The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-02
TWEED AND FAIRCHILD.

THE Ex-ArToRNEY GENERAL DECLARES RE
NEVER PROMISED TO LIBrRATE THE 'Boss"-
Mr.. KELLY's STATEMENT DECLARED FALSE.
ALBANY, April l. 1873
Ex-A,,orney General Falrchild has written the lol
lowing letter to tho Attorney General In reply TO the
statement OF John Kelly -
cAzgSovIA, Madison County. n. Y, April l, 1873
To Hon. AUGUSTUS ScuooSmAKgK Attorney General
SIR see In the newspapers a copy OF what pur
ports 70 be letter written by Mr. John Kelly. the
Comptroller OF The city Of Now ork, dated the 2lst
the public Ia tho possession OF william NJ Tweed
some lays later. Tho letter contains this state
mcnt:-'Mr FarciIild did state 10 mo that he would
discharge ir. Tweed u he made full confession
ana surrendered hiE pr6p,rtyn As this IL
she frat ume that tins claim has been mado by
Twced's friends u is proper that should notice It
Mr. Kelly mistaken aud this statement IL false 70
absolutely false that u IS hardly necessary Tor
Attorney General could be a "uil Confession from
Twccdl The Attorney General and the public already
tho Attorney General Get bg authority to discharge
Tweed IN return Tor a "full confession Z" did not
wish to ask for a confession" from Tweed. What I
did wish VAS evidence which could be used tho
courts Tor The pubiic BENEFIT ana which should DO
useful as 20 justify The discharge OF Tweed. Whether
the evidence turn isled by Tweed would DO such
not the Attorney General could tudgo until had
IL When did SEQ deliberately, but most de-
cidedy came tho tn ut Tweed did not oer
evdeu CO the usc which wound at all Justify tho con.
sent OF the Attorney General to his discharge. Fur
thcrmore neither Txecd nor mis- counsel offered or
sufned 10 furnish mo a "iul comics Sion What was
iur shed TO unsigned document, be nc np-
parenty statement by Twecd's counsel Of tho ovf.
dcnoe weed could furnish THIS | considered would
be almost worthless, either to the State to the CITY,
" testified TO In a court, and even this statement
Tweed has himself sworn 20 DO untrue In ini-
portant particulars. | might state many moro
facts aud reasons to show the untrui hfuiness mud
sbsurdity OF tnis statement OF Mr Kelly; among
others. former statements Of both Kcly's aud
Twecd's counsel. But II cannot be necessary that
should do so What Mr. Kelly may have SAID to Mr..
Tweed or his counsel | do not know and Tor That
am not responsible. Before the statement fur
Dished to mo by Twccd's counsel talked somewhat
this subject with Mr.. Kelly, thinking IL due 10 him
leading Official ahd influential citizen OF New York
CITY, did not authorize him To say anything TO either
Tweed or hts counsel my behalf, or In any
manner TO represent me; nor did at that time, sup
pose that Mr.. Kelly represented Tweed. Mr. Kelly
concealed from me, ana was ignorant of tho fact
which subsequently appeared in testimony before tho
Senate committee OF which you were member, that
Mr.. Kelly hnd been In consultation with Tweed a
fcrds upon tho SUBJECT OF hts discharge long before
first spoke Mr.. Kelly upon tho subject ana that no
was frequently consulting with thom durioe tho tim
that no was also consulting with me. All this was
carefully concealed from both BY Tweed his coun.
s,i and by Kelly II Is difcuit now 10 infer Chi cir
object IN TINS course.
do not desire, sir, to influence you in dc 10 n Z
whether Tweed can or cannot he made OF usc
the public as TO Justify you IN using the power OF
your Office to procure ns discharge from jai; but
been heretofore incurred toward Tweed by the state
send you herewith copy OF my report 10 tho
Governor upon this subject, dated June 81, 1871 II
gives the history OF TINS matter 10 great uetaiL
Very respectfully your obedient servant
CHARLES =. FAiRCHiLD.