Changes

==Investigations==

==Investigations==

[[File:Tweed2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Tweed at the Ballot Box'', by Thomas Nast]]

[[File:Tweed2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|''Tweed at the Ballot Box'', by Thomas Nast]]

For several months in 1870-1871 various article speculated on the corruption alleged by Tweed, but an expose appeared in the ''New York Times'' on July 24, 1871, in which the writer laid bare to the public tens of millions of dollars that went missing.  "We have brought very serious charges against Mayor Hall and Controller Connolly," began the article, "and in reply to them the Mayor says that the City owes us a bill for advertising which we cannot get." ("Proofs", July 24, 1871).  Stating that the information came from a "dishonest person" was the Mayor's reply, but he did not deny the allegations.  But worse was yet to come for the Ring, especially Tweed.  Democratic reformist [[Samuel Tilden]] - who would lose a disputed presidential election to [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] - also threw himself into the fray and demanded investigations into the matter.   

For several months in 1870-1871 various article speculated on the corruption alleged by Tweed, but an expose appeared in the ''New York Times'' on July 24, 1871, in which the writer laid bare to the public tens of millions of dollars that went missing.  "We have brought very serious charges against Mayor Hall and Controller Connolly," began the article, "and in reply to them the Mayor says that the City owes us a bill for advertising which we cannot get." ("Proofs", July 24, 1871).  Stating that the information came from a "dishonest person" was the Mayor's reply, but he did not deny the allegations.  But worse was yet to come for the Ring, especially Tweed.  Democratic reformist [[Samuel Tilden]] - who would lose a disputed presidential election to [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] - also threw himself into the fray and demanded investigations into the matter.