New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-06
THE SEARCH FOR TWEED.

EX-sHERIFF CONNER's ACCOUNT OF THE MANNER IN
WHICH THE WORK WAS CARRIED on.
Ex-Sheriff Conner, in conversation with
TRIBUNE reporter yesterday gave some Interesting nior
nation concerning Tweeds escape and the efforts maze
to discover his hiding From the night OF the es
cape until positive information was received OF IWoeas
recapture Mr.. Conner victim OF almost constant
suspense and anxiety Consequently the efforts that he
made recapure the fugitive were the greatesth ms
power In speaking Of this work the exsherin statea
yesterday that he spent $4,000 III following CLOVIS
received various parts OF this country ana ABROAD
He would suffer such and anxiety again or
three times the amount OF money expended The warden
m charge OF Ludlow Street Jail Mr. Dunham had Deen
playmate OF Tweed, and the two had maintained very
intimate relations up to the time OF the escape great
pressure brought the Sheriff to permit
get more fresh air. II was said that he was losing his
fesh and his health suffering from his close CONNIE
ment It was urged Tweed had no desire to leave
the city, and that he should be allowed the greatest
there would not be the least reason for fear that
he would attempt flight His great bulk and the fact
that his face and form were well known everywhere
would make escape almost impossible. some time pre-
yious to Tweed's flight II had been made public that
Durham and Hogan had permitted Tweed to stop at a
public house the Boulevard where the party had some
refreshments When the Sheriff heard OF this he was
very angry and told Durham that Tweed should never
be taken out again wne he remained in his custody
He was finally prevailed upon to change his mlhd Dut
cautioned Durham repeatedly not TO permit the prisoner
to quit carriage again for the purpose OF gong INTO
his own or any other house. Durham promised that
Tweed should go OF his sight upon any consdera-
op saving that under this restriction mis- escape woQd
he impossle After the prisoner had fed Durham con-
essed that had always permitted Tweed to Gail at his
house when he taken out for an airing
Not only were all the i'll the Shers Office engaged
in the Tweed bnt the resources OF Pnkertons
Detective Agency and the Police Department OF ths CITY
we're largely drawn upon to recapture the fugitive III
was deemed be essential point to discover II any OF
Twecds friends had Joined in his flight aided him In
the prosecution of his plans Over 100 persons VINO ha
been known to have had business or friendly reauons
with Tweed we're carefully watched for long tlme'
After many months OF patient investigation the detec
tives came 70 the conclusion that though some OF MS
most intimate friends and nearest relatives might nave
known that he about to fly not even Foster Dewey
his secretary nor his nearest rcla'es hau peo
acquainted with his plans.
The deputy sheris organized themselves into parties
after the escape, and, taking dlnereht pars vi W
city and suburbs searched every place that might posi-
by have afforded shelter for Tweed. One OF these par
ties spent three weeks exploring every nook ana
corner in that very portion OF NewJersey where 1t was
asserted in the narrative printed in Haers weekly that
Tweed was concealed for three months after leaving TINS
city, but they made discovery Of his hidlng-pace.
The detectives regarded the story told ny te iad IN
Brooklyn as probably true ana many Deeae" a"' TUE
story that carriage had been driven from tne iey
to the foot of Joraenon Bf09kyn ua,pr MAN Which,
then steamed rapidly away down the harbor p,G,'pf
of Tweed shown to the lad who recognized IL ao
once as that of the whom he had seen To leave me
carriage. Detectives searched III all directions Ior 'ns
carriage, bat ii could not be found ,,, ro,
very large number Of circulars. describing tweed
with great particularly and over iooOo p"'9 III
ward stimulated the general vigilance. and over % let
from different orons OF thu country anu h tn be
ciew to the ugltivcs retreat. Many OF these CLOVIS
had to =, be P %dTi. One ece of point
ed to Greenwich Conn, where was reported thal
was hiding on farm MANAGED ~ a man Rns cbe Tne
writer of another letter said that lie naI seen n, M
in te momntainous region near Chambersburg, Penn
That spot of Pennsylvania was thCr9Tgny seag he
sern NJ White SULPHUR Springs Va but this proved TO
have been Of another name whose FEATURES sohe
letter was received from Montreal. Canada stating
that Tweed had just passed through that cry, anu was
ON his way to Gaspe Bay. This clew seemed SO import
ami thai steps were Immediately taken to follow IT,
letter containing photograph was sent 10 GasRe, a h
original OF the picture detained there and was UNI
dobtedy Tweed detectye was sent IRON rnt Is Win
the fugitive in custody 1t was then thought that Tweed
had selected the Island OF Anc0sti as ms place Vi rel
ure The trp from Montreal 10 Gaspe Bay was severe,
and when the detective was confronted WIN the sup
posed fugitive from Justice e ,s ne %s G hm in remark
able degree on his return ir"m GaspG , ne rvaded
hr To- try short cut through back road or by path
tarrhIe snowstorm came up and the occupants OF the
eeigh were obliged to take turns tramping DOWN ne
in front OF the horses several ties t nVr 49,
were almost buried in the drifts, aud tne men "ete
obliged 10 dig them in she best way lney couu NJ
Icuptb when almost exhausted, they reached uWels
correspondent In Belgium gave inloriDation tla'
Tweed had reached that country but was III strc sec
sion Agents were employ and this clew was followed
but proved TO be OF no value. - A.. a,
FySherif Conner stated that when ne was mrst IN
formed that Tweed had escaped he refused TO DeieVe IT,
and thought that somebody was trying to play PLafb5 e
cal !, Ike iuOn him. But he was soon convinced Oh lo
reay OF the report. The Importance OF tne matter,
however not fully realized until the mex. ay, VIII
the prosrects of capturing the fugitive grew fainter ana
fa,nter PinkertOn's Detective Agency was ihrusteu
with the duty OF watching all tie vessels .aVng ,ns
CITY or harbor. Dunhams prevarlcatlon causSu many ",
suspect that had acted in COLLISION win IWec pus
MIR Conner said that he was convinced that nc hau M
pnived no money for what he had done, anu ulu
NOT know where Tweed had gone or now De %eht
away. He gave the alarm OF the escaT Insnectnr
Dilks who was in command at the fohce ,chtla,
Office nj once ordered general alarm 10 nc sent ou anu
Avenue OF escape a % eG him the
roach az his pursuers before these Efforts were made e
steam Yacht Thyra, which had recently been renteu n
South Norwalk, Conn, was jealousy wacneu pa, o aT
animation that Tweed had not been on BOARD nc sur
mise that he had escaped by the LORD Carebdoh was
proved to be Incorrect Measures were taken 70 nave
that vessel searched her ARRIVAL In EUROPE out no
signs OF the fugitive we're FOUND. - .o.,.o,
From statements some idea can De IoIeu
NJ the amount labor and the weight OF care tht were
for Tweed All this trouble he claims was the result
of the disobedcDce by Durham OF his most Iosiuto u
explicit orders. Some Of the detectives stated
that they doubted the story published III HUp mi
admitted that IL might have been true; Dhos 10 70 a.
pected with the robbery OF the Barre IahA uu' s,b
tectiyes claimed that he had nothing wnatev 70 ~ ra
the robbery of the bank at Northampton MASS as To-