The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-12-03
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.

A Wonderful New York Official-A Prize
Fighters Downfall-Seriohs Accident to
Suicides-How the Money Goes Forth to
tho HeatheD. Etc.
New YORK, November 26, 1881.
EbrroR CHIEF:
The days of miracles have not yet gono.
A New York official, belonging to the
building department., has actually re-
fused . bribe of fifty dollars. If that
man should murder q person tomorrow
any jury in the world would acquit him
on the ground of emotional insanity.
He not only refused it, but he packed it
up in an envelope and sent it with the
note requesting his unlawful service to
his superior officer. The case was crit
ieal one, just after the fall of the tene-
ment houses in Grand street, where so
many people were killed. A builder, who
desired to put up just such another trap,
sent fifty dollars to one Of the inspectors,
asking him to wink at certain irregulari-
ties which might possibly be the death of
a hundred or 80, but it would save con-
siderable brick. To the honor of our
kind be it recorded that the official with
stood the temptation; but We can not
forget that it was one of onr kind that
offered the bribc.
We are hunting about now after money
to pay our taxes. The budget has been
furnished, and we find that it amounts to
$31 $780, 900; and that one individual, in
the payment Of his taxes, sent in his
check for the snug little sum Of $48O, 500.
l assure you it was not I, but another
fellow, whose natural modesty induces
me to withhold his name.
If any body should doubt the truth of
that excellent adage, "the way of the
transgressor is hard" he should have
seen sight that saw the other day.
It is now about two years since all
New York, aud, may say, the entire
country, was stirred to its 1Dnermost
center at prospective prize-aght be-
tween two rival -ruffians, for the heavy
weight championship of America. A
quarter Of million Of dollars were bet
on the result, and pools on the fight were
sold, not only in the principal cities of
the Union, but in Canada, London and
Australia. On the day of the battle sew
eral steamers were engaged to carry the
motley throng to the battle ground, sev-
eral New York and Brooklyn aldermen
being Of the number. In fact, the win
ming fighter was the brother of Brook
lyn alderman who was present at the
battle, and who bet freely Oh the result.
The contest was q severe one, for the
gladiators were both powerful men, and
when it was ended one Of them was
nearly beaten to death. The victor re-
turned to his home in Brooklyn, where
he received the ovation of conqueror.
He had committed an offense, the penalty
of which, the statute says, is State.prison
for five years, and yet, ten days after his
return his political friends were SO de-
lighted with his prowress that they
actually made him clerk of one of the
principal courts of justice, with salary
of $4,000 per annnm. A few days after
his appointment he was the hero of a
bar-room fight, when he gave his oppon-
ent proof Of his qualifications as the
guardian Of a court of Justice; but the
associations of our evil life were not SO
easily broken up. Training for the prize
ring does not exactly qualify man for
the. presidency of the Y. NJ. C. A., and
after short period of good behavior his l