The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-09-16
As Narrated to a Committee of New
York Aldermen. =''i-4s
And BY Which He Proves Himself the
3D.. Champion Thief Of the Century.
Many Accompliccs Named. auig

name of Foster Dewey, and the assign
ment conveys for one dollar paid to
Jas. O'Brien all the latter's claims, not
less than $4,000, against the city,
and bears the signature of Joseph A.
Monheimer, Tweed and Jas. O'Brien.
Witness gave $40, 200 for it. He gave
an assignment of real estate of Sl7s,-
600 to VIM. E. King in the presence of
Dewey for the claim. Regarding the
charter of 1870, almost everyone con-
nected with the Tammany Ring had
something to do with it. When asked
if members of the assembly were
bribed to vote for it, witness answered
that they were paid for it. He could
not tell what members of the assembly
were paid, but knew the senator's who
were. The tax levy provisions of 1870
gave control of the finances to the
mayor, comptroller and president of
the department of public works. 1t
was understood among them that they
were to reimburse themselves for the
large sums expended in passing the
charter. Connolly, Smith, the wit
ness and various tradesmen furnished
money for bribing the legislature of
1870. Among the tradesmen were
Garvey, Ingersoll, Keyser, Z. A. Wood
ward, Jas. Watson, E. Boyle, Ed. Mar
vim, and almost everybody who had
dealings with us. Henry Smith, police
commissioner, contributed; also the
Erie railroad through Jay Gould,
When he said Gould he meant Fisk,
and vice versa, for they spoke and
acted as one man. The money for the
assembly went through Ed. Barbour.
He gave Barbour 100000 for that
purpose, and he himself personally paid
the senators. Hall, Connolly and him
self had an understanding when they
parties doing business with the city
were to give them fifteen per cent. His
supposition was that the bills were to
be bona fide. Watson and Woodward
were suggested by witness as parties to
prepare the bills, and then they were to
be paid by Connolly, which was agreed
to by Sweeney, and he got their per-
centage. Connolly was not satisfied
with ten per cent. and wanted twenty,
and he got it. Hall complained of
slowness in settling up, and witness
made them hurry up, and after this
Hall signed the bills. They all got ten
per cent. at first and then twenty.
They agreed on Sweeney, Connolly and
Hall to divide up ten per cent. each,
and two and half per cent. was re-
served for election purposes. The
prominent men to present bogus bills
were Keyser and Ingersoll.
There was split in the Democratic
party about that time, which Hastings
and other Republicans were anxious to
keep up. Witness sent around for
Hastings and he came and suggested
seeing the senators. Witness saw Sem
ators :.Winslow, Bradin, Jas. Wood,
Bowen and Maurice. A gentleman in
troduced him to Winslow, who wanted
$4,000.
Witness told Woodin that, he, was
willing to pay him. Witness also told
Hastings, and he said: "Stick to it, old
man; l guess you will get him.
Woodin asked witness for $50, 200, and
witness said no, $4,000. A few days
afterwards Hastings informed him that
the Republican Senators had caucus
and that they would all vote for the
bill when it came up, and all the Dem
ocrats except Genet. Besides Republi-
can Senators, he approached Demo
cratic Senators about the bill. He gave
a place to Senator Frost, and put his
friends on the payroll. He agreed tC
vote for the bill, and witness put sew,
eral of his friends on the payroll. The
other Senator approached was Michael
Norton. 81 promised to help him in his
business in New York. 7. j. CreameI
had arranged with Connolly and Bald
win. L gave $4,000 place to hi:
partner as Il consideration. Vim. NJ
Gratan l gave money to all the time
Winslow, Elwood and VIM. II. Brand
got money. Parmenter got $4,000.
gave Winslow $50, 900, to be distributed
between him and Woodin and othel
Republicans named $4,000 each. Somt
Of the money was paid by our notes
O'Brien and Bryant have some of them
l offered Senator Manierre $4,000; h.
asked $4,000, saying we were all get
ting rich in New York. had the sam,
talk with Bowen and Woods. Final,
they settled on $4,000. Bowen cam
to me and said he understood l wa
anxious to pass the bill, and aske'
for $4,000 for his support. Tn
next day he asked $4,000. l said tina
was impossible, and we fixed on $40,
600 and Winslow paid him. Senate
Ward also got $40, 600 through Wins
CIV. Hugh Hastings was valuable o.
the floor and had control of a news
} paper, so employed him to prepar
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