The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-05-03
THE HOODWINKED
INVESTIGATION.
1T ADDS RICHNESS TO THE
REVELATIONS.
But Don't Help woodin a
Bit.
How the Boss" was Induced
to "SqueaI."
Where the Ring Used to Lunch and
Rob the People,
HOW CLAIMS WE'RE sWELLED TO
ENORMOUS AMOUNTS.
Tweed's Safe full of Cash in
Albany.
How 1t Was Guarded.
And how Tweed Placed Money Between
the Leaves of Legislators Bible.

New YORK, May 3.-The Woodin
investigation is refreshing Tweed's mem
ory and the prisoner OF Ludlow street
promises to supplement his confession,
now in the hands Of the attorney general
of the state. with additional revelations
showing how political battles were won
and legislative triumphs achieved
To one prominent politician whose name
has not heretofore been printed, he remem
bered having paid $4,000 and he will be
prepared to give the name and details
when called upon to do so.
Carolin O'Brien Bryant, who managed
to persuade Tweed that he was acting as
Chas. OConnors messenger, induced
Tweed to make the statement, supported
by affidavit sworn to before VIM. ID.
Gardner, book keeper at Ludlow street
jail, accompanied by 80 checks and notes
signed by Richard B. Connolly, aggregat-
| ing $265,000 aud endorsed by Tweed.
These documents Bryant said were de-
sired by O'Connor who had sent him for
them and upon which O'Conner had
promised that the prisoner should be re-
leased. Seven Of the tbirty-two checks
were given to Peter B. Sweeney, Hugh
Smith, and Abram Van Vechtep, the
Albany lobbyist. aggregatiDg oyer $700,-
/ 900. The checks were all dated Nov.
1870. The legislation upon Tweed 5
charter was in March 1870. The re-
mainder of the checks were dated in 1868
and were given to the persons above
named and to f. d Barber; one check to
the latter being tor $600 The four
> Connolly notes were dated in 1870 and
negotiated through tie Tenth National
AID Central National banks. They were
taken up by Tweed on Connelly's failure
to pay and Will doubtless be turned over
to the city as part of Tweed's assets
in case his proposition is accepted, as now
) appears that it will be.
The statements In the hands of the
attorney general would occupy not les;
r than II columns Of small close type. Il
I gives an exact narrative of how the rinl
a was formed The statements begin with
the manner in which Tweed, JnO. I. Hoff
- man, Geo. ". Mclean and Connolly, bacE
IN 1865 or 1866, were accustomed to NEE
daily at lunch in a little room attached t.
the kitchen Of the old court house to dis
cuss political matters This coterie hnall,
dissolved ard then the corrupt ring wa
tormed consisting of Tweed, Connolly
Sweeney, Hall and Woodward with othe
minor allies which also met daily in tn
same room, and, later, in Tweed Office i:
Duane street, Hall, the statement de
clares. at first received 10 per cent. of a
o the proceeds, but when the receipts bega
e. to come in not quite so briskly his shar
e was cut down to 5 per cent. with which b
q was dissatisfied and because of which b
3, frequently threatened to break up tn
n, com bination. The statement also show
. in detail, the manner in whiC
= bills were doctored by the rim
after coming from the board of supervise
and afterwards from the board OF audi
I Already fraudulent in many of the iten
new charges would be iuterlined hetwee
ed original items and totals changed to CO
an respond, so that bill Of 500, 900 I
I'M certified to by the clerks of the boar
named would be sent to Auditor WatsC
ro- raised TO $780, 900 or $500,00G, and tn
be duly certified to by him. The stat
ment also mentions a legislator who
rooms Tweed frequently visited. To b
Tweed never directly paid any money, b
opening a bible which lay on his hos
table Tweed would place between t
4 leaves a pile of bank bills and then {
- That person always voted for Tweed
measures. Tweed says he kept his mon
in special safe in one of his rooms a
that large amount was there, and tt
either he, his wife, OF trusted friends v
I always on guard over it.