Year: 1875

! did examine him that point But Al for
not explaining" you seem willing 20 resort 10 almost
anything


Serenh and iost-You charge me with engaging with


zone Wilkes playing farce before tho comtniitec.
This zone Wilkes, 70 whom you 50 courieously refer,


belevc is Mr.. George Wilkes well known throughout
the world OF the gifted editors connected
with journalism IN this city. Unfortunately for him
he was compelled seek redress at your Office. and
though his right your aid unquestioned by not
only OF the best lawyers IN the city, but some
of the most distinguished officials in shc State Il was
denied him. Not being OF nature tamely 10 submit
he showed up, his JOURNAL some OF the transactions
OF your ofhcc and brought upon himself your ven
geanee which showed itself principally IN the manner
you allude 10 him, and In preventing HIM rom obtain
ing through your oice what yoa do not deny TO the
meancsL Until about week before Mr. Wilkes ap-
peared before the committee did not know him even
by sight but the story he narrated OF the treatment he
had received at your hands and the insults he had
borne through you warmed him TO me Immediately
and | did what | could 10 induce him to
lay his whole case before the committee.
know Of nothing which prevented HIM from
giving his testimony that day, except
the decacy (Which you don't seem TO apprecaie) he
felt in submitting to the committee the charges which
he had preferred against you 10 the Governor before
action had been taken by him. there was no iarce IN
tended to be played on that occasion, assure YOU
constantly funny as you arc reported 10 be.
had seen his charges, and 1t was upon those | sub
p@naed him TO appear and when asked him lot copy
II that should read them, but that might
mako them part OF the record


believe have now answered in detail all the charges
you prefer against make no charges against you,
but will now proceed 10 illustrate the matters which
came before the committee in connection with your de-
parment and let who read judge OF you as they
please. The opinion OF what the District Attorney OF
this city might have of q person in some minds may
have great weight bat have long since ceased TO honor


in consequence Of his position, and treat every
man nearly as can In accordance with what con
ceive TO be his deserts.


BY the testimony, before the committee, OF Mr..
Wheeler H. Pcckham, who believe the community at
large recognize having been, long as permitted
the main worker against the ring thieves, IL appears
that the entire charge OF the criminal proceedings
against them was ut an carly period intrusted to him.
Through hts conduct and advice TO the Grand Jury
large number oil indictments for felony were found
against Tweed and others OF his associates Mr.. Peck
ham says:I have doubt that were ready 10 try
those any time after the matter first nvesti
gated There has been time that were not
ready TO try them after the bills foundn And,
again, he sAys:-'If had had entire charge ofthem
they would all have been tried; but then say that
supposng should have had other duties, nat would
have prevented my dong it," Now these men were,
In their ne the most extensive thieves known In the
history of the country, and by their operations they
have left the city in condition which II will require
years OF economy TO recover from


What have you done toward making them examples
for posterityf Out of twenty-tgo indictments for
felony and seven for msdcmeanor against Tweed, you
(no, beg your pardon, It was hessrs Tremain and
Pcckham convicted him once for msdemeanor, and as
relieve him far possible from any apprehen-
that he might have that you intended him further
injury you assented to his bail upon the felony indct
ments being fixed sums which person charged with
petit larceny would have deemed light And now that
he has concluded to part company with you and quietly
bid you adieu your dignity appears assaied when
committee appointed by the Legislature TO investigate
the OF crime requests to appear before them





the city been put to great expense as wen as rdcue
by your inefhciency and neglect. With the exception
OF lngerso and Genet the latter oil wnom escaped pc
fore reaching the Tombs other of the Ring men
have been even tried All OF MIR. Peckham's efforts IN
having indictment upon indictment piled up against
them have proved avail ana those people snap their
fingers at you as II you OF concern TO them
whatever But had the Committee on Crime no right
under their authority finding matters In your depart
ment to be thus to investigate whether II was in
efficiency corruption which produced IL?


Mr. Henry c. Allen. an Assistant District Attorney
p.ior, No. ahnGaA in MI IN
could be used there testified before the committee
he stayed in his efforts TO secure the arrest OF
Norton another Ring conspirator, who had forfeited
his bail and for whom he had obtained bench war
rant by notice from OF your assistants that he
would get his fingers burned If he didn't keep them
out of that pot" " and Mr. Allen says he reported this
nvcrsation TO you, he remembered and that you
didn't say much" Again. Mr.. Allen testified that
prior this ntmation of your assistant II TO his
knowledge (and now inform you that 1t was from yon
he says he received the nformation that certain pot
ca friends OF yours had promised Norton protection
punishment II he would his best endcavors 10
elect certain gentleman in his district to the State
Senate


Whether you asscnted to the arrangement l cannot
say except the suggestive facts that Norton did work
for political opponent who candidate for the
Senate and that he has not since been tried.


Mr. Allen testified that IN tho fall OF 1SI3 few days
before election some 100 10 indictments found
against lottery dealers in day and the records in
the Clerks office show that October 20, 1873 was the
day upon which II effected he says that these in
dictments found through the instrumentalty OF
your assistants with the expressed intention OF





would have had 600 700 indicted IL he tMr Allen had
not put stop TO it What screws" may mean leave
you Certain II is that OF only l16 found during
last of Office, to July, 1875 only sixteen
in all tried pretty showing TO be sure, in
regard to which all witnesses have testified to
being the mcanes and most productive Of crime OF
any species OF gamblingl And had the Committee on
Crime right 10 assault your dignity by politely re-
Questing to explain what influence ii any, lottery
dealers had Influencing the action OF your office?


Again, in the summer OF 1873, the business CON-
muuity astounded by the detection OF scheme of
forgery which, according to own opinion exceled
ingenuity audacity and successful result the great
iorgcres the Bank Of England" Mr. Allen, through
the OF Pnkortons detectives, worked up he
case; the most famous orgers in the country were en-
gagged IN it. many of whom were indicted the same
year. Gleason Roberts, Johnson. Yates, Raymond,
BlasdeIl and Brown we're arrested, Against Gleason
aud Roberts alone 100 indictments were found. Mr..
Allen he had pretty clear case OF it against
them. Now what result was obtainedp He says that
about week prior the trial OF Gleason and Roberts
ION the first only which they were ried you
took the papers Of his hands, and without consult
ing him to what evidence he had succeeded in
getting against them put them on trial without his
assistance, and the jury disagreed Roberts and
Gleason have since been in Ludlow Street jail, detained
for lack Of bail in civil Johnson Yates Basdel
and Brown have been separately discharged and Ray
mond sent 10 Ithaca a Witness since which time
he has been parading the city.


Now, II part OF the duty OF the Committee on
Crime oven If IL ruled your dignity, TO inquire why
these men, some OF them, had not been tried and
punished and why, under the circumstances, you
found it necessary (for the first time believe in the
history OF District Attorney to raise thousands Of
dollars by subscription in Wall street to enable you TO
perform the duties which the city largely pays you for
These but illustrations OF the matters testified TO