The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-21
Tweed's Confession.


The story Of Tweed guilt aud the names OF
those who shared In it, were ali given TO tne
public in the New York World OF iuesuaS'
The revelation was made 20 Mt. Johh -
Townsend. Tweed's counsel, who spread II
Retire tbe ATTORNEY General Of the State, in
Turtberanee Of the application Of Tweed Tor
release ON promise Of restitution and expos
nre of all the facts in the case touching ms
acoomplicos in crime against whom salts are
nending. Tweeds statement is lengthy ana
exhaustive document, purporting TO give a
complete history Of the ring from It's very M
eeption, following it through its successive
steps until the municipal government Of New
York was under its absolute control, deiall'
ing It's operations through the State Legisla,
ture by which the corrupt charters oi ~ ana
II we're passed, and producing the checks
and memoranda as proofs OF the complicl'y
of various persons, heretofore suspected oi
sueh completely or otherwise, in its various
transactions. It goes back as far as 1867,
when the ring first began to assume form. II
gives in detail the story of the various confer
ences between the writer, Peter Il. Sweeny,
Richard Connolly, Henry Genet, Oakley Hall,
and others, by which Tweed was elected to
the State Senate. Connolly Controller in 1867,
and Hall Mayor January LIST, 1863.
IL was necessary to obtain for the city char.
ter of 1870 the support Of several influential
Republican members Of the Legislature, and
Tweed approached Mr.. WoOdin, of Auburn,
through State Senator Winslow, with various
propositions looking TO his support, and after
several interviews with Winslow, transferred
to. him in person the sum of S2OO,O0j, with
the understanding that it was 10 be used IA
securing the passage of the charter. IL was
his understanding with Winslow at the time
that the money was 10 be divided between
Woodiu, Frost Elwood, Brand, Winslow,
Wood, Blood and Morgan, all members Of
the State Senate. This money. IN various
amounts, he has assurances, was afterwards
paid TO the parties named. The confession
then proceeded to give in exhaustive detail
the circumstances of the division of spoils be.
tween Tweed, Sweeny, Hall, Connolly and
Woodward, through whom tho division was
made. IL duplicates Carey, lngersoll, Da'
wilson, Watson aud a majority of the mem
bers Of the board Of supervisors, among them
John Fox james Hayes, Henry Smith and
Isaac j. Oliver. Mayor Halls proportion
was ten per cent. He shared throughout in
all the profits, and was in full collision with
the various details Of fraud.
Among the various persons 10 whom he
paid money for their influence in the legisla.
iure was Mr.. Hugh Hastings, editor OF the
Commercial 4iuertiSsr. He gave to Mr.. Has.
tings a check for $50, 600 dated three or four
days after the passage Of the charter of 1870,
with the understanding that the money was
also to go to Senator Woodiu. Mr.. Tweed
says that he afterwards gave to Mr.. Hastings,
at various times, checks for smaller amounts
than the above.
An the paiuting md bookrasss in Recorder
Hackett' house were paid for by the city.
Tweed purchased the votes of sufficient
members of the common council to secure
majority and the names of these as well as OF
many others whose Influence was obtained by
similar means, are given, together with the
amounts paid to each.
In July, 1871, Tweed says that Francis NJ.
Bixby and ex'SheriH then State Senator)
James q Brien, came TO him and offered to
secure him against any further investigation
of his bank accounts, his relations with the
city, or, indeed, from any further trouble, if
he would pay $4,000 towards o Bren's
claim against the city for S2gd, 900 for unpaid
fees. The two represented to him that they
had such influence over Mr. Tilden, Judge
Barrett, and VIM. G. Barrett, as TO immedi.
ately quash any further steps ia the pending
investigation. Mr.. Tweed says he paid them
100000 in cash, and mortgages, which they
afterwards collected for the rest, and he un.
derstands that they afterwards secured the
same amolnt from Connolly upon the same
representations.
The confession concludes with the promise
that the writer will be witness for the city Ia
any suit brought by the city for the recovery
of moneys from any Of the persons mentioned.