The New York herald., 1877-09-16
Mr.. Tweed Continues His Little
Narrative Of the Past.
A MOST DAMAGING STORY.
How the Famous Charter Was
Brought Into Existence.
CORRUPT LEGISLATORS.
lanes 0'Bficn'S Assignment--Th Old Su.
pervisOrs and Auditors.

Tho third and most effective act In the Tweed
Aldermanic investigating melodrama was enacted
yesterday at tho City Hall, before u small audience Of
politicians, park loungsrs and ricnds Of the exTam-
many Boss. Tho testimony elected was startling and
Will mako pretty lively reading for number OF living
matcsnen, botn In this city and throughout the State.
Tweed without doubt means to tell sensational narra-
Ave. no matter whether he contradics former evidence
I not The rumors as to legislative bri.
'cry and corruption, with tho names Of participants
'ow assuming gigantic aspect when sup.
ported by the sworn testimony OF tho chief
sf the Ring thieves himself. Taking into csns,dera
hon tho statements circulated freely around among
ocai politicians that the present investigation has
started the particular purpose OF besmrch ng
hc character OF certain public men opposed to Tam.
many Hall, the veracty OF part of the story may bo
eriousy qucstioncd.
THE FIRST scENE.
Eleven O'Clock was sct down as the timc for COM
mencing yesterdays examination, but Tweed did not
rrve until about half hour alter Tic in charge
sr Major Quincy, ORDER Of arrest deputy and Deputy
Sheriff Macgonigal Mr. Charles Devln, one of Twceds
pondsmen; William NJ Tweed, Jr., and William Edcl.
ITEM also accompanied the prisoner The three mem.
sers Of tho Aidermanic committee, Messrs Lewis,
ncvin and Co~ing. were also present ABOUT Gny
occupied IN back part of the
Iehalt Of the committee, opening The drama with
urthcr questions as to tho O'Brien assignments.
Tweed gave testimony with his usual nippancy and
npidny of utterance, ncvor pauslng instant for
ant Of a word.
THE Ex-sHEEiFF's ASSIGNMENTS.
The wtucss opened his revelations yesterday by pro.
Iucing the alleged ass9nmcuts of cxSherin O'Bricn
him (Twecl) OF halt that claim. II will be recol.
ectcd that Tweed at the last days invest gation
hat he paid $l50,O00 for this part Of tho
LaIm, giving check for $20.O0O madc payable In
blank, and the balance in mortgages ho also swors
that the whole matter negotiated by Senator Fran
ns NJ. Bxby The paper yesterday produced and
banded around among the members OF tho COM
mittce and thcn gwen back to tho witness Mr. Joel
D. Stevens, formerly Under Sheriff. attcsted the valid
hy OF O'Dricn's signature, as also did Patrick Ma.
yurc, Al present clerk in the Board OF Aldermen
The story OF now the negotiations came about was
then rctod by Twccd.
THE FAMOUS CHARTER.
vhe next chapter Of sensations opened up in tho
progress Of the examination related to the passage Of
tho celebrated charter OF 1870 This was the "big
BONANZA" where Il is claimed monoy freely used
to bu5 up leading members of tho Senate and Assembly
during shat memorable session. Tweed won't
into somewhat lengthy history OF the
political situation at the time when this
charter was introduced. In nonchalant,
careless manner he the particular reasons
which induced himself and colleagues to draw up tho
sharcr that thoy might rule the city OF New York
with iron hand and do as they pleased with its
treasury. The most important part of the testimony
was next reached, which Tweed gave freely the
names OF the Senators whom he bought in 1870. Tho
gentlemen receiving $4,000 each according 10 this
testimony, were Senators William B. woodin,
Norris winslow, I. L.. Mnicr, George Bowen
and James Wood. Senators W. II. Brand
and A. A. Harpcnding received $1,000
each. whe Senator W. A. Graham frequently oc.
cup'cd the position OF debtor 10 Tweed Sixty places
we're given to Senator S. II. Frost ranging In re.
muncra,ion from 50 to S. per day, while Senator
CauldweI given position worth $4,000 per
for his partner, Mr. II. P. Whitney. Senator FL
wood was also described as a debtor OF Twccd's in
various amounts. These were tho only names that
tweed mentioned having been directly purchased IN
lhc State Senate.
WORKING THE ASSEMBLY.
The distinguished witness not able to pronounce
thc namc OF single member of Assembly who had
been purchased. That work, nc said, hal been in
trusted to A. d. Barber. who as Tweed remarked,
represented before an investigating committee that
hts (arbcrs) business at tho State capital sisted
simply in walking up and down tho hi!i and talking to
members OF the Legislature. The king OF tho albany
lobby II appears received from Tweed $500 900
be applied TO the purchase o legislators. Tue MEM
bcrs OF the lower house looked Barber for their
ward, and thus II Is that Tweed nc claims, Is
nblo 10 iurn,sn the names OF The Assemblymcn who
sold their votes tO tho highest biddor
ExAMINATON.
All being In rcadihoss Mr.. Cole commenced the OK
ANIMATION OF MIR. tweed as iOllows:-Q Mr.. rweed at
the close or nearly the close Of the at tho
the assignment ot Orcns claims against tho county
which you say he made toyouf A. must ask tho
committee that be allowed to look 1T the minutes OF
proceedings OF the meeting prior to this, the
Mr. Colc-I am sorry to say that wa arc not able to
comply with your request as the stenog rapher has
yet got them completed
Mr.. Twccd--t want To compare tho reports OF tho
iifcront papers with the Official scnogrnphcr's min
ntcs, as noticed considerable discrepancies In tho
newspaper reports and want TO see II the stcnographer
is not laboring under any o: those errors.
The Charman-fncy will be handed TO you for your
Inspection hereafter.
Mr. Twoed-lr the committee will furnish me with
them will look them over with 4 great deal OF
pcasurc
Q Have you now with you the assignment of
O'Bricn's cIamf A. have sir, with some cxplana
tions that made at our last meetng-that tho assign
mont was made out IN blank and aItcrward ne1 up
with tho namc OF Mr.. Dewey; in connection with that
have also tho assignment OF Mr. Dewey rs madc TO
Mr. Townscnd---I viii say that Mr. Tweed is ready at
any tImc to mako the assignments over TO the city.
THAT -YLL-rALE ASSIGNMENT
The written assignment OF Mr. OBrien was handed
up 10 tho chairman and read aloud by the clerk
Know all men " those presents that Jane. oBT,sn
alton oi the OF 81, TO In hard paid BY s. Foster
Dewey the part the receipt WHEREOF is hereby
sold assigned transferred aud set
the part less than OF
and demands debts and sums oil money cue
aud owing to me by the city and county OF New
York, II being understood and agreed that
the amount hereby assigned Is not less than
HIJOuDU oi said claim against said city anu county
have and hold the unto the said party o the
Beccnd his with iui authority 70 tho
party o the part take xii lawful ways and means
ior the of the hereby assigned W him. and
in o payment of the amount assigned by discharg
ing ,hc fully might could do fthc.e presents
= not made
Witness hand this goth day OF October 1871
JAMES O'BRlEN.
In presence Of Jos A. Monheiincr this paper In
dorscd flames OBren 10 ). Foster Dewey, assign
mcnt"
Mr.. Twced--In connection with that, If the commit.
will aitow 0e 10 state have been informed by ono
the present that tho decd nd assignment Of
she mortgage were handel 10 Mr.. Bixby In the
presence OF William A. King. Mr.. Monhcincr, Foster
Dswcy aud others can testify TO be gcnu,pcncss OF the
signature to the transaction, and think am In the
Esy at uudtug wacrn .5c half was assigned TO-
md If am Ir oricd the committee vii I've pus ~ .os-
session oi u.
pywEy's REAssGSM.Nr r0 TWEED.
Dir. Cole here read the sssisnincnt oi Foster Dewey