ns' wife left him, and that the contempt of his
neighbours drove him from home. A rumour that he subsequently
committed suicide remains unverified.]

Meanwhile the constant and unsparing denunciation of the New York
_Times_, coupled with Nast's cartoons in _Harper's Weekly_, excited
increasing attention to the Ring. As early as 1869 Nast began
satirising the partnership of Tweed, Sweeny, Connolly, and Hall, and
in 1870 the _Times_ opened its battery with an energy and sureness of
aim that greatly disturbed the conspirators. To silence its suggestive
and relentless attacks Tweed sought to bribe its editor, making an
offer of one million dollars.[1281] A little later he sent word to Nast
that he could have half a million.[1282] Failing in these attempts the
Ring, in November, 1870, secured an indorsement from Marshall O.
Roberts, Moses Taylor, John Jacob Astor, and three others of like
position, that the financial affairs of the city, as shown by the
comptroller's books, were administered correctly. It subsequently
transpired that some of these men were associated with Tweed in the
notorious Viaduct job,[1283] but for the time their certificate
re-established the Ring's credit more firmly than ever. "There is
absolutely nothing in the city," said the _Times_, "which is beyond
the reach of the insatiable gang who have obtained possession of
it."[1284]

[Footnote 1281: Paine, _Life of Nast_, p. 153.]

[Footnote 1282: _Ibid._, p. 182.]

[Footnote 1283: Paine, _Life of Nast_, p. 145.]

[Footnote 1284: February 24, 1871.]

While Roberts and his associates were certifying to the correctness of
Connolly's books, William Copeland, a clerk in the office, was making
a transcript of the Ring's fraudulent disbursements. Copeland was a
protege of ex-sheriff James O'Brien, who had quarrelled with Connolly
because the latter refused to allow his exorbitant bills, and with the
Copeland transcript he tried to extort the money from Tweed. Failing
in this he offered the evidence to the _Times_. A little later the
same journal obtained a transcript of fraudulent armoury accounts
through Matthew J. O'Rourke, a county bookkeeper. When knowledge of
the _Times'_ possessions reached the Ring, Connolly offered George
Jones, the proprietor, five million dollars to keep silent. "I cannot
consider your proposition," said Jones.[1285]

[Footnote 1285: _Harper's Weekly_, February 22, 1890; Paine, _Life of
Nast_, p. 170.]

The _Times'_ public