Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-12-16
/" Boss Tweed at Large.
Ngw York. Dec. 4

Sgw York. Dec. 4.
THIS evening, about TIA, Vim. NJ. Tweed
escaped from the custody Of officers while on
a visit 10 bis wife at bis old home, corner Of
Madison avenue and Fifteenth street.
Il seems that for several weeks back Mr.
Tweed has been taken from Ludlow street
jail 10 his house, about six o'clock, where he
remained short time with his family. On
fhis occasion Tweed asked the officers 10 per
NIT him 10 have few moments private con-
yersatlon with his wife. This privilege was
granted him, and he went upstairs. After
he had been gone about fifteen minutes the
officers concluded that IL was about time TO
start for Ludlow, and asked a son ofthe Boss
10 step upstairs and call his father. The
Young nan wentup, and after few moments
returned, and In the coolest manner possible
told the Sheriff:
"Pa 10 gone. He Is not upstairs"
Then ensued scene. The officers rushed
up and down stairs, searched every possible
spot where the buriy form Of the Boss"
could be concealed, but all In vain. He had
broken from his tolls and was making one
bold effort for liberty. The telegraph was
set In operation, and men dispatched III every
direction In search OF the fugitive.
Sheriff Conner joined In the hunt and had
men sent 10 cover every possible place OF
exit from the city. Matsell and Walling
joined the party and assisted In tevising
means 10 secure the capture OF the noted
criminal But ii was the unanimous feeling
that all their efforts would prove futile, and
that even then he was far beyond their reach.
The police called at the residence Of the
notorious Mrs McMullen, but, as was antic.
lpated, no trace OF him was found In that
quarter.
The precise manner OF his escape il still
unknown, but il Is thought that IL was done
through the sanction Of the Jail warden and
~. a. t.sI hat ba M
taken 10 the bay and placed on a vessel that
lie now bearing him away TO some South
American State where no extradition treaty
can modest or make him afraid.
NEW YoRK, Dec. 5.
The papers, editorially, to-day are loud in
their denunciation Of Sheriff Conner for his
gross and culpable negligence. The Sheriff
Is holden TO the State for the full amount Of
the pecuniary damages which may be sus-
tanned in the suits against Tweed, but his
official bonds are only for $4,000.
The Herald says the escape OF Tweed Is the
browning shame OF a long series OF disgraces.
Nothing new could excel this In infamy but
the failure Of the police TO retake him. Tweed
must be retsken or American justice will be
the laughing stock OF the world. His escape
was precisely similar TO that Of Harry
Genet's He was driven to his house by
Deputy Sheriff, asked permission to see his
wife, left the deputy cooling his heels In the
parIor, and walked off, too safe To run.
The World intlmates Its belief that the Gus
todians OF Tweed connived at his escape, and
says 1t Is probable that they have been
stipcndiaries Of the prisoner for months,
granting him, for n consideration, those
favors which are always for sale at debtors
prison. Whether captured or not, his prop
erty win serve to satisfy the judgments
against him In the suits to recover the plum
der taken from the city The World says
that Sheriff Conner aud Warden Durham are
liable to a fine OF 81 900 and one years I'm
prisonment for their neglect, and II Tweed Is
not forthcoming they will be apt TO get the
full benefit Of the law.
The Times says that whatever penalty can
be exacted from Sheriff Conner ought TO be
insisted on TO the uttcrmost.
There is no cessation today TO the excite
ment created on Saturday night throughout
the city by the announcement OF the escape
OF Tweed. Police Commissioner MatseD has
no theory In regard 10 the escape, but said
emphatically that In his opinion there was
collision somewhere. supt Walling at late
hour this evening stated that thus far not the
slightest clew had been obtained by him
which might put him on the track OF the
persons who saw the coach which Is sup
posed to have carried Tweed of, or the driver
Of the coach, who had been left at his real
dence by the sherifrs officers. The sherif7s
deputies are securing the city also without
any result. The police are still OF opinion
that Tweed passed out Of the front basement
door and was taken 10 Sixtieth street and
East River, where be embarked In small
steam yesEel