New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-25
TIE TWEED CONFESSION.


There was something highly dramatic in the
appearance of Mr.. John Kelly before the
Woodin Investigating Committee yesterday.
Presenting himself as the author OF
The Worlds abstract of the Tweed con-
fessiOn, he relieved that lively newspaper
from somewhat unpleasant position,
and he did it with characteristic frankness.
He states that he learned the substance of the
confession from the Attorney General, and
that parts of it were read to him by MIR.
Townsend. He repeated the points to the
editor of The World, and the editor OF the
World reproduced them with substantial
accuracy in the disguise OF an Albany
dispatch. There were mistakes. of course,
as might have been expected, In
the course of all this oral trans
mission; but about the main fact, that Tweed
distinctly accuses WoOdin, WinslOw, and
others of taking his brides, Mr.. Kelly's
memory could not have been at fault. When
Tweed tells the Investigating Committee,
therefore, that the story in The World is prln-
cipally fiction, VIC must take the liberty OF
doubling whether he means exactly what he says.
The story about Judge FOlger seems to have
been fiction, and the pretense that the abstract
came by telegraph from Albany was harm
less little fraud maintained altogether too long.
to the great embarrassment OF its perpetratOr;
but Mr.. Kelly makes himself responsible for
the rest, and his word is good.
If the Controller appears therefore to The
World as a delivercr, his sturdy form,
when he dropped into the midst of the
committee must have looked 10 MeSsrs.
Woodin and Winslow like bcmbsheli
charged with destruction. For there can
no longer be any reasonable doubt that they
are accused of corruption by so high an au-
thorlty as William NJ. Tweed; that the rumors
of the last seven years have now taken the
shape of direct impeachment; and that
they will he required by public opinion to do
everything in their power to compel the full
publication of documents which may perhaps
prove their ruin. Every day that the original
confession is kept back now strengthens the
popular distrust Of these gentlemen andwtnesses
the birth Of new brood of suspicious. No man
ought TO he cOmI elied toprOyc his own innocence,
but public sentiment is not always just and
logical, and as a matter of fact the burden of
proof is really thrown in such an affair as this
uDon the accused instead Of the accuser. Mr..
Woodin and The other inculpated roiormcrs
arc bound to insist that the whole case against
them should come out at once and then they
will meet it as they can. 1t will not do for
them to rest upon Tweed's refusal to testify.
And there is another reason why the pubh-
cation ought to be no longer deferred.
suspicion is becoming rife in this city that
certain persons prominent Ill pubilc lie be-
lieve they can make more profitable use of
Tweed's so-called confession than by putting
it to the purpose for which the distinguished
criminal intended it. Possibly the suspicion
arises only because people see that there is
great chance for somebody. Tweed has at his
mercy humber of regulations which must
be very valuable to their owners. Think OF
the scores of politicians OF both parties
whom he bought during the prosperous days
of the Ring; the tell-tale checks with which
his trunk must be filed; the compromis-
inc bank accounts to which he holds the
clew: the refOrmers whose hypocrisy he can
unyail; the blatant frauds and humbugs whom
he can ruin! Could there be greater stroke
of fortune for an ambitious and not over
scrupulous politician than to get possession OF
Tweed's testimony, with that box OF mcrm-
mating documents, and hold the scandalons
budget under lock and key until he saw hit to
use III Imagine Sucn man HiinS away 'c
papers in his private pigeon-holes, proofs OF
the bribery of Congressman Quelquun IN this
compartment, of the rascality of Senator
So-and-s0 in that other; when his cabinet OF
curiosites is all arranged he shows certain
party. managers few things in which they
have frightful personal interest, and then
sets out on his campaign. A hundred lead
ing politicians become perfOrce his Obedient
servants or a few fragments from the great
collection of curious and entertaining historical
documents are drawn out of the cabinet and
given to the newspapers, when down goes an
obstinate adversary OF an obnoxious rival!
BlK il there ever was purpose to use the
Tweed confession in this way-and we are not
prepared to believe that there was-the action
of MIR. John Kelly has defeated it. Since Mr..
Kelly has dyulSed part of the contents OF