CHARLES O'CONOR TO TILDEN
"Fort Washington, Jany. 7, 1875.
"My dear Sir,—Perhaps I am too suspicious or too prone to evil constructions, but I cannot resist the belief that there is a complete conspiracy. And for aught I see, it may succeed.
"At the outset, Curtis and Porter were called in and gave a written avowal of their doubts whether there was any remedy. When the reform Mayor, a Republican, was coming in, Smith was substituted for O'Gorman. Now recently, counting in some way on favor or folly or softness in Wickham, Smith arranged it to dismiss Peckham and Barlow and substitute Porter and Curtis!! All the scamps have fled except Tweed. Field is hurrying up Tweed's criminal case, and the moment he gets a reversal, which is pretty sure, Tweed will fly. No civil process of arrest being out against him, this is easy.
"What are we to do?
"Yrs., &c.,
"Ch. O'Conor."