Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum

Can the law reach him?- The dwarf and the giant thief.

Public Deposited
Resource type
Creator
Description
  • Political cartoon on p. 8. William M. Tweed (Boss Tweed) had run the Democratic political machine known as Tammany Hall for many years. His time in power was marked with threats, murders, bribes and extensive embezzlement. It's estimated he stole more than $30 million from New York City tax payers while in office. In this cartoon Tweed is depicted as a giant amongst men. The police officer has already captured a lesser thief, but struggles to get a hold of the giant. This plays on Tweed's power. Even after being ousted from Tammany Hall and having the Canal Ring fall out from under him, Tweed had a great deal of sway. So much so that the first criminal trial against him was deemed a mistrial in January of 1873 (a year after this cartoon was published). It wouldn't be until the second trial that he was convicted and placed in jail, albeit on a short sentence. In the background is the "State Prison" which looks much too small to fit the giant Tweed.
Subject
Publisher
Rights statement
Keyword
Date created
  • January 6, 1872
Identifier
  • Digital ID: d_18628
  • Finding Number: CGA.AC.AP8.038
Published in
  • Harper's Weekly, vol.16, no.784
Collection identifier
  • SPEC.CGA.PUR
Repository
  • Ohio State University. Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
File Format
Rights note
  • The Ohio State University Libraries believes this object is in the Public Domain in the United States. Users are responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing.
Version
  • mechanical reproduction
Medium
  • ink
  • paper
Permanent link
Time period (Topic)
Genre
Extent
  • 39.8 x 27.8 cm
Credit line: The Ohio State University, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum

Relationships

In Unit:

Items

Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Visibility Actions
file details Can the law reach him?- The dwarf and the giant thief. Public