The New York herald., 1877-07-09
THE BOLD BOSS.
4 New View Of His
Character.
STATEMENT BY AN EX-COUNSEL.
Tweed Not a Good Naturcd. Jolly, Generous
Fellow, But Mean, Selfish and
Tricky Man.
STATEMENT BY AN EX-C0UNSEL.
From Six to Twelve Millions Still
Controlled by Him.

A representative OF the HERALD met in q Broadway
stage recently prominent lawyer OF this city, well
known the country OF the earliest and most
efficient counsel OF William NJ. Tweed-a lawyer whose
is popularity identified with the defence in the
Tweed suits. This gentleman was at hrst averse to
entering into any conversation whatever having any
reference to william N. Tweed, but in the course OF q
few minutes he was prevailed upon to speak freely.
Tho lawyer in question has OF his to grind.
He has dollars interest at present either In the
Imprisonment Of Mr. Tweed, but he ieels
that Mr.. Tweeds character has been popularly msun
derstood and he feels his personal expe
ricnce and knowledge OF William NJ. Tweed would II
gwen TO the world, serve 10 materially modify
this popular mismpression. He has, therefore,
availed himself OF the opportunity afforded him by
his accidental meeting with the HERALD representa-
tive TO unburden his mind and to give the public the
benefit of his own professional experience with and
personal knowledge Of that strange man who, now In
Ludlow Street JAIL still the attention of large
portion OF the world "Tweed," said his ex counsel,
chad always enjoyed a popularity IN print which he
possessed point OF tact. Strange as It may
sound, the truth is that
TWEED NEVER BEEN POPULAR
on his own merits When he was poor, before he
entered public lie, he had any warm personal
adherents. All this .magnetism' they talk SO much
about was given to him by the newspapers after he
had acquired the habit OF spending the public
money. That he never had a personal following,
independent Of bis money is proved by the fact that
when, unaided, he for Sheriff in the carly part OF
his career, he did not command over 5000 votes in
the whole city OF New York. Nor was Tweed ever
popular with his own associates in his days OF power.
Swceny despsed him for his coarseness. Connolly
regarded him as hypocrite; as man who adopted
the blum King Harry Will style OF doing things
ma n acloa IN hide owl hrew
and his intense selHshpcss He really
a genial approachable man-always pompous and
inclined to browoeat those whom he could not
mand
"He visited socially did any Of his family
visit socially any of the families of his confrre but
he enoeavored always persistently to snub anybody
who would stand snubbng.
WAS NEVER LIBERAL IN THE EXPENDITURES OF
HIS own MoNkY.
che would spend the peoples money freely, but he
never would spend any money OF his own. This fact
accounts for the other fact which shall show pres
emily, that his public has been closed he
has practsed the utmost economy, not to say mean
ness in all his expenditures for himself for his
ience
''Even when Tweed gave tho boys q chance at the
public crib" continued the ex-counsel, che always
contrived 10 get tho money back again into his own
pocket-in various ways Among other schemes look
ing to this end the leasing BY the Boss OF the
Metropolitan Hotel Tor his son Dick. This hotel
not only furnished really at the public expense, but
its vault filed with tho finest liquors which
could be purchased with the view OF making this the
headquarters at which all the New York politicians
should buy their wine.
..And OF all the common mistakes in regard to Mr..
Tweed" said the counsel, 'the most common and
the most talse the that no the patron OF
democrats, the product, as II were, Of democracy.
On The contrary from the frst Tweed tho TOOL the
agent, the friend Of republicans. He was made by the
republican party. He never affiliated with the genuine
leaders OF the democracy. Out of 240 Dames which
have in my possession, who madc by Tweed
the major portion OF which reputable still
in the community, many of whom not popularity
supposed have anything at all TO do with politics
at least 200 belong to the republican party
81 to know, " said the lawyer earnestly
sthat this very moment II Is the democratic party
that trying get to the bottom OF these Ring frauds;
It the democrats who trying to induce Tweed to
confess while it tho republican party, as repre-
scnted by It's leaders in New York, who doing all
they to hush up all Ring matters There Is hardly
a republican OF standing in the city who would not be
compromised If Tweed were really to give what the
republicans profess to clamor for full confession.
'At this date the only people whom Mr.. Tweed re-
ceves republicans; the only parties with whom
he Is In correspondence republicans. Mr.. Tweed
Is really at this in the hands and under the
manpulstion OF the republican party
sAnother tremendous mistake about Tweed, said
tho cx-counse as that he Is a truthful manthat his
veracity equals his voracity. Nothing Of the sort
Tweed is
NOTORIOUS LIAR"
This was said, and then reiterated with emphasis,
"None of his associates believed him his bare
wit miacd
comparatively little, but once having made promise
kept It; but Tweed would promise and break his word,
always putting the blame Of the broken pledge upon
circumstances or somebody else. On two or more
casions be broke faith on important matters with
Sweeny. while he has repeatedly violated his word to
his intimate acquantanccs or his underlings This
talk about the Boss word all bosh. He was con-
stantly
PUTTING UP jobs
on those who relied upon him, whenever was at all
to his interest to 90 So John Morrssey could testify
If he felt SO disposed" "
AT this mention OF the celebrated politician Morris
sey) fresh interest Infused the conversation
or rather the monoogue, and the HERALD representa-
tive at once asked 10 favored more definite do
tails as to
WHAT MoRRIssEY TWEED.
''weil at time, during the height OF his power
Tweed got angry at John Morrssey Tor not doing plc-
lily his bidding, and so arranged II with the police
that Morfissey's little game Broadway was broken
up and Morrssey himself privately arrested and ar
raigncd before the late Police Justice Dowling who
put Morrissey unoer bonds. Meanwhile Tweed pro-
fessed utterly ignorant of the whole matter and
promised Morrissey arrange things to tho latcrs
satisfaction, which he did not do for six months or
more, when, finding John Morrisscy as ncorrieibe
as ever and nding too, that incorrigblo as he was
IN do thnut In
ban and allowed Morrissey to resume his game. This
on will gvc idea OF Tweeds real character
ana Will show how he tried buldoze and cajoIe the
men Of his own party"
Approaching the subject of hts personal and pro-
fessional relations to Mr.. Tweed his excounscl said
emphatcaiy that Mr.. Tweeds conduct toward him
had been that OF
A MEAN MAN AND A MIGRATE
.'0ur accounts now closed forever am not be-