A. OAKEY HALL - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/30/1883 - HFSID 174869

A. OAKEY HALL.
A letter from the New York Mayor and suspected Tweed Ring member, asking the recipient to spare a few moments to speak to a Mr. Keller of the Dramatic News
Autograph letter signed: "A Oakey Hall", 1p, 5½x8½. New York City, 1883 October 30. On letterhead of the "Publication Office of 'Truth'" to Mr. Irving. In full: "Permit me to ask a few moments of your time for Mr Keller of both the Editorial staffs of this paper & of the Dramatic News - a scholar, a gentleman & a good fellow. With all my heart Your friend & servant". A. Oakey Hall (1826-1898), who was known as "Elegant Oakey", was Mayor of New York City from 1869-1872. Hall controlled the city without interference, as he was one of the "henchmen" of William A. "Boss" Tweed. The Tweed Ring, which also included City Comptroller Richard B. Connolly and City Chamberlain Peter B. Sweeny, defrauded the city and openly bought votes, encouraged judicial corruption and controlled New York City politics. Estimates of the amount of money lost to the Tweed Ring by New York City range from $30 million to $200 million. After leaving office, Hall, who had previously been the city's District Attorney before being hand selected as Mayor by Tweed, was an unsuccessful playwright before resuming his law practice. Folds, light vertical fold at the "Oa" of Oakey. Mounting remnants from verso lightly show through to "ll" in Hall and touch some text. Lightly creased. ½-inch tear at upper left blank margin (all intact). Otherwise, fine condition.