The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-12
BOSS TWEED As A BARON.
Affidavit of a Man Who Saw and
Spoke to Him in Italy.
TRAVELLING FOR HIS HEALTH

There ramc 10 the HERALD oflco yesterday mornint
a very small man. who looked, by reason OF hs brows
skin like one who had just finished a voyage
Although he spoke with Italian accent his use Of tbs
English tongue very good and as familiarity grew
upon him and he embcllishcd his remarks with a.
occasional dash OF pure New York slang, he uncon.
sclously proclaimed himself TO be ono who had had
long experience IN Gotham This individual, atfired IN
natiy clothes and variegatcd shirt sought a. tho
HERALD Office the 'head reporter" 10 whom DO bad
disclosures to make OF very startling character.
The gentleman treated with that great defcrencs
always accorded in newspaper Offices 70 persons
having startling information 10 impavt. and
referred TO reporter. who was in
s,ruc,cd to "take tho gen,cman's story" Imasna-
ton rather than description suggest the extent o.
that reporter professional ccstacy whcn Mr. Ne Costa
the little foreigner, said II know whore Tweed :s"
The whereabouts OF "tho Boss" so long an enigma
at last 10 be known and tho public TO DO informed
Of II by his pen through tho HERALDl Tho noxt re-
OF Mr.. DO Costa, following Immediately, who was
rather incohcrcnt and perpcxing. said he, III only
knew now much now do would be rich" The
diom no less than the meaning OF the romark CON.
fused the reporter, who, looking up Mr.. De Costs
for expapation found him smiling, his head resting
his hand YES" said he, interpreting the
spoken jntcrrogatory. III knew much
I do, l would DO rich and DO with
the boss" Whom tho reporter vcDturcd TO inquire
wha, the wcghty information was which troubled his
mind Mr.. De Costa answered. II know Tweed has
c,pcd" Tho valuable article, which gave promise or
creating sensation, diminished in the mind Of tho
writer very stale item OF news, and he about
THORN Mr. De Costa that the papers had mentioned
the fact OF Mr. Twccds escape siine since, but
Mr. De Costa anticipated the remark by saying, "IrI
kpou thnfu in Itnlv al mt hc hora
now The COMMUNICATION OF startling import changed
10 a "Reminiscences Mr. Do Costa had sccn Tweed At
liberty in Europe but did tho time know no had
escaped from his jaor. Gradually Tho darkroom
pcxoncd gentleman narrative unfodcd itself aud was
to this effect
Mr. cosrA's STORY.
During the FIRST week OF March as Mr.. Do Costa was
travelling from Genoa TO Tcghorn, per steamboat he
noticed corpulcnt gentleman pacing tho deck, and,
knowing by his air and carriage that he was Amer.
can, sought to got glimpse ofhs face. He succeeded,
and In the lnoamcns Of the stranger he recognized
William NJ. Tweed Mr.. Tweed did not know him, but
lao knew Mr. Twocd, and went M 10 speak 70 him.
Here the narrative interrupted by Mr.. DO Costa
Who placing his hand his right ear pcnsively
marked, 'sIf only knew no was escaped" Recover
ing from regrets he continued tho narrative. When
no addressed Mr.. Tweed .the old man, !" to uso Nr
DO Costa's words, "didnt like IT," and winkcd sig-
nincant wink, which Mr. De Costa interpreted cnjou
silence Then Mr.. Tweed withdrew from tho gentlemen
IN whose company hc had bccn and joined Mr. DO Costa
further forward Mr. Tweed did not recocct his inter-
rosaicr, no asked him how no. Dc Costa recognized
him. Mr. DO Costa mentioned several little dinner
parties which had been gwen by Mr.. Tweed AZ Del
monicos and told him that several of these festive
occasions he had waited upon table. Mr.. Tweed said
he was .'gad to a friend from New York." and
explained that lie had "obtained pardon and was
making tour OF tho Continent for the bcncnt Of
hcaItln,' Mr. lie Cosa's hand again sought tho side
OF his head. aud us he drawod out tho words for the
benefit Of his health " hts lace proclaimed the sorrow
OF his heart nj not knowing Tho Was
escaped" Mr Do Costa 'hopcd Mr.. Tweed
would enjoy himself" and NJ ,. Tweed
go) and invited him To go below and rcgalc himself
As 10 whether no went not tho narrator Is
commt,al In conversation subsequent 70 tho presen.
aton the napoleon Mr.. Tweed said 10 Mr. De Costa,
al | was not a damned fool ! would have got on onf
sst,on was si,I in progress when Icghorn wss
reached. Al parting Mr. Tweed invited Nr. De Costs
TO eau upon him az mo Ho.i Da,'arIo MT DC Costs
lie states In his AFFIDAVIT Hc found that Bsron's
Tweed mad been at another hotel ~ Via Bora but had
left ana gone IL Napics - did not 30 90 Naples"
head
Costa nicrcctcd culosstc remarks Of the '.od mans"
hbcfaliiy. and moro than once instituted invidioua
comparisons between the Boss and 0.hcr wealthy
men In conclusion, Mr.. De Costa declared he would
not now be IN America 80 sec the Centennial ne knew
thought no had been liberated by due process Of law
HE swEARs TO THE STORY.
In order lay greater stress upon his assertions Mr.
De Costa made tho following affidavit 70 The faes
stated abovc:-
crr sSD County NEw YoRx. $. Antonio De Costa,
'S ns' s and
thai %r wssr s sss o. ac w.
N. Tweed number o. times and .hs. became ven
e NJ !" ' 'ss NJ S. sss
y Z New YORK D"r s S. mont. at =. s s.
not positive the dayvhi!e travelling tho
he met William Vi. Tweed and accepted him M Tweed
little disconccrtcd the recognition and wnked
~ ,1s +. rseosnssd him Deponsns rsessd
Mr. Tweeds mind sevcrni supper parties II which he do
% ""snS '' him tweed told dpsn. .S.s
had ob,.ned inI pardon and va. .ahlns
pressing much joy The good 81 Mr. Tweed. M.
Tweed gave him nrpoeon and told him to make merry
was last in New York opincn Was abroad thai 1vssd
wond be liberated through the 81 the
goodny and told him he would he happy t. him the
Hotel Dcttsr where he stopping Next morning Dc.
named Tweed was there r-ssered The clerk however IL.
formed that American baron answering the -
Via Borrs Dsponent went TO the San Marco and found
that Tweed" was registered but that an Americas
"E a"casr m"e q" The name anSsr Witch NJ Tweed lid
his Identity The fact that T.eed had obtained shc VIE
he mys titles may be purchased ~ Italy. or not such g
and was his opinion From this time Tweed ~. nos seen
Went 70 Paris. thence 10 Liverpool where he embarked Toe
New York where he residing At n. ~ spring Mseek
On the evening OF the 10th Of April 1874 at No ~ rprna
events which had irnnspired since his dspssr..
the time dcpcncnt informed ~ the
o. Tweed and on advice q friends msxss his ~
believed ho now depcscs according
law 70 the facts herein SET iortli -, -,~..
sworn to before sme this 18th day April 1910 WHIT
LAW y, . .,r,on, x.v YORK e"ry;v So'.'S '1'' Ssss