The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-11-29
THE OCCASION OF THE TWEED SEN
TENCE-A SENSATIONAL SCENE.


A New York special gives the following
interesting items reiatisg to the Tweed sen
tence:
Furrowed with unwonted wrinkles, q
small knot offriends, consisting Of employees
and his eldest son, sat in mournful silence
behind him. There was notable absence of
small politicians surrounding him before con-
victiou. The eldest son looked haggard and
careworn. A daughter and uiece-hand
some girls-were IN the court room. Pity
for the fallen chief and family we're express
ed by even those detesting his crimes. AT
l o'clock there was a recess. Tweed retir-
ed to lunch, but ate little, trying the deli
cacies aud sighed in distress. He return
ed to court. He looked feeble, though his
face and eyes we're red His son look ed
sick and anxious, aud was by the side of
his father most of the time, with his face
buried in his hankerchit or wiping his
eyes. The daughter and niece gazed stead
lily on the old man. Judge DAVIS occas
ional!y glanced sternly on the condemned
culprit, while prominent politicians stood
solid and stolid behind the fallen, not one
of whose time serving friends were SEEN
In court perfect silence reigned. When
the Judge commenced the sentence, in
answer to the Clerk inquisitorial formula,
Tweed stood up and crossed his hands be
fore him. and gulped out in low tone,
"Nothing" He was completely broken
down and seemed consciously guilty
Judge Datis never looked the prisoner
straight IN the face and the prisoner never
looked toward the Judge The Judge
blushed bashfully in the face of the crowd
as he proceeded with increasing vehemence.
He denounced the prisoner for his awful
betrayal of public trust. Graham made
copious use of his white hankerchief-
Tremaine sat erect, but pale and motion
less. The rest of the counsel sat with bow
ed heads Young Tweed was bent near
the ground with grief. The young ladies'
looked on sympathiziugly. The sound of
pencils from the battilion Of reporters could
be heard, while Judge in low but animated
tones rehearsed the history of Tweed's be
trayal OF the people. Those who know
Davis we'll say he was truthful in saying it
was no pleasure to pass that terrible SEN
tence; but as year after year was piled on
in stern accent. men shuddered at having
kept track of the Judges remarks, and
they whispered "Tweed's up for lfe." Il
was only for twelve years The politicians
who heard the sentence learned an awful
lesson. In the middle of the Judges re-
marks he intimated his dissent from the
prosecution that every count should have a
seperate sentence. Tweed lifted his head
and glanced at the Judge inquiringly.-
The Judge still blushing, went on to ex-
plain that he would pass sentence on a re-
duced number, but still over twenty. The
prisoner dropped his head and sighed. As
the Judge went on with increasing vehe-
mence to denouuce rapacity of the ring,
Tweed fdgeted uneasily, and when the
Jud ge, becoming excited, once thumped
the judicial desk, and then paused, scared
at the sound himself had made-Tweed
started and looked at the Judge with a
frightened, reproachful look. 1t was long
and fearful ordeal for the prisoner, and
most people in court pitied him. The look
Of shame AID humiliation on the face of
the prisoner was not without effect on the
spectators. 1t was scene not to be for
gotten. At the close of the sentence which
doomed him for t"eive years 10 prison,
Tweed was fairly overcome as the fearful
realization burst upon him; and the sup
pressed grief of the son was terrible. The
condemned was then led into au inner room,
where leave taking of friends on his part
was mechanical, he not seeming to look at
any one. The son embraced and kissed
him, and friends whispered seemingly un
heard consolation. Sheriff Brennan, dis
liking the personal charge, delivered Tweed
to his deputies. The counsel did all in
their power to obtain stay of execution,
but iu vain. Tweed sat in the Sheriff of.
fee, sad and fallen from his estate to fel-
on's fate, pwaiting the news while the
commitments were being made out. At l
A. NJ. he was conveyed in carriage, pale,
nervous and crushed, to the tombs and
lodged with thieves and murderers.