Year: 1874




When you gave the names you reported two
sevenths of the convicts born In Ireland; when
you did not you made about twice as many born
in Ireland as IN all the rest OF the world. Nearly
1900 natives OF Ireland convicted in this city in
six years. Verify If you could have had another
term you would have had every person IN this city
born IN Ireland cOnvicted-on paper. Why you
should have perpetrated this terrible libel on your
own race l cannot imagine, unless you believe
there was prejudice against them, and that BY
p8ndering TO that prejudice you would divert at
tention from your frauds. / have spoken above OF
the help you mad IN the perpetration OF your
frauds. 1t Is only recently that learned of your
intimacy with the deceased County Auditor, James
not have extended to you that degree OF conf
dence which leo me to appoint Croker upon your


DISHONEST FRIENDS.


knew that you had been Intimate with Richard
B. connolly and had exerted yourself very strenu-
ously to have him elected as Comptroller. His
reputation, SO far as have heard. was good pre-
viously to his election 10 that oflce but with Wat
son the case was different. IL seems 10 have been
well known to the legal profession that watson
was brought here from California as a prisoner
and that as soon as, II not before, he was dis
charged as a prisoner from your custody you took
him into your confidence as a clerk. The Honorable
John McKeon, whose hostility to corruption Is as
well known as his vigOr III denOuncing 1t, has often
stated that watson came here in irons, but he
may not have intended to be understood literally.
honest practices should have made you cautious
IN trusting or recommending him. The init
ter beyond doubt Your bills against the county
for the second quarter OIL your second year and
others alter ward are receipted by Watson, and no
person but him or you received any OF your moneys
from the county during your first term OF Ofice He
continued with you to It's close, and now that your
dishonesty Is exposed the public will believe
that the reason you took HIM into your confidence
was because he could aid you In the perpetratiOn
OF your frauds. The intimacy between you, am
told, was not merely OF business character, but
was also social and continued until his death. 1t
Is understood that he was appointed as Auuitor at
your solicitation, although, doubtless, The Ring
then forming knew that he could be as use nj to
them as to you 1t IS not likely that he would ever
for you; and so far as he was the instrument OF
the robbery and disgrace to which this city has
been subjected, 1t Was an injury that you by your
aid TO him did more than any other person to
cause. can Imagine tnat you will endeavor to
diminish the force OF this exposure Of your frauds
by representing that although you received the
proceeds OF the frauds you were ignorant OF them
and supposed that the money came to you hon
esty. That resort is not open toyou


KE;LY'S EXCESSIVE CHARGES.


Your Dill Tor the quarter ending september 80,
1850. was raced nearly one-half by the Board OF
misunderstanding between you and Tweed. AS
Chairman OF the Committee on County Onces he
lor reporting 533 convictions but the Boar took
Off 1850 Tor 5,100 OF them. Tweed in his report
treats the matter cautiously, merely saying that
the committee had agreed to audit the bill at the
reduced amount. Upon the bill however, as paid
by the Comptroller, Is statement that the $3.50
was taken Off because the number OF convictions
reported by you was 800 greater than the num-
Der according TO the records in the ONCE OF the
Clerk OF the Court OF General Sessions Below
that statement you put protest against the de-
ductlon, doubtless to avoid the appearance OF con-
Tossing the fraud.


ooNNTvANcE WITH TWEED.


But you must have made the matter all right
with Tweed Tor the next month and atterward
the fraud went on as before. These circumstances
prove cOnclusvely that YOU had full knowledge OF
your fraud. Before passing from this subject will
add That THIS fraud appears to have had It's begin
ming In the term Of your Immediate predecessor.
For his hrst quarter, ending March 81, 1856 he
charged Tor reporting 603 CONVICTIONS; Tor his last,
ending December 81, 1858, he charged for 3,799.
iou however, during your first term reaped the
lul harvest OF dishonest gains IN this field. You
exhausted the soil TO such an extent that you
were not able to gather half large crop from II
during your second term. The next class Of your
charges that shall examine is that ior tho con-
veyance OF convicts to penal institutions within
the limits oil the county. Upon the first cxanna-
ton OF those charges the hope WIS INDUCED that.