The New York herald., 1876-12-05
How Tweed in the Ring Days Looked
After the Press.
BIG BLACKMAIL OPERATIONS.
The Dishonest Old Man a
Prey to STRIKERS"
AN INTERESTING ANNIVERSARY

Street JaN elected and general alarm notifying
the police OF the fact was sent out TO the different
precincts by the inspector in charge at headquarters
Last night he spent Ludlow Street JAIL resting after
his tedious wanderings over land and sea, and was
once more in the tolls OF the law, on December !
1875 the Boss enjoyed much better health and spirits
than he did yesterday Then he, though nominally
aconvaesccnt prepared underak the risks and
chances Of hasty flight and hot pursuit. Now he
Graves res only rest refusing TO see anybody except
his relatives ply and legal advisers He very
ILL., reports OF his Improvement to the contrary not
withstanding 1t need not be thought however, that
he keeps his bed and is suffering all tho time on the
sontrary. he able to sit up and read. Nevertheless
he is said be confirmed invalid continually under
medical treatment
Monday, according to the Warden, the ex-King OF
Tammany usually passes in comparative seclusion,
cciving none but members OF his family. Legal ad-
visers rarely intrude upon him that day, which
It is his custom to devote 10 reading. med
itation and social intercourse. Yesterday he
spent in this manner. Ho at his
customary hour breakasted and read for the greater
part OF the forenoon. Dr. Schirmer called upon MIN
lator. and in the afternoon william NJ. Tweed, Jr.,
better known AS 1.-The General" came TO spend the
remainder OF the time until the hour for closing the
Jail, hali-past nine p NJ, with his father. II was
rumored the wardcn's Office that Foster Dewey had
Carthy strenuonsiy denied, asserting that but
the doctor and the General had Mr. Tweed all
day. Al eight O'Clock last evening there was another
visitor the person OF the prisoners brother, Richard
N. Tweed who ushcred into the inner apartments,
whcre he renamed conversing with tho Boss and the
General until quarter past nine r NJ At that time
William NJ, JE. followed by his uncle, came out, and,
crossing the Office, bade the Warden good night and
left the jail AT hafpast the bolts shot for
the night and Tweed retired to rest
MoRg RING "REMINISCENCES.
The interest in all developments relating to Tweed
and to tho Tamnany Ring far from being exhausted
Is increasing and the portion OF '':he inside history"
Of tho Ring given yesterdays HERALD has but in
creased tho public appetite for more Some
points relating Tweed and his confcderates given
below.
TWEED KxAvs DUPE?
It has been generally held by nnety-nine out OF one
hundred persons and always published as conceded
fact, that Tweed was bold designing man, the head
Of tue braves OF the Ring According TO somo OF those
who knew him best Mr. Tweed merely the figure
head OF the Ring, put forward by his associates to at
tract attention far possible from themselves
"Tho old man" is represented by many OF his IN
timate associates as moro OF dupe than
knave-at least, as a who by sheer
forcc OF scfassertion and recklessness OF conse
quences, made himself prominent, while at the same
time he 'piucked" OF large portion OF his plum
der by all of schemcrs who wormed themselves
into his confidence.
rLEEcIxG TO DE FLEEcED.
"Onc dollar in every three OF Tweed's money" said
old associate Of hts to the HERALD representative
twas taken from him by his tools, his false friends
army OF cormorants Ono man, a republican,
got $50, 600 from Tweed to make experiments
new gun which .'expcriments,' OF course, merely
Yesu oil In
pocket Another man, democrat got 500 600 from him
Indirectly. to complete patent which "patcnt only
existed in the democrats Imagination Tweed, during
all his career, ''plucked right and lett, and he
always bled freely" He was not only very ''acccss
ible to pretended friends, but hc very vulnerable
10 '.strikcrs" II man only had schcek" enough to
threaten to "squeal" and could hold to his threat
ening attitude long enough TO make Tweed believe he
meant IT, tho "old man. would surrender and pay
hush money.
BOHEMIAN BLAcKMAIL.
Twenty eight thousand dollars was paid at
one time to ut Tweed's special
order, because the man. who then controlled
Indirectly, the columns OF Chcsgo newspaper, threat
sned to publish certain facts regarding tho Ring
which had come into hts possession. This about
year In advance Of the revelations published in
the New YORK Times Twced's associates for do
Tying the and letting HIM do his worst, and they
laughed at the idea Of publication In Chicago affect
Ing New York. But Mr.. Tweed took broader view Of
the situation, carried his point avoided any publicity
at that t,mc merely. probably. gave the Tammany
Ring year more OF ie.
THE PAPERS
Its a somewhat singular fact that, although Tweed
proessed TO dcspisc literary men and newspaper men
and literature generally, he was moro afraid Of "the
newspapers" than any other member OF the Ring
Connolly only concerned himself about '.moncy mat
tcrs," Sweeny devoted himself to 'policy," but
Tweed told chum OF his "rhe biggest part Of my
work is to keep the newspapers quiet" Connolly al
ways rcproached Tweed with paying the newspapers
30 much, but Tweed persisted in it to the last
TREATED
Mr.. Tweed considers at present that the newspapers
are .treating him badly. He talks against them hkc
an aggricved person. He seems TO have looked upon
srhc corporation printing" IN the light of n personal
gift bribo himself rather than n legitimate
necessity OF tho public government. He claims to
have paid regularly tho aiors bills OF reporter
and the house rent OF another to have loaned third
Journalist" ranging from SO to $50 constantly;
and now he says '.Tho boys all writing against
me-"
1t may be OF some interest here to record the fact
for what II be worth, that according those who
knew the secrets OF the Ring, Is generally conceded
that II 1t had been .'cxposed' IL would prob
aDiy have tumbed to pieces from tho break IN the
Ring which was being made blythe personal differ
Rences OF opinions between its members. Even be-
lore Watsons death there was "trouble" among the
Ring magnatcs Connolly was suspected by Tweed
Tweed openly called flash by Connolly. swecny
ndcd to certain extent with Connolly, and on
several occasions told Tweed he was going
loo far; while Tweed who dcsplsed expedicnts
told Sweeny occasion that "he could manage
New York without him."
The las, time Tweed Sweeny and Connolly all three
ever met and talked together four days after the
death Watson The disposition OF nearly 81 600 900
1880 U0o) settled IN that meetng" in less than
nve minutes Tho whole interview lasted less than
hall an hour then tho three separated probably
never 10 meet again