The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-18
- ;. -
TKEED.

William M. Tweed, whose conviction
caused so much rejoicing all over the
country, having been ordered release d
by the New York Court of Appeals, will
be formally ischarged from custody to-
morrow. The order for his release has
been in the hands Of the New York Off
cials couple Of days, but at the request
Of Tweed's counsel he is not to be dis
charged till he has made preparations to
Egive bail in the other cases, in which he
| i'd to be at once arrested. This case has
brought out more expressions of opinion
on such matters than any similar one
that ever occupied the attention of the
courts OF this country. The first charges
or fraud against Tweed We're answered
by his surly "what are you going to do
about it?' and the people who believed
the power of money invincible expected
nothing to be done.
Friends OF Tweed and his system of
robbery felt that his money and political
Influence completely shielded him and
them from any trouble at the hands of
the law, and most Of the tax payers Of
New York doubted the possibility ofeven
Eindicting a set of men controlling SO much
cash and such retinue OF followers.
Even after the complete overthrow OF the
ring, and while Tweed stood at the bar
Of the Court, the belief was almost uni
versai that with his immense wealth he
would be able to reach one Or two Of the
| Jury and that there would be disagree
ment. But Judge Davis powerful charge
SO completely ana SO promptly made i'm
mediately after the conclusion Of the az
gument gave the case to the jury, before
the Defendants followers were expect
ing 1.-THE opportunity Of what they be-
lieved would be the last night was lost,
ana all New York and the country were
surprised at verdict Of "guffty." Even
then it could hardly be credited; people
had SO come to believe that money was
all-powerfu1 In the New ofk Courts that
perhaps not one in a hundred thought
Tweed would ever see Blackwelps ISL
and. But all efforts for q new trial fail
ing he was imprisoned, and then came
the comments that "atter all money can
not always defeat the ends OF Justice"
Now, that he is to be released, We have
another text for those who preach about
"Ghe uncertainty OF the law" 1t will be
said, and doubtless with truth, that but
for his money, he would have had to
serve out the full sentence that was
proved in his case. Whatever may be
done now, it has been settled that jus
tice can sometimes assert her supremacy
despite all the influence that money and
friends and a powerfully corrupt back
ing can exert. Even should he 60 free,
which is by no means probable, the case
has done a great deal of good, by show
ling that public robbery is but stealing
after all; that those who engage in ii
may sometimes have punishment meted
out to them.
His conviction made the little Tweeds
all over the country shake, and his pros,
poets of liberty, though not the bright.
est, are doubtless great consolation to
this class. TO assume that Tweed's
money was the means OF his discharge
is notnecessarily to impeach the purity
of the New York Court of Appeals. He
was able to secure the ablest legal tai
ent, and to keep these men constantly
engaged fereting out the intricacies of a
most complicated mode OF criminal pro-
cedufe. The New York criminal prac-
tice is SO involved and complex that the
criminal able TO do tits is almost sure OF
being able to have a flaw Of some kind
found in/his onviction. II is to to this
state Of things that Tweed's present Or
der OF discharge is attributable; and the
wonder is that he was not able sooner to
secure it.