The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-08
THE CONVICTION OF TWEED.
How It was Brought About-The Story
Told by One who Claims to Know all
About 1t,


How 1t was Brought About-The story
Told by One who Claims to Know all
About 1t.
The New York Tribune has the fol-
lowing: The true story of the manner
in which VIM. NJ. Tweed WAS convicted
has never been told, and probably
will be in all its details. But it required
not only the strict rules of law, but
special legislation and the shrewdest
detective skill and the largest body of
detectives probably ever employed on
any case, to convict him finally of mis-
demeanor, even though he put in no de-
Tense whatever. After the failure OF
the first and second trials, some of the
Jurors having been corrupted in each
case, it became apparent to those prose
cutting the ring that it was not only
necessary to watch every juror, but to
change by Jaw the method of selecting
the Jury. Previous to the third trial
the law made the first two jurors Sc
lected by the court the ''triers of the
others that is, the first two decided
upon the qualifications and impartiality
of the others. A law was rushed through
the Legislature making the justice pre-
siding the Judge of the qualifications of
all the twelve jurors, and authorizing
him to set aside any juror, even though
acceptable to both sides. The Tweed
case came before Judge Davis, and he
scrutinized the jury with such ARE
that it was made up only of very intel
ligent men. 1t was said at the time that
it was one of the most intelligent juries
ever selected in this city by other than
the " struck" process.
But a system had to be organized also
by which the counsel could be informed
concerning the persons called for exami-
nation as jurors, the jurors when finally
selected, and the court officers who had
them in charge. This was necessary to
prevent friends of Tweed from getting
on the jury, aud also to prevent any ap-
proaches by his agents in the corruption
of the Jurors. A scheme was devised
and its details were intrusted to Henry
L. Clinton. Two. carry it out, some
thing like fifty or sixty persons were en-
ployed, many of whom were special de-
t~ectives frol, Washington, unknown to
New York rug men, and a majority of
whom were young lawyers who, it is be-
lieved, volunteered their services as de-
tectives. At any rate, fully fifty detec-
tives watched the jury and the court
officers in charge of them from the be-
ginning to the end of the long trial.
Whenever at the beginning of the trial
a panel of jurors was drawn by the
sheriff and county clerk lists were
Immediately furnished to Mr.. Clinton,
who setthe detectives underhis direction
upon the work of learning before the
opening of court next day all that it was
possible to obtain of the antecedents of
those called. All facts discovered were
reported to Mr.. Clinton, by whose clerks
they were entered in a book alphabet
caly arranged. This book figured in
court as the "black book" and the use
made of it was q great mystery and a
sorce of much trouble to Tweed and to
his counsel, whofrequently alluded toit.
The prosecuting counsel consulted
it every time q new man was called,
and the acquaintance which it gave
them with the Juror enabled them TO ex-
anime him in such a way as to justify
the court in rejecting him if thought
unfit. In this way several of Tweedis
numerous friends were disposed OF with
out resort to the "peremptory chal-
lenge."
In collecting this information the
Washington and the amateur detectives
used every means possible, making in
quiry of friends and neighbors of the
Jurors summoned, and v g of their
families. At times they pretended to be
agents of Tweed and suggested to the
jurors that they might "make a
good thing of getting on the Tweed
jury" In manyinstances the tele-
graph was used. Among others
called was an old gentleman, who
will be remembered as having created
great amusement by reference to him
self as "the great American Juror"
His history from childhood in Cleveland
and in New York city was investigated,
the telegraph being used freely. He
was found perfectly unexceptionable in
all respects but one on q visit to
Greenwich one summer he had dined
with Tweed at the Americas club. He
was rejected on that account alone.
From this fact it can be seen that the
examination was of the strictest. In
fact, the main effort of the prosecution
was directed to the selection of a per-
fectly honest jury. II wa known
from the experience of the first trials
that Tweed would put in no evidence in
defense, and hence it was claimed by
the prosecution at the time hat convic-
ton was sure to follow if a true jury
was obtained. During the rest Of the
trial, after the jury wac selected, the de-
tectives alluded to watched the jurors
and court officers in their movements to
and from the courtroom, and efectually
prevented any communication between
them and Tweed's agents.