The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-12
A CHAT WITH MIR. CHARLES o'CONOR.
What Mr.. O'Conor Thinks Of Tweed's Contem-
plated Flight-What Is Done and What Is
Not Done About 1.-THE New Charter
and Its Provisions-The Recent
Movement of the Aldermen and
the Action Of the Mayor.

the Action OF the Mayor
In one OF the morning papers it was stated again,
but rather more broadly than IN the previous an
nouncement that Mr.. Tweed meitated night. and the
statement was accompanied By details that indicated
the possession OF positive information the part OF
che writer With . view OF ascertalning the rellabl
ity OF this report q HERALD reporter paid second
visit to Mr.. Charles OConor. He found this gentle
man in that 'sky" once OF mis- on the top story OF
the "Pacifc Mail" building, which has been appr0
prlated By the Bureau OF Municipal Correction"
and discovered also that he had called at happy
moment, wnen Mr.. O'Conor had the leisure for q
little quiet talk. It will be from the subjoned
conversation that Mr. O'Conor and the HERALD
reporter did not connne their topic of talk TO the
prospective flight Of 1.-THE Boss" but discussed In
discursive manner the present aspect Of the poti-
cal battle field generally
"Good morning, Mr.. OConor," said the reporter.
IL have called again to see YOU"
"Yes, sir; am glad 70 see you; take seat"
II find one Of the morning papers, Mr.. O'Conor,
refers rather openly TO Tweed's flight. and
which you viii remember you and discussed some
what reservedy the other morning.
eyes; quite expect that you newspaper men will
denOunCe me, PROBABLY and my legal associates, In
week or so, for not being prompt ana more de.
allowing them, i'll all probability, to leave the coun-
try"
"Then there is really no disguise thrown over
Tweea's preparations for his departure, is thereyn
VI don't thinK there Is any disguise nut what can
be seen through. He Ia, we know, turning his
property into available assets and Just taking al
preliminary steps tnat men take waen they seek to
eiude justice by hight to q foreign land.o
'But surely. Mr.. OCOnor, there are some means
that the law has at disposal prevent great
scandal resting upon its prerOgative To allow q
man ike Tweed g. 20 unwnipped OF justice would
be q DISGRACE 10 those who have the power to put
Yes; that precisely wnat Iexpect to hear ana see
published, only IN more ampllned form very soon,
when Tweed and his associates nave fed the country
But think tile p bic VIII see when our plans and
legal action are laid before them that we have done
right and that we could not have done anything
"Tnat Is just where the difficulty is to the gene
raj public VINO look at the matter IRON the outside
Tweed that 1t is just as easy to prevent HIM getting
away US II IS any ordinary bank or bond thief who
has Ocen arrested as he walks the gangway of some
outward bound seamer''
Eyes; but Mr.. Tweed Is not an ordinary bank or
bond tn1er.v
"But you have the police and detective force at
your command the same as any other citizens, Mr..
eve nave; but the police force would not be very
active In arresting Mr.. Tweed even now, II we
could give them the power, and would certainly not
help us Dy informing us as to his mo vemenIs.n
| "Ihen you think Mr.. Tweed VIII take mis- flight,
as matter OF policy, and that there not many
lmpedlments In MS way II he chooses to do ltr'
- certainly do think so, and am quite prepared
for the temporary public Indignation that WI! con-
| only prominent criminal tbat VIII go, either"
.'Wel. II his night is 80 inevitable, the next con-
shall you Apply for ITS enlargement :"
'.itis scarcely fair to ask me that You will prob
o bly, remember what was SAID In papers when
We instituted the civil proceedings against Tweed.
Our papers show that Tweed ought to have been
held III three millions aud half bail, but the
Judge fixed 1t at million. don't complain OF the
Judges decision In any way NO man that l am
aware of III history Of the country was ever held
before million dollars ban. and the people are
not accustomed to these large amounts or bail, and
million dollars |! seemed sufficient 70 hold Tweed.
at seems almost pity that you cannot bring the
action OF the United states government TO bear IN
LAS lar rs that Is concerned we cannot; but [ am
q democrat, and even II We could | should be OBJ
posed TO bringing the United States government In.
! am disposed to tnink the government has inter-
fered too much already"
III am AFRAID 1t VIII always remain lasting dis
grace to TINS CITY, and be very preudical IN moral
point OF view, II men VINO steal millions are allowed
TO get away from justice and luxurtate in foreign
landS without any let or hlndrance by the country
they have SO shameiully defrauded."
Tweed WIN not be allowed to 40 that. Wherever
he may go in Europe he viii find that he cannot re-
main with lmpunlty. lie Will be followed wherever
the law can follow him."
'lsit not better to prevent his going, Mr.. O'Con-
orss
"well, am much more concerned about pre-
serving intact and away from the plumber OF these
thieves the balance OF The CITY Treasury than am
about obtaining restitution and punishing them.
would do both II we can. but II II is choice as to
"Ficlds, the Corporation Attorney, whom you are
prosecuting too. has been admitted also TO ban
see. 10 you think hls election WIN be disputed on
the ground Of iraud1n
"les certainly. / understand Fields is greatly
disappointed with MIS- majorityit Is larger than ne
cneaed MIR, Seymour out 81 his election; but 1t IS
equally certain that Mr.. Seymour, who Will be an
inval uablc legislator, Will take the seat.n
"YOu don intend to dispute Fields seat on the
| ground Of his ire department frauds, presume"
mo, his seat will I've disputed on the ground OF
/ hQrp 4
ABUNDANT proof. the civil suit is complete in every
respect. and Fields fraud can DO assalled tcchni
cally and on It's merits. think II the district had
been as wei watched as some OF the other districts
| Fielgs could not have got himself counted in"
| be free from the rowdy element very large
| tent. hear they have relrained from counting
| Frear In and That he Is not elected Y
~ don't Know Mr.. Frear, but am told that he Is
| o very objectionable person for legislator"
provisions. | suppose there is a Charter already
drafted for the Legislature, Mr.. O'Conor'n
eyes, think when It comes before the public the
can say mo- hing about 1t; but there Is dOunt that
1t win be charter that WIN provide for more just
"Tnis new drlculty with the Aldermen Mr.
O'Conor; has 1t occupied your attention in any
s q the
mo, have not thought anything about it.
think the Mayor need not trouble himself very much
respecting II. Why should her In January, in any
case, the newly elected Aldermen Will be the Alder
away
'The fact Is, Mt. O'Conor, there Is so much real
work before reformers and the Executive OF the
city government that 1t Is pity there should be any
time wasted IN legal squabbles. THIS reminds me,
too, that have encroached too long on your tlme
and therefore say good day.
Mr.. 0,Conor courteously bid the reporter farewell;
but as the latter opened the door into the anteroom
he found several pr0 fessiona lnteryieWers ready
to operate upon the patience OF Mr.. 0'Con0r II he
would allow them. #
THE PHILADELPHIA AND TRENTON RAIL-
ROAD.
PHILADELPHIA Nov. IL. 1871.