CHARLES O'CONOR TO TILDEN
"Fort Washington, Apl. 28, 1875.
"My dear Sir,—Our determination here is to push the Ring suits to decision as rapidly as possible. Once we get fairly started everything will move with the utmost rapidity. But getting the fair start is attended with no slight difficulty. The field is so wide and is so full of minute details, and the sources of information are so much more responsible than formerly. We must not let our deponents make any mistakes. Their knowledge being absolute and actual, their responsibility is great. If through haste or want of memory mistakes occur they may be pronounced wilful, and thus their credit be destroyed, or at least impaired. By interlocutory motions, such as demands for impracticable things, as copies of destroyed papers, etc., they will bring their judges down upon us, and thus precipitate the climax.
"Probably this is well enough. If their judges have resolution equal to their wishes they can defeat us, in despite of any legislation. But it is to be hoped that fear, like the cackling of the Roman geese, may save the State.
"It is said that one of our N. Y. judges has pledged himself to save Sweeney. Very likely. And, I guess, whenever he has a chance, the Mayor will appoint as a corporation counsel a known friend of that absent functionary.
"My precise motive in writing at this time is to warn you of the necessity of watching closely all amendments of the Code of Procedure, and any statutes concerning practice. There is great likelihood of an attempt to smuggle some baffler of that sort through the Legislature.
"Yrs., &c.,
"Ch. O'Conor."