Fassett Investigation facts for kids

The Fassett Investigation, also known as the Fassett Committee, was a special look into how the government was working in New York City in 1890. It was led by the New York State Senate. The main goal was to find out if there was any unfairness or wrongdoing, especially involving money or gifts, among city officials.

What Was the Fassett Investigation?

The Fassett Investigation was a big inquiry that happened in 1890. It was set up by the New York State Senate. The committee wanted to check if city leaders were using their power unfairly. They were looking into whether people in important jobs were taking money or gifts. This is sometimes called bribery.

Why Was the Investigation Started?

The committee was trying to find out if city officials were making decisions for personal gain. They focused on people who had been chosen for their jobs. They also looked at members of the New York City Council, who were called the Board of Aldermen at that time. Many of these officials were part of the Democratic Party. They were often connected to a powerful political group called Tammany Hall.

Key People Involved

The investigation looked closely at leaders from Tammany Hall. Two very important figures were Richard Croker, who was a powerful leader, and the city's Mayor, Hugh Grant. The committee was officially named the State Senate Committee on Cities. It was led by a Republican senator named J. Sloat Fassett.

Stories Heard During the Investigation

During the investigation, many people shared what they knew. One interesting story came from Patrick H. McCann. He was Richard Croker's brother-in-law. McCann owned a fancy hotel in Central Park called the Mount St. Vincent Hotel.

McCann told a story about Mayor Hugh Grant. Before Grant became mayor, he gave a large sum of money to Croker's young daughter, Flossie. McCann said the Croker family used this money to buy a new house. McCann also shared another story from 1884. He said Croker once showed him a large amount of cash. Croker explained that this money was meant to help get support for Grant to become the Commissioner of Public Works.

The Outcome of the Investigation

The Fassett Investigation gathered a lot of information. The official records of what people said filled over 3,000 pages. However, even with all this information, no one was officially charged with a crime. No one was found guilty in court because of this investigation.

After the investigation, the Tammany Hall Democrats continued to be very popular. They won the elections in November 1890. They also won again in 1892. J. Sloat Fassett, who led the investigation, later ran for governor in 1891. He was the Republican candidate, but he did not win the election.