Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-01-06
How Tweed Became a Lawyer.

The false diploma business, so far as
the legal fraternity is concerned, is par
tally exposed in a recent article in the
Tribune, this extract from which is very
amusing as well as suggestive:
George" said VIM. NJ. Tweed, sew
eral years ago, when first attempting to
recover from financial bankruptcy thro'
political intrigue George" addressing
the Hon. George G. Barnard, then as
now, Judge Of the Supreme Court, l
hear these referee cases are very prolita-
Bile, and I'd like to have share in 'em."
"You can't, Tweed" said the honora-
BILE Judge, "you amt a lawyer"
"Well, can't you make me lawyer J"
"Yes, after two or three years study y
"But amt there some quicker meth
od?" asked Tweed.
"Oh, yes" said the complacent JUS
tice certainly there is. Go to Profess
sor -, tell him you are a friend OF
mine, and he'll give you a diploma in
the shortest way possible"
Accordingly Mr.. Tweed repaired to
the Professor, when the following con-
versation is said to have occurred:
Tweed Professor, my name is Tweed.
| am friend of Judge Barnacd, and |
want to be lawyer. How long is it go
ing TO take
Professor-Well, about two years.
Twecd-Two years, Professor Why
George told me you could fix it for me
right away. At the same time opening
well-flled purse.
Professor-You are a friend Of George
Barnards, you say?
Tweed-Now couldn't you let me have
the diploma at once ?
Professor (smilingly)-IIave you ever
studied law, Mr., Tweed ?
Twced-Yes, sir-that is | have had
considerable practice in it for number
Of years.
Professor-Well, if you have studied
law, and are a friend Of George Bar
nard's, think we can prepare your di-
ploma and send it to you.
And thus Mr.. Tweed, with n capacity
which must have astonished as much as
his libcraity delighted the Professor,
prepared himself in few minutes fol
the practice Of profession knowledge
of which the ordinary intellect requires
years to attain.
At this time Judge Clerke was senior
Professor Of the University, and all di
plomas had to be signed by him. The
Judge, in conversation lately held Will
the writer, stated that he was much sur
prised when he heard Of Mr.. Twecd's ad
mission to the bar, as he was not aware
that the latter had ever devoted hmscl
to the study Of the law in any office, no
had attended the course at the UniYersi
sity, and he had never signed any diplo
ma for Mr.. Tweed. The judge is posi-
tive that he never signed Twecd's diplO
ma, unless lhe same was presented lC
him with a number Of others and he
signed it unwittingly. But this he thinks
was highly improbable, as he was in tho
habit OF examining personally every GER
tifcate brought to him before arguing.
BY an act passed April 6, 1869, any
person on whom the University had con
ferred the degree Of Bachelor Of Laws
was entitled to admission to practice a
attorney and counselor in all the courts o
the State but an attendance of not les
than three terms Of twelve weeks each
and one years study Of law elsewhere
was required before such degree could b.
conferred. Judge Clerke was, in com
mon with all members of the bar VIII,
respect their profession, indignant at til,
abuse practced by the admission of per
sons unqualified, and in order to checl
the same, recommended and obtained AZ
amendment to rule l of the Suprcm,
Court, which prevented the private ex
aminations of applicants thereafter.