New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-06
THE FLIGHT.

OF TwEED's HOUSE WHICH GAVE No LIGHT.
| Immediately after the release Of William NJ.
Tweed from tho Backwell's Island Petiientary, on
June 81, lie was taken to Ludlow Street jail, and
held prisoner in default Of SO coo, 900 hail
the civil suits against him. Here he had waited IL may
well be imagined impatiently, the decision Of the
Court of Appeals, upon two points of his case-tbe
reduction Of his bail and the application for bill II
| particulars; both of which resulted adversely 10
him about week or ten days ago. While in this
custody of the Sheriff. Tweed had lived
in what is called the "paror of tile jail"
Ii is large apartment in the wing
of the building with separate private entrance by
which the visitor OF occupant may avoid the largo
reception and Office common to all prisoners
and visitors. 1t was well, even handsomely fur
nished with mahogany and black walnut furniture
covered with heavy blue rep, and decorated with
curtains and pictures, which gave it appearance
of comfort and luxury. Mr.. Tweed had added TO
the other engrayines belonging TO the picturo
clipped from an illustrated paper-0f himself en-
terng the portals of the prison pen-and-iBk ear
toon by friend representing Judge Davis lwho
sentenced Tweed 10 the Penitentary) being
cxtinguished by huge pair of snuffers
marked Court of Appeals" and prominently
displayed above bis bed motto worked in
silk, In God we trust" For the privilege
of this apartment Mr.. Tweed, of course, paid tho
jailer to whom the law allows ut least does not
forbid perquistes Of this sort. Mr.. Tweed had
other privileges also, for which he also paid, aud
these led finally to his escape. The Sheriff il not
forbidden by law to allow prisoners Oh civil suits to
leave the prison in custody of officers;
and the Warden seems on several occasions 10 have
accompanied Mr.. Tweed on drives through the city.
visits to his family and occasion at least
to a banquet nc n hotel. On this latter occasion,
about two weeks ago, Civil Justice elect Timothy j.
Campbell was also of the party Two officers appear
to have always accompanied the prisoner Ii ia not
positive that Sheriff Conner gave his consent 10 thess
trips Warden Durham says that on Saturday no
acted on his own authority. Sheriff Conner, how
ever is reported ~ saying that he had reluctantly
given permission 10 the Warden to take Tweed out
for drive in search of bail.
Tweed was last seen at the jail about iOi2 o'clock
Saturday morning by the Deputy Warden Gardner
who As a notary certified to his signature 10 a legal
paper which his lawyer, Mr.. EdelsteD, had brought
him. David Dudley Field also saw Tweed the same
morning 80 that be could not have been gone days
ago. az some have supposed. About l o'clock, Tweed
was let out ut the public door by Hughes keeper,
and, accompanied by Warden Durham aud Edward
Hagan as officers, and by William VI. Tweed, jr, his
son, ho entered a carriage which the latter bad
brought 10 the door. The driver was unknown to
the officers, one of whom stated last night that he
did not know where to find him. The party was
driven through Fifth-aye. and Central Park 10
the upper part of the island, and back again,
and, after alghting in the Park for short
stroll. to Mr. Tweed's residence, No. 6i7 MADISON
ave, between Fify-ninth and SfXteth-sts. They
reached this point at about 1880 o'clock in the after
noon and all entered. How they occupied them
selves from that time until about $50 p. il not
hot
with their prisoner, his son, and son in-law, Mr..
Douglass in the back parlor Of the house. Ms.
Tweed and two other ladies above stairs on tbe
second floor Shortly before the last-pamed hour
Mr. Tweed suggested that he would slip up stairs
and see Mrs. Tweed" To this the olticere gave
assent. Tweed, leaving bis hat and coat
on the rack in the hall, started up the
stairs, rs IIagan says, but he does not
appear ever 10 have reached the top. lie thick
rubber over-shOes which mufled hs otherwise
heavy tread ana if he turned. the officers Think
and deliberately walked through the hall and out Of
the front door, his movements were uBheard az well
az unseen by them. This he might have done, as in
descending the stairs and trayersing the hall 10 the
entrance he would not have TO pass the door leading
TO the back paror in which the officers sat at .le
moment. IL il uncertain that he passed out in this
way, but highly probable, as subsequent cxau.ina.
ton showed that he could not have left by taie ut
tie hole leading TO the roof, and to reach the base
ment he would have had TO pass in full view of the
officers in the back paror
He had been gone from the paTlOr abont ten min
utes when Warden Durham suggested TO Vim. NJ
Tweed IT, TO call his father, the officers wished
to return early to the Jail. The assembled the
stairs and in three minutes returned with the start
ling Inte gence that his father had not been to hrs
mothers room at all. There was instant excitement
aud apparently much confusion. The son and son.
in-law either felt OF simulated great distress and
the former is said 10 have upbraided his father With
having ruined his family by his flight. The officers
either affected great astonshment and nervousness
or were in fact greatly excited. Dunban felt az
though he would fall in two" IIagan ran
to the floor above, calling the to
follow him, and searched the closets and rooms
The Warden ran to tho front door and looked ~ the
area-way and basement door, finding the latter
fastened The coach had been driven around the
corner into S.Xtieth-st. consequently Tweeds exit
if by the front door, would have been unobserved by
the driver. Fifteen minutes spent in the search
of the house according to the Warden, aud taeu the
officers sprang into the coach and driven hastily
to the Nineteenth Precinct station-house, where
Durham, in very excited manner reported the es-
cape to Capt. Mount, and asked TO have general
alarm sent out. This was done at precisely 7:Iop.
H., and few minutes later the news was flashed all
over the city, and by telegraph to Brooklyn Jersey
City. Philadelphia, and other cities, with request
to arrest Tweed wherever found. Warden Durham
and Hogan then drove in search of Sheriff Conner,
and not finding him, subsequently, went to Police
Headquarters where they reported tho facts NJ 730
p. m. to Inspector Dilks who was in charge OF tho
Department during the absence Of Superintendent