New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-07
TIE LIT OF TIE BOODLkRS

Colonel Fellows is not going to try any OF
the pending bribery cases just yet We are
in no wise asionshed to learn of this decision.
We didn't suppose he would try them, either
lust yet or ever, if by trial is meant a sincere
effort to convict the guilty men. But we did
suppose that he would make some little show Of
a virtuous and uncompromsing spirit. and that
he would at least let the public down easily to
a knowledge Of the fact that his election meant
the entire abandonment of these prosecutions.
IL seems, however. that the Colonel doesn't
think this worth while, and we don't know but
that he is right. The assumption that as there
were voters enough in this town to elect him
by 1000 majority in the face of his record, he
can depend on enough support To sustain him
no matter what he does fails to do, has
obviously a substantial basis OF fact Oh which
to rest.
The wonder is. indeed, that the Colonel did
not boldly announce an intention to "nOllc
pros the indictments. We can think Of moth
ing which restrained him from making such a
statement unless 1t be his sense OF humor.
Surely nothing but a droll concet moved HIM
to say that he was waiting for decision in the
O'NeiI case before taking up the others. lie
never could have expected any ono To take
this seriously. No new law was made in the
O'Ncil case. or even if there was, it could bear
only on the Alderman. Sharp, Kerr and
others are all waiting for trial Not single
item of evidence which the Court Of Appeals
threw out of the Sharp case was necessary to
show his guilt. The Senate Committee testi-
mony, the Pottlc evidence the statements OF
Miller as to hisopinion of De Lacy's motives,
and the proof of the refugees flight, are all
simply cOnfirmatOry points. The case without
them is convincing and sufficient. All that is
required to convict Sharp again before the very
next term of the Oyer and Terminer is an
honest Jury and an honest District Attorney.
Nobody knows this better than Colsnel Eel
lows Nobody knows better than he that all
this grand talk which he and Mayor Hewitt
have been parading about getting rid OF the
bail cases is mere fuss and feathers. The bail
cases need to he tried. and il is a shame that
his desk should be packed full of uniricd indlct-
ments, but the punishment of every offender
represented by them is OF small Importance to
public morals and public safety compared with
the punishment OF Sharp and his accomplices.
II Colonel Fellows were Il fit man for the Office
he holds he would make the conviction OF the
"boodlers' the prime and al-controlling OBJ
jcct of his official life. There is every reason
TO fear that the sentiment ascribed to the Hon.
"Tatty' Walsh" Bribery amt the kind O
crime fer to indict man fcr''-is deemed by
the Colonel to be at least entitled to considcra-
ton. Moreover when man is elected to Office
for the express purpose of not doing certain
thing, what can be palmer than that it would
be a clear breach of faith for him to 90 and do
il? The decent people Of New-York may as
we'll accept the fact first as last that De Lancey
NicoIl's retirement to private life marked the
passage to Sing Sing of the last of the boodlers