Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-28
StiIWen Offered to Tell SuIzer
of Methods to Gain
Pardon.
KNEW THAT TAMMANY
PLANNED IMPEACHMENT
Political Destruction Faced by Law
makers Failing to Obey, Says
Convicted Senator.

NEW YORK, October 2S.-Stephen ].
Stilwell. former state senator from New
York city, acquitted of bribery charges
by the senate last spring. convicted aft
erward by a jury and now serving his
sentence in Sing Sing. appealed to Will
liam Sulzer, governor, for a pardon and
offered. in return. to expose the inner
workings Of boss rule in New York,
whereby representatives in the legis-
lature are placed between the alternative
of political destruction by failure to obey
the boss or the violation of their obliga-
tons to the people"
Stilwell's offer to tell what he knew
long rumored but never before definitely
established, is contained in a letter made
public by SulZer today. Sulzer is now in
the thick of a fight against Tammany
Hall in a campaign for election to the
assembly on the progressive ticket.
Told Of Impeachment.
The offer to turn informer against
Tammany was made by stilwell August
16. three days after Sulzer had been i'm
peached. but weeks prior to his removal
In the letter to Gov. sulzer. Stilwen as
serted that he had been told In advance
that Sulzer was to be impeached. In
/
he would make a confession along the
line Of his promise he, (Sulzer) had no
doubt the people would urge executive
clemency in his behalf
Some time in June" Sulzer's expIana-
tory statement goes on, "a, well known
citizen who knew Stilwell visited him in
the Tombs, and Stilwell told this man
that he had it direct from the chief that
Gov. Sulzer was to be removed from Of
Ace before the 10th of July. and that
Glynn was in the latter would pardon him
for Stilwell to hold his tongue and every
thing would be all right. The name of
this citizen will be given if required
Sent Letter Asking Pardon.
stilwell's letter applying for a pardon.
Sulzer continued, was brought to him
August II. It was in part:
II have lost my professional position,
and my business and opportunities have
been destroyed, of themselves severe pun
ishment; and, therefore, with the pun
ishment I have received / believe that
Justice has been satisfied.
True, I have been promised by the
agents Of the dominant political power
my early release. Word was sent me
before the recent political agitation that
the governor would be impeached and
my prompt release would follow.
There have been other promises made
prior thereto of this same general char
acter at several times looking to the
change of my situation.
Without regard to the good faith or
otherwise of these promises, I desire to
say that do not seek a release by such
means. but because I believe justice in
my case has been fully satisfied.
Promised Revelations.
Furthermore, I promise to further the
ends of justice and the cause of the peo-
pie; and in every way within my power
for the benefit of the good and orderly
government of this state, and to show tG
the people the iniquities of the present
system of boss rule, whereby their rep.
resentatiVes in the legislature are placed
between the alternatives of political death
and destruction by failure to obey the
political boss or the violation of theiI
obligations to the people otherwise.
II myself have been thus threatened
with pol .tical destruction because l sue
cessfully fought for a certain measure
| and I attribute my present position to
| that reason.
IT therefore, desire to say that I re-
gard it as my public duty to expose
the venality of these conditions.
(signed) STEPHEN ]. STILWELL' 81
John A Hennessy, Suffers former
graft investigator, who is now leading
| a bitter campaign against Tammany.
has announced that he will make pub
| lie tonight a conversation he held with
Stilwell in Sing Sing. This converse
| ton Hennessy said was taken down in
shorthand w tn the aid of a telephone
device, in Stillwell'S cell.