Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum

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

Public Deposited

Credit Line

  • Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, The Ohio State University

Details

Title
  • Can the law reach him?- The dwarf and the giant thief.
Creator
Resource Type
Version
  • mechanical reproduction
Genre
Date Created
  • January 6, 1872
Permanent Link
Unit

Description

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.
Publisher
Published In
  • Harper's Weekly, vol.16, no.784

Find This Item

Item Identifier
  • Digital ID: d_18628
  • Finding Number: CGA.AC.AP8.038
Collection Identifier
  • SPEC.CGA.PUR

Additional Details

Extent
  • 39.8 x 27.8 cm
Medium
  • paper
  • ink
Time Period (Topic)
Subject
File Format
Keyword

Access Condition

Rights Statement
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.

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