy ward
politicians. It open secret during Connoy's ad
minstratiOn that County Auditor Watson had TO "be
seen for payment OF all county bills and Assistant City
Auditor j. Townsend Connolly for all city matters how
just the demands. There no exception to the
rule. and payments were always delayed sometimes for
weeks until these officials had passed upon the bills.
! The Department Of Finance regularly organ
! lied Bureau Of BlackmaiL" Claimants
who had become weary OF the long delays and
| repeated excuses for payment, would receive
a hint of the proper course to be pursued remove
Instructions and In less than "a hours after compliance
with the mands Of Fthian, Watson young Connolly,
they would find city warrant for the full amount Of
their claims duly signed in the Controllers Office
Connolly Controller from Jan. l, 1867, to Nov 20,
ISL although Andrew H. Green in fact performing
the duties sept. lG 1871 nominally deputy. In
these five years immense amount OF money passed
through the Controllers office and paid out over
ConmOYs signature, the cOuutcrsisnat of the Mayor
! and clerks Of the Common Council and Supervisors
! not being fact check upon his official action,
although intended by the city charter to protect tho
treasury against unlawful expenditures OF the public
! mu I'm add tO he m OF
raised support Of the city government
act was passed by the Legislature in 1868 providing for
| the payment OF adjusted Claims" which 10 be
adjusted and paid only the certificate of the Control
Ter that they just and legal claims Under this act
| Connolly adjusted claims agTegating $12,0O00O0 an
! PAID them out Of the proceeds Of accumulated de-
bonds Of the city which he issued for the purpose Tho
familiar with his operations and the motives which cor
tr He'd his action adjudIcating and settling the
claims that he cleared not less than S2OOOOOO
his share of the unlawful percentage eXacted for pa
ment Waes he took Office in 1867 il Is known that L,
figure for signing his a city warrant. outside
! Of salaries, was 10 per cent. Tais afier-
| ward increased ID per cent, and on
special appropriations toward the last, varied
from 1212 per cent. There concealment OF
these from politicians who secured spos for their
friends in way of supplies and jobs public work.
The private offices of Watson and Connolly opened into
each other, and guarded the outside by door
keepers who understood their duties and oDeyed 10 the
letter the orders received from their superiors.
The Special Audit claims, which not audited
cept by the memorandum in Mayor Halls handwriting,
subsequently signed by Tweed and Connolly, wero
another source o income and after deductng supposed
legitimate claims, leave So 1913 9j7 49, which Ingerso,
Garyey and Woodward agree yielded not far from 20
per cent Connolly Using only round numbers, Cou
nolly's share OF the piunder is S10OO,0O0 In
the Ring trials and settlements with Ingersol,
Woodward, Garvey, and Sweeny, there appear
| list of
from tho Finance Department 10 the Ring
men, account OF claims for works and materials ana
supplies between Jan. l. 1868, and July 20, 1871,
amounting in all to Sl7701, 500 0s OF these Sl0,73A
| 92l II county warrants, and the remainder city
warrants These exclusive of hespecal audit pay
ments. Besides these, county warrants were
| issued in 1871 which 12l3 per cent
was paid by Ingersol to Connolly in person.
the total of the claims being little over $4,000
To all these must be added the bills audited by Conan
Norton, Walsh, and Ingersoll, as Courthouse Commits
sIoners most OF which made up OF fictitious Items
and were paid by Connolly for the comparatively small
tax of 5 per cent = total OF S50s ,2l5 ID. These
figures payments taken from the books OF the FL
nance Department and she calculations OF Connollys
gains can be made without much difficulty
these represent only portion Of the theyish in-
come demanded and received by this ayarciOus city
official In the Ave years OF his disaceful service as
custodian public moneys it is estimated that be-
tween five and six millions OF dollars paid TO
tractors on the public works Many OF these were hon
ora Bile business men, and carried their contracts n
good faith. But j. Townsend Connolly was Assistant
! City Auditor, with a hgure-head Auditor, and
il was almost impossible for contractors to get paid for
their work promptly unless they yielded to his demands
Connolly growing richer every day. ana hls irends
and especially those having business with ln remarked
ms increasing arrogance still held In partial succtiOn
by his avarice lie had had some experience IN banking
business in early life which caused hm To- make MS
| investments in stocks and bonds. When the
| bubble burst. and his crimes were discovered, no
| fouu1l ike al
real estate, and with schemes Tor making money har
maid for and made wholly worthless soon after for want
of the additional capital which could not be obtained
Many his Government bonds had been properly regis
| tered and were transferred without difficulty. Tho
largest portion OF his personal estate carried TO
| Europe by his family, and through the friendship or
MAYOR Iavemeyer and his political associations and by
| Gov Tldens influence. he enabled TO make terms
temporarily by the appointment OF Andrew ii. Green as
Deputy Controller and finally succeeded In escaping TO
| Europe.
sons to have been enormously lucrative, enjoyed by
Connolly III the markets, which we then ana are now
| under the control Of the Finance Department. Permits
for stands and around the city markets are among the
most valuable franchises OF the city IL was necessary
nen as now, TO get the permission OF the controller
for tRe transfer of stand Butchers and dealers in all
kinds of merchandise in the markets hold their stands
owner sells his goodwill hxtures but the transfer
ana permit must first be obtained fon the superntend-
| snt off Markets, acting under instructions from tho
| FINANCE Department Untar Connolly, complaints Of
un 'arness and mpartality frequent. Permits for
valuable stands III the markets cost IN some Instances as
much AS -, 900 owners were frequently ousted under
| some preteXt for violating the city ordinances,
and their stands given 10 ayOres for consideration.
How much Connolly realized from these transactions
viii never be known, but IL is believed by those who
were cOgnzant of much that was going on duflug his
term 100000 would be small figure at which 70
estimate his share. An important item his supplies
| OF meat, vegetables, and fruits for his family
| table Alter Carroll was removed from his office
OF superintendent Of Markets. he presented bill for
about SlO 900 for meat and market supplies when Con-
molly a irst refused To pay but which subsequently
compromised 1t is understood the family not wishing 70
contest tho suit brought IN the cours to compel pay
|