The New York herald., 1876-12-04
/ Il w ID ID D.
A Friendly Mirroring Of
the "Old Man"
RING MYSTERIES AND MEMORIES.
How the Boss AmaSSed His Wealth
A Dubois Intention to Reform.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE
Republicans and Democrats Alike
Implicated.
What Big TX Thought OF Sllppery Dick and
'cter Bismarck Sweeny.
BOUNTY FRAUDS BY A BOUNTY RING.
Bill COX, the Boat and the Little
Black Bag.
Negotiions for Compromise-WiII
Il Succeed?
Republicans and Democrats Alike
Implicated.
What Big TX Thought Of Slippery Dick and
eter Bismarck Sweeny.
BOUNTY FRAUDS BY A BOUNTY RING.
Bill COX, the Boat and the Little
Black Bag.
Negotiions for a Compromise-WilI
Il Succeed?

The itcrest In William NJ. Tweed increases daily.
Even 10 election s.muddlc" does not tho for
mer rver Of New York to be forgotten. What he has
he is DONG and what he will do points
in wnch the reading public take lively concern, and
the prious conflicting rumors in circulation 90 but
add ne to the fame.
Ths being the case representative Of the HERALD
Aas devoted himself to interviewing various OF tho
foTcr friends and former enemies Of William N.
Tweed, and from conversation with those parties from
$ts they have stated aud from hints which they have
Brown out the following article has boen prepared,
shch will be found to contain alike Interesting rem
niscences of the past, present points OF importance
and startling suggestions Of the possibilities Of tho
future.
n The first person called upon by tho HERALD repre-
tentative old s'chum" OF Mr.. tweed, and a
nan who has known him long. intimately and thor
bughly Chatting with this gentleman tho latter re-
marked In tho course OF the conversation .'With all
his iauts Mr. Tweed never lied II he stated thing
IS matter Of fact II was tact, and, although
difficult matter to force direct promise from him, II
he once made promise he Kept it. He would evado
dodge, or eQuivocate, but he never directly lied"
s.What were
TwEHD's Personal UABIrs?n
asked the HERALD repres sentative
s.Hc moderate drinker, but avoided alcoholic
drinks partook OF wines, especially sherry and cham
pagne, freely. He smoked rarely, swore when excited
pretty freely, and could toll good story when in the
humor."
.'Did Mr. Tweed gamble?'
sNcvcr. Probably he never played gambling game
m his lie. He knew next TO nothing of faro roulette
keno &C. His tastes in q different direction. He
supcrsttious though would not begin any irapor
liant undertaking Friday, and he believed firmly in
aud Tor this reason he refused away when his
frauds wcro first discovered. He believed that IL
would be Just bis luck' to surmount triumphanlly
his difficulties alter all He believed Connolly to be
An unlucky fellow, and expressed himself rather re-
hevcd than otherwise when Connolly disappeared"
''was Tweed in any sense an educated MANI"
'sNot in any sense. He had only common school
education, ard did not particularly value that His
language was and often ungranmatca. He
rather despscd Mayor Hall as a literary man. than
otherwise. He appreciated literature bat how
ever and during his career feed various literary men
literally
Is be phrascd it.
'.wAs Tweed luxurious lverf"
sNot in his own person. he did not Tor fast
horses nor iast suppers, but he wore diamonds and
allowed his family spend all The money they
wanted"
"what was Mr.. Twecd's great motive in life
powcrg"
mo; his great object in life was
In New York city. He told intimate friend once
that he was determine be the largest landowner
America II he had kept in power Ave years longer
lie would have probably owned real estate in the
metropolis than Astor and Stewart combined. He
was Always buying property when he could buy 1t
cheap. All his real estate has not yet been traced
probably It never will be. Not only New York prop
erly, but in the country around New York, and sew
cral farms. Buying real estate was at once Twced's
strength and his special wcakuess But he bought 1t
OF principle"
..Princple What on earth do you mean by princi-
plcg"
.swhy simply this. It is fact well known to those
who Tweed we'll that he really intended sooner
or later, but certainly some day or other
TO RESTORE BACK TREASURY
and with interest, all the moneys he abstracted from
IT, Like many other no compromised with his
conscience he has conscience, by determining to
nav back the sums he took when he could afford do
IT, With this view he put the greater part OF his
money IN real estato, which he resolved TO improve,
and which he really attempted to improve In a
few years he calculated that the rise in the value
OF this sort property would be great that he could
pay back to the city the original sums and still be him.
Ieif immensely wealthy. lIc OF course never stated
,h,s plan us whole anybody, but he alluded TO It
Incidentally and will explain the fact that he bought
real estate SO largely. Had he calculated on flight
retaining all tho city moneys past all persdvcnturc he
EouId nave put his possessions into readily avail
able shape
This view OF Mr. Twccd's conduct is held by many
OF his most intimate friends, and If II docs not
cusc WILL least, explain various points in his ca
reer
"Had Mr. Tweed any
noBDYf"
asked the HERALD representative.
yes" the reply; William N. Tweed be-
ueycd trmly that New York destined to be
lbc finest well as largest city in the civilized
world. and determined that lie would make, as he
phrascd it, Paris or IT, His belief in the future OF
New York exceeded that of any other man ever met
man in this great city"
.sAt what do you estimate
TwKEp's WEALTH
IN mis- best days?n asked the HERALD man.
..rhs is a diaicut question: tho reply; 'but,
including his vast real estate investments in New
York city, farms. &C., along tho Hudson his interest
In the lamp speculation tho Cro,on Or specula-
tou the gun contract his mining interest. his Hooeac
Tunnel interest and his Erie Railway property, his
newspaper property, tho Star, 1ranscript &c.-all
these would time have footed up least
IRrY MILLIONS DOLLARS
rhis was OF course before there any break tho
Ring or suspicion OF it's downfall Mr.. Tweed him.
self at one time owned up to friend that ho
could sell out at that moment, II SO disposed, Tor
SIS 600 900 cash-and added that this low csti-
mate About e-fourth Of this wealth hold