The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-07
SWEENY FREE,
The Brains" of the Ring and
His Compromise. sAi
TERMS OF THE BARGAIN.
The Amount To Be Refunded to
the City Treasury.

Cll6 OlLy 44Cct0u4ys
Tho extra term Of the Supreme Court for the trial
of the suit Of The People vs. swecny was
opened yesterday morning in tho General Term
rooms by Judge westbrook, who entered tho
court about halfpast ten o'clock Tho coun-
sci In the case were present, aud for the
people wcre Mr. Wheeler Peckham and Mr.. Joseph P.
Nash for tho defendant. Mr. W. A. Beach, Mr. John
McKeon ana Mr.. vsnderpoeL Directly the Judge
took his there consultation among the coun-
sci, who adjourned to the waiting room and, as will
be seen below this resulted settlement OF the case
without bringing 1t to trial.
.rnE MILLS or COP GRIND SLOWLY"
Sitting tho court room, waiting amid the buzz OF
conversation OF the expectans throng the progress OF
events In the development OF the CASE thought goes
back eight or ten years tho time whom the great
"Rng' was In the supremacy OF It's power. Ard how
striking are the contrasts! The vast chamber was
then the room OF the Board Of Supervisors On its
walls hung full lcrgth portrait Of William NJ.
Tweed, painted at the expense OF tho oity Watson,
Woodward, Garvcy and Genet were his chums--the
chiefs OF an army OF spoIlsmcn. The generassimo
now langushes in prison; other master spirits are
fugtivcs In foreign lands while he to whom every
other hat was oncc lowered, from the woaithiest to
tho humbest OF citizens in recognition Of hts almost
court room, now exchanging word with Ais counsel
and anon peering vacantly from the Windows awaiting
the result OF even handed Justice
II was hero whore Watson and Woodward manipu.
lated the fraudulent under which the steal
ing was pcrpctrated here where tho "divvies"-as
tho plumber called tho choice vocabulary Of the
Americus Club-were made, and where the percent.
ages and interest figured up by the consprators
who, as was shown tho trial OF Tweed, de!rauded
their own cheftan. The walls that looked down
on Peter b. Sweeny now confronted az he is by Jury
Of his oounWyneu, saw him less than ten years ago
planning with the Boss" schemes for tho perpetuas
ton OF Tainany's ruc in the city. They saw Judge
Barnard release Tweed patry bail Of $4,000
after no had been committed 10 the Tombs by judge
Cunning Bedford, then Of the General Sessions IL
BRET they have boon The Witnesses OF incidents that
made many a New Yorker BLUSH tor his namc, and OF
devltrics OF which modern history has no parallel
But
Though the mills OF God grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceeding small
Tho interest attached TO the expected trial was
shown by the presence OF large audience, among
whom were prominent lawyers, public men and local
politicians. The spectators generally were OF more
solid and intellectual character than those who, from
want OF something else do idle away their tao IL
the courts Among those the inside Of the Bar DO.
s,des counsel IN the ex-Chanberlain Brad
lev cx.Consressman Morgan Jones, William Van
President
Waldo Hutchins ex-Assisiant DISTRICT Attorney Fell
Counts euni s Nelson J. Waterbury, l. B. Woodward and
l. was not until Ealtpast two O'Clock that tho pa.
tient crowd hushed 70 silence by the entrance u
Judge Wcstbrook. who, taking his seat on the bonca
nearest the jury read tho following announcement:
ruR COMPROMISE AXx0USCED.
Judge Westbrook said :--.I am informed gentlemen
Of by the counsel the respective parties
10 this suit that an arrangements has bcen msdo by
which the estate o. ~ sn on
account Of demands sought 10 pc recovered IN TINS
action, and under the circumstances y seems 20 pe
deemed uuwisc further TO press the trial IL may %
Tor mo 10 say in passing that the terms Of tho
arrangement lar as they have boon communicated
upon tho defendant Concurriug IN tho wisdom OF tho
course which has adopted, the Court will be ad-
journed until the nrst Monday Of October next. AZ
rng TERMS OF THE COMPROMISE.
After The reading OF this announcement by the
Judqc the iurymen from their seats in so JOY uN
mannsr and with manifest Signs or relief OF
thor that It was quite pleasant occupa-
ton 10 watch them. They were ready to shake hands
with and every body around them and did TINS
most heartily with the counsel in the case wao whiis
tnem yes very noar the jury.
The expressions ICON siderable sum" and 'sthat tho
concessions cast no reflection upon the defendant"
used by the Judge great curiosity and inquiry
among those who were familiar with the pubic history
OF tho Ring suits reporter OF the HERALD inquire!
Of the counsel as tho terms OF the compromise. Al
were non -commital. Mr. Beach said no had very lit
tic to do with the case Mr.. McKeon said that the
had been settled without nlu. MT. Feckndm
said that no d,d not she amount, and that Tao
Judge did not say anything about percentage. as
some thought no did. Mr. vandcrpoel said that the
terms OF the settlement were virtually those that were
| agreed upon months ago.
| rmE AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION
II s reported from reliable that the sum Of
! money which Mr. Swecny - TO remand TO the CITY 10
$780, 600 IL IS known that the original demand
Of Mr.. Pecknnm was for $5So,Ooo Tue COM
| promise was Effected almost without the knowiedge
| OF Mr.. Swcenyg counsel, aud u j. generally
| believed that Mr.. George Hutchns bore prominent
| ha
II also surmised that MS Visit had particu
! lar bearing upon this trial
Tho Announcement gives rise to great deal OF rumor
anu speculation regarding the interests OF other Rin
/ offenders IL is suggested that a similar movement
| will be mado behalf Of Connolly IL ~ De-
! heved by some that the main motive OF Mr.
/ Swceny IN making tho compromise At tins time was
| the possibility OF some unpleasant testimony IRON
Mr. Tweed who might 10 called upon TO testify IN ro
buttal OF Sweeny's evidence To some the compro
/ mise is a great SURPRISE Tor, thcy ask, why were
Ipgcrsol and Woodward released, u not 70 testify
| tried. and they look upon this compromise
| win swceny attempt 10 make M.
| Tweed the scapcgoat Tor all tho Ring, evils:
| shortly demand from tho Attorney General some do
cisive course return OF tho papers which
| were submitted 10 him Friends OF Tweed appear to
find mystery In all these recent events winch they
| do not at all ike nor aDe to understand
James n. Sweeny the business man OIL MS orotnef
did pay Peter B. Swceny money without u was
said couhding 10 him the from whence came
There had been all tho mass oil evidence us 70
the Ring frauds any legal proof that sweeny was en-.
gagged In conspiracy TO deraud the CITY, In tnis ne
| differed IRON Tweed, Watson and woodward, VINO mad
all been shown TO be engaged IN the conspiracy. HAD
tho trial gone on the defendant would nave gone on
the stand and sworn these facts, and II would Ia
very likely that jury would believe him ~ preference
| TO Woodward or Tweed.