Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-11-28
Sentence of Tweed.
JUSTICE AT LAST.

arrest of judgment, Mr., Graham, his
counsel making long argument. AT
the close the Attorney General, without
replying at length, moved that the pris-
oner be sentenced TO fine of $3.50, and
to one years imprisonment on each Of
the counts, which would amount to $25,-
900 and l02 years imprisonment Mr..
Graham then went int the brine bust
ness in which he was joined by several
OF Tweed's friends present, and finally
Tweed himself wept. The shower sub
siding, Judge Davis proceeded to pass
sentence and with considerable severity
of language. Tweed sank into his chair
overcome with emotion, and there was "a
great uproar when the sentence conclud-
ed. As soon as it was known outside,
the news flew like lightning, and there
was universal rejoicing. Tweed looked
as though he had lost his last friend, de-
jected and utterly broken down, and
held his head between mis- hands and
wept silently. 1t was said that Judge
Pratt was in attendance 10 grant a stay
of proceedings. Judge Davis said that
even during the former trial he had be-
lieved that there could be but one YER
dict and one sentence. There could be
but one single penalty in each set. 1t
was, therefore, the duty of the court to
pass sentence on each set OF the four
counts. His duty was an unpleasant
one, but he would temper justice with
mercy, and not exercise the full power
vested in him. 1t was his intention, sim
ply, to inhict a punishment adequate to
the offence, and which would furnish an
example to others in positions of official
trust He deeply regretted that the
that the Legislature had not provided
any punishment fitting for such offences
as this. There was no way to reach ii
except by law for misdemeanor. Not
hwithstanding the fact that the prisoner
had taken from the City Treasury over
81, 000,000 if the jury had given a gen
eral verdict he would only have been
sentenced to one year in the county Jail
AMI $3.50 fine. Such a proceeding
would have been farcical. Under the
verdict rendered, however, the court had
ample power. The prisoner was then
arraigned, and asked if he had anything
to say on his own behalf Graham re-
piled that the prisoner had already
spoken through his counsel. In passing
sentence, Judge Davis said the prisoner
stood convicted of a great number of
crimes. Instead Of guarding the treas
ury he was appointed to protect, he had
plundered it himself and permitted 9th,
ers to do the same. The evidence was
clear and convincing. He then briefly
reviewed the history of Tweed's offences,
after which he proceeded to pass SEN
tence. Tweed at that trying moment
stood with his hands behind his back
and his face bent slightly forward.
Said Judge Davis: f" Through the whole
OF this trial you remained, up to the
very moment of your conviction, as calm
and serene as though you relied upon
your innocence, when it was overwhelm
ingly apparent to all that your serenity
was only that audacity, that confidence
IN the onnlpotence of corruption, rath
er than reliance upon your innocence,
(Judge Davis uttered this last sentenc,
with much emphasis and earnestness O.
manner, striking his clenched hand upor
the desk.) He was sentenced to inlpris
onment in the county jail for lively,
years and to pay fine of $12,750. TIL,
sentence Of the court occupied half an
hour in the delivery.
The trial and the severe sentence i'm
posed on the prisoner were the almos
sole topics of conversation in the city
Tweed spent his first night in the Tomb
Saturday night. Immediately afte
the sentence the prisoner was removed
to the SheriA's office, where the tediou
task of making out his commitment pa
pers took place. These documents wer,
very long, as the sentence of the court
IN all its details had to be set forth with
all the legal minuteness. Here Tweed
was served with supper ordered from
Delmonico's, and at about 10 O'Clock
after the departure of his counse! anC
relatives, he took short sleep on {
couch in the Sherif's private Office. Al
l o'clock Sunday Morning he was driver
to the Tombs where he was temporarily
committed until his removal to the pen
itentiary on BlackwelPs Island. indie
tatigable efforts were made by his conp
sci to obtain stay of the proceedings
but efforts were unavailing. An appli
; cation was at once made to Judge Pratt
who it seems, was the main reliance OF
the defence, but he absolutely refused to
interfere in the matter, and said he
could see no grounds whatever for grant.
ing stay. He thought the trial had
been conducted with the utmost fairness