The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-19
JENNINGS AND THE TWEED RING.
How the Editor Secured and Used the Pa
pers That Overthrow the Thieves.

How the Editor Secured and Used the Pa.
pers That Overthrow the Thieves.
New York World.
Louis j. Jennings will be best remem-
bered through his connection with the fight
against the Tweed ring, which has passed
into history. In an interview given some
time before his death he described his part
dictator.
Before had been very long at work on
the New York Times" he said. cit struck
me as curious thing that none of
iished. There was a law requiring
them to be issued quarterly and annually,
but not a sign of them could find any
where. The taxation of the city amounted
to over S20.0OG,OO0 q year. and in the
up of over SlOO.0oO,COO. There never was
q city SO badly lighted and paved.
All the duties of city government were
neglected. What. then, became of all
the money! l set myself to work to
the hands of Boss Tweed and his
merry men. They had yachts and fine car.
riages and fast horses. and wore diamonds
In their shirt fronts almost as large as
saucers. few years previously most of
them had been unknown and penniless
men. The police, the sheriff and the whole
control of the city was in their hands.
"One day / managed to find out that q
sum of 100000 had been charged for car
pets in building known as the court
house. / went over the courthouse and
had look round. There were no carpets
there-only little mating, which might
have been bought for 500. Little by
little / got at the secrets of the
which could be produced in the shape of
legal proof. The bold course was the only
to take. L astonished the city one
morning Dy coming ont with all article en-
titled Two Thieves" i denounced Tweed
ana his oonfederates as public robbers. They
abused me to their hearts content in their
newspapers. Every crime had ever heard
of was laid at my door. / was arrested
two or three times day as tho fight grew
brisk. but the magistrate. albeit in the
ring never refused bail, and there were
gentlemen of the city who stood ready
day and night to give bail for me to the
extent of S5000.0O0. had so much been
wanted. / was waited for as l went home
at or in the morning, but somehow my
kind friends always missed me. All kinds
of inducements were made for me to shut
up and go away. One night q man came
suddenly into my room at the office. shut
the door quickly. and announced that he
intended to cut the heart out of me. He did
not succeed in bis purpose. 1t is needless
for me to dwell upon little incidents of
that kind.
There was q weli-known man who had
once held an official position in the Tam
InAiy EQUALIZATION, Out uuAdIlf Ueeu
pushed out of il. He had friend in the
controllers office. where all the city books
were Kept. One night he came into the
room. took his coat off, and remarked that
1t was very not. Very, said. You have
had hard hight said he encouragingly.
Have still, l think l replied as | got up
to look out of the window. The truth
was that felt unusually discouraged that
night. There seemed no end to the long
road was on. Il said you have had il,
said my friend. pulling out roll of papers
from his pocket Here are the proofs he
went on. of all the charges you have made,
exact transcripts from the controller 6
books. The money stolen 10 over $50. 900, QUO.
Don't let the boys know yon have got these
papers; they would murder you In twink
ling If they as much as SUSPECTED that you
had them'
Il held out my hand for the Inestimable
roll. ran Off home with il. and sat up all
night disentaDgling the hgnres and puZ-
cling ont the whole story. The proof was
ample but IL took mo some days to put il
into sha Do which would mako it's due in-
preston upon the publlc mind. The figues
had been copied srrreptitiousIy at different
times and were al in chaos. Hundreds OF
thousands of ollars were charged To various
persons who. soon found, had no exist.
ence. A plasterer had been paid something
like 81, SOC. 600 for plastering one building
Furnishing that building mad cost some.
thing like 81. 10000. although there were
need not tell you the details. Suffice it &c
say that we got the corrupt judges I'M.
peachsd and removed from the bench. The
boss and his accomplices. became fugitives
and the entire ring Was shattered to frag
ments."