The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-06
ESCAPE OF BOSS TWEED.
HOW 1T WAS EFFECTED.

New YORK, December A dispatch
was received at Police Headquarters this
evening stating that William NJ. Tweed
had just escaped from custody. War
den Durham, of the Ludlow street Jail,
Immediately telegraphed to every police
station IN this city, Brooklyn and neigh
boring cities notifying the police to be on
the lookout. Warden Durham subse-
4 quently called on Inspector Dilks, at the
Central Police Office, and stated that he
had accompanied the prisoner to the res
! idence of Mrs. Tweed, at the corner of
Madison avenue and Fifty-ninth street,
and while there Mr.. Tweed requested
I permission to see his wife pri-
vately Mr.. Durham unhesitatingly
granted the request, and Tweed went up
stairs TO his wie's apartments, leaving
one of his sons to entertain Durham and
the deputy. After waiting about ten
minutes Durham became uneasy and sent
young Tweed up stairs to tell his father
to come down Immediately, Us they de-
sired to return to jail. In short time
the young man returned and informed
Durham that his father had gone. Dur
ham at once searched the house
thoroughly, but no trace of the Boss
could be found. Leaving the deputy in
charge of the house, Durham hurried to
the residence Of Sheriff Conner and in
formed that officer of the escape. The
police authorities were promptly notified
and the central Office dctectivec at once
went out, securing the city in all direc-
tions.
Deputy Warden Gardner in charge of
Ludlow street Jail during Warden Dun
hams absence stated that neither he or
any person in Jail learned of Tweeds
absence until about half past eight, when
man rang the bell and the door was
opened by the Deputy Warden. The
man, whose name was not known, nor
his face familiar said Warden Dunham
had sent him down to- jail to say that
Tweed had escaped. Further than this
the messenger could not say and he then
took his departure. 1t is supposed that
Tweed lett the jail about 4:3O
IN the evening with Warden Durham,
and it is now thought that Keeper Ed
ward Hogan also accompanied them as
he has not since been seen around the
Jail. This afternoon Deputy Warden
Gardner took an affidavit 10 Mr.. Tweed,
who signed it n his room, but the deputy
warden did not know what the contents
of the affidavit were. Tweed was visited
to-day by his counsel, David Dudley
Field and William Eddelstein. the lat
ter partner in business with Tweed
son at one time.
FruitIess search for the Fugitive.
Three unOcCupied houses adjoining the
the residence of Boss Tweed were
searched. In twenty minutes after the
police had been notified of the escape,
word had reached every police station in
the city, and mounted squads were out in
force, riding through the suburbs at full
speed. Inspector Thorne received i'm
mediate notification, and in u short time
was at the 18th precinct station house.
Taking Sergeant WhitcOmb and Detec-
tive MCGOWAN with hum, he visited the
residence of Tweed. Leaving the former
to guard the entrance, no made thorough
search from the roof to the cellar bat
not the slightest trace of the fugitive was
found. Sheriff Conner summoned num-
Der of his deputies, and visited all the
uptown precincts.
President Mutsell of the Board
of Police was visited by the Sheriff at
his residence and every imaginable plan
for the capture of the fugitive were talked
over and put into execution. The au-
thorities seemed utterly bewldered. The
central office detectives were sent out 10
every portion OF the city where there
WAS the least possibility OF Tweed's
being found, and the officers
on the approaches to the North and East
rivers, received special instructlOns.tO be
particularly watchful. President Matsell
said that in his opinion, Tweed escaped
earlier than reported, or the police would
have been more successful In finding at
Aeast, slight clue to his whereabouts.
Reward OF $40, 900 Offered.
Sheriff Conner has issued Il reward of
$4,000 for the arrest Of Tweed. When
Warden Dunham returned to the Lud-
low street Jail tonight he stated that be
had been dining with Tweed at the
Boulevard, and they returned in a car
riage to the house OF Tweeds Onln-law
Mr., Douglass, on Madison avenue, where
Tweed's wife resides. Tweed asked per
mission to go up stairs to see his wife,
which was granted. Tweed stayed up
about l5 minutes, and he (Dunham) be-.
coming uneasy at his protracted absence
sent Tweeds son after him. lie soon
returned and said that his father was not
there. The Warden then rushed TO the
front door and looked up and down the
street, but saw no person resembling
Tweed. Tweed had taken his hat with
him, but left his overcoat in the hail
Hogan, the assistant jailer, says he saw
Tweed 90 up three or four steps OF the
stairs, but is not certain that he went up
the full flight
The house was searched from top to
bottom, but no trace OF the fugitive could
be found. Tweed son was in very cI-
cited condition when he learned OF his
fathers escape. He pulled his hair out
and exclaimed he was ruined, as did also
Mr.. Douglass, the son-in- law. Warden
Durham admits having, taken Tweed out
10 drive some LnFce OF IOuT tIuIts
while he was in his custody.
as Tweed was complaining of terrible
headaches The bonds gwen by the
sheriff for the proper and faithful per-
formance of his duties are $4,000, and
those of Warden Dunham $4,000. Mr.
Tweed's bed room was in Ludlow street
jail. and directly over the head of the
bed is the motto: "ln GJd We trust
The trial for the six million dollar suit
was to begin on Monday.
Report that the Boss Escaped n Week
Ago.
NEW YORK, December "a report
is in circulation, but casrot be verified,
that Tweed escaped week ago and Is
now well away from the country. Sheriff
Conner and Warden Dunham are liable
to a fine Of 81 900 and one years Imprls-
onment for their neglect snd if Tweed
is not forthcoming they will be apt to
get the full extent OF the law.