New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-07
WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT.


The impossible has happened. 1t has passed
into a prOverb that it never harmed Demo
crat to prove him scamp. The Democratic
voter walks up to the polls and votes for him
nevertheless with a serene disregard of all laws
except that Of party loyalty. But it is now said
that the disclosures in the case of Sheriff Flack
have actually put an end to his political ambl-
tions, and that Tammany Hall, of which he is
Grand Sachem, will find way of dropping HIM
from that position if he does not retire of his
own accord. This can hardly be, because 1t IS
alleged that the Sheriff has in his divorce pro-
ceedngs charged himself with being person
of doubtful morals. There are certain sections
of the DecalOgue which a politician seems able
to violate with impunity. The career OF much
more distinguished statesman than Sheriff
Flack, to w.t. Alexander Hamilton, was strik-
ing case in point
The disclosure which destroys the Shenh's
availability as a future candidate is that his
divorce is alleged to have been the result OF a
fraudulent conspiracy among certain members
Of the Tammany Hall organization. The Sher-
ifs lawyer was member of Tammany and a
relative of the counsel who appeared for the
wife, although he had never seen her. The
case was brought before Judge elected by
Tammany Hall, who named as referee former
empoye of the Sheriff. This man is also a
member of Tammany Hail. and holds position
in the courts by reason Of that fact. 1T IS not
supposed that the Judge had any knowledge
of the plot, but the selection of referee was
extraordinary from any point of view. There
are said TO have been hearings, but the Wl1e
declares that she never knew of them, never
appeared before the referee, and, in fact, never
knew that she had sued for divorce. IT the
assertions Of the wife are correct, the Sheriff.
made a charge against himself, and admitted
it by making no defence, and i'll this easy way
freed himself from the bonds that bound him
to her. The chain does not end here, how
ever The clerk Of the court is also Tam
many official, and the desiled secrecy was main
tanned by his failure to make the usual records
in the case Here we have the Sheriff, Judge
Of the Court Of Common Pleas, a Civil Justice,
a court clerk and another court Oficial-aIl men
officially connected with orr judicial system.
and all holding positions Of high responsibility
involved in this transaction, and not one OF
them Offers a satisfactory explanation OF his
course. Several of them, in fact, decline to
give any explanation whatever, but content
themselves with "rcfuSing to talk" after the
manner of statesmen who shrink from being
quoted upon pending public question until
they can see how the cat means to jump. The
position in which these gentlemen find them
selves is a much more serious one however,
though none Of them seem to realize it.
1t is not a matter for surprise that these
disclosures have been received with conSterna-
ton in Tammany Hall. The rule of the bosses
is pretty strict in this town, but the time has
not arrived yet when even that powerful body
can venture to 90 before the people as an or
ganizaton that prostitutes the courts to the
nefarious schemes of its members. SO that we
look to see all those officially concerned in this
transaction thrown overheard in due time. But
the matter ought not to end there. There is
reason to believe that the principals are en-
deavoring to save themselves by shutting the
mouth of the injured woman Enough is al
ready known to justify an inquiry by the Bar
Association. The honor of the courts is at
stake, and steps should be taken to vindicate it.