New-York tribune., 1877-09-17
TWEED'S SHAMEFUL STORY.
A CHAPTER ON THE PURCHASE OF LEG
ISLATORS

A CHAPTER ON THE PURCHASE OF Leg
ISLATORS.
TwEED's EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LDRRHKSs
coMMrrrEE-MoRE ABOUT o'BRTES AND HIS
CLAIM-HOw THE CHARrER OF 1870 WAS PASSED
$4,000 THE PRICE or NEw-YoRK SENATOR
WILLIAM b. woODIN NORRIS wlNsLow'
THEODORE l.. MINER, GEORGE BOWEN AND
JAMES WOOD ALLEGED TO HAVE RECEIVED
$4,000 EACH.
Tweed's testimony on Saturday was far more IN
teTesting and important than any which he had
previously given, but in spite of the expectation
of startling disclosures. the audience was not so
large at the preceding session. James OBrlen, IL
said. was just outside the room, but his features
were not discovered among the generally unfamiliar
faces of the spectators. Tweed came little later
than usual. accompanied by his son, William
NJ Tweed. jr., his bondsman, Charles Deylin,
and one of his former counsel, Mr.. Edestein.
Mr. Townsend, his present counsel, preceded
hm by fifteen minutes. Tweed remarked to
him. on taking the comfortable leather armchair
that had been placed for him. that that trip up the
stairs had been too much for him., and his labored
breathing supported the assertion. All through the
examination Tweed appeared eager to talk. He
seemed almost bursting with facts and figures, and
a pertinent question opened hoOd-gate OF vou-
bty The case of James OBrien was first taken
up, and rapidly disposed of.
Tweed's statements and documents concerning
OBren attracted the eager attention OF his hearers,
but the interest aroused by these disclosures was
not TO be compared with the excitement created
when Tweed turned to the fertile ground covered
by the famous charter OF 1870. 81 would like you."
said Mr. Cole, to state the origin of that charter
who prepared it, and by what means it was passed."
1T is long history" said Tweed. "Condense It,"
said Mr. Cole, and Tweed. leaning little further
back and pushing his feet to the front for comfort
went on to tell how Mayor Hall. Peter B. Sweeny,
Cornelius Corson. Alexander Frear, Mr.. Hitch
man, and most of the prominent members OF
Tammany had finger in the great pie, adding mod
erately that he himself " had little to do with IT,
When Mr. Cole asked, " Do you know personally OF
any member Of the Senate having been paid for his
vote in that regard9" Mr. Tweed replied Il do"
The excitement of the audience had been wrought
up to the highest pitch. They were kept in suspense
for n short time Mr. Cole turned for moment
TO the subject of the Board of Supervisors, but the
Guestoner soon reverted to the theme of bribery at
Albany. and Tweed was soon under full headway
with his narrative rushing through it with tremen-
dous rapdity The matter was exciting even to the
shorthand writer's, who since the sermons ofMoody,
have found no quicker speaker to contend with
Tweed's manner was cool and self-possessed, and
when he astounded those who heard him by saying
that he had paid A. ID. b lgber, for the purpose OF
bribing members of the Legislature, S6O0,OOO, he
was "a calm and collected if he were merely men
tsoning some trihing business transaction to when
no talnt of wrong attached. He declared that he
himself had bought Senators William b. Noodin'
Norris Winsow, Theodore l.. Miner, George Bowen
aud James Wood for $4,000 each, paying them
through Senator Norris Winsow, to whom ne
gave S2OOO00 for that purpose In answer
to the questions put to him. Tweed reconnted at con-
siderable length his alleged conversations with
Mfr. Woodin. lie said thar he knew Mr. Woodin re-
ceiyed the money from Winslow. because he alter
ward asked Mr. Woodln if their :" matters were sat-
isfactory" aud Mr. Woodin replied, "all right" The
description of Tweed's first interview with Senator
Woodin. and the way che talked around him, trying
70 get a proposition from him." was given in TweedS
most forcible and entertaining style.
Tweed said that his ADVISER was Hugh Hastings >
to whom. he said he paid $4,000 for his services
He declared that Senator Frost, Of the First Disrct,
Michael Norton, Thomas J. Creamer ana villa Il VI;
Graham Ito whom, he said, he WAS giving money an
the time as be was always in TROUBLED, were al III,
duced to give their support by rewards OF one klhd
or another,