The New York herald., 1875-12-06
The story Of Tweed,s Escape.

Warden Dunham and Keeper Hagan gave to
the public on Saturday as their excuse for
the escape of Tweed from their custody
already begins to show signs of weakness.
While they could have hacked their swords
and pierced their doublets and tickled their
noses till they bled like Falstaff and Bardolph
on Cad s Hill they contented themselves with
allowing their prisoner to walk up stairs
into liberty. Indeed, it is possible they
imagined that the story they related would
be as good as another, and the escape of
Genet, who left the slumberous officer on a
pretence of visiting his wife, had irresistible
charms for the Warden's imagination, and
hence he brought the 'old man" in fancy,
to the house on Madison avenue, where he
and the keeper made the burly ring thief's
shadow step up and out. The investiga-
tions of our reporters develop state
of affairs slightly different from the War
dens attempt at equalling the author of
'Jack Sheppard" in relating stories of prison
escapes. We think the whole truth will soon
be known, and if it justifies the more than
suspicious to which the facts at present col
lected point it will put Mr.. Durham and his
keeper very low down in the rank of ro-
mancers. If ever story that wears the look
of shallow villany deserved clearing up it is
the Wardens account of Tweeds escape
The developments of yesterday would in
dicate that the drive from Ludlow Street
Jail was simply to a rendezvous in Central
parL whare uplace oDpaaropcaa ara varu
deceptive. Warden Dunham wished the
great thief he was sworn to keep in custody
bon poydge, as the latter got into vehicle
that was to take him to the outgoing steamer
for Europe perhaps, or may be for
the colored Republic of Hayti,
of Emperor Soulouque, they have not
seen great professor of the art of public
robbery. 1t was steamer day, and Big Six
had the choice of half-a-dozen floating res
taurants for conveyance to foreign parts. So
lax, indeed, was the system under which
this great treasury burglar was held in dur
ance. that it is very evident he went when
he really could stay in prison no longer with
safety to his prospects, and not be-
FORE Why Warden Dunham did not drive
directly to the steamship and hand Mr..
Tweed respectfully on board we cannot
exactly say, unless it was from feeling Of
delicacy to the voluntary exile, who in going
forth to the loneliness of London or Paris,
might prefer to depart unaccompanied and
unobserved-a ridiculous piece of self-ab-
negation. We live in the hope, however,
that all the villany which plotted the escape
and connived at and assisted in its execution
shall be unmasked, and the responsibility
put where it belongs. To Tweed, going
forth with the curse of his coun-
try in his ears, we earnestly wish
the pleasure of speedy return. He
will be watched and waited for. If he has
fed to any country with which we hold an
extradition treaty we hope that no effort will
be left unmade to grip him and bring him
back. lie is one of those towering criminals
with whom untiring justice should wrestle
until it pins him down.
To the Sheriff and those directly response
BILE for his escape we must insist that the
full rigor of the law be meted out. If Sheriff
Conner sits down lamenting that he is not to
blame we have only to say that we cannot,
under the circumstances, acquit him of any
portion Of the responsibility. Tweed was
his prisoner; he knew, as all the world
knew, that Tweed's condition before the law
was desperate; the public press had warned
him Of Tweed's continual trips round town;
he had Genets case before his eyes, and it
was his business to see that the gorged plum
derer of New York was held until legal
process acquitted him of his charge.
There is q bitterness in all this for the
thoughtful American Like everything be-
longing to the Tammany Ring it stinks in
the nostrils with the odor Of corruption and
betrayed trust. 1t would be wholly dis
heartening but that we have an unwavering
belief in the strong public honesty of the
immense majority Of the American people,
which, when the reeking generation Of Tam
many thieves are buried out Of sight, will
assert itself in stronger penalties for official
malfeasance, and exercise greater care in the
selection Of public servants to places Of trust.
Secret Societies and Tammany Hall.
In another column we print q resume OF
some Of the most remarkable political soce-
ties which have wrought in the dark for the
enda their leaders gOupht 10 Gain II will be