The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-18

That Tweed has, with the assistance of
Mr. Townsend, his counsel, preparedSa
writing of considerable length in the nature
of confession and that this document was
day before yesterday taken to Albany and
submitted to Attorney General Fairchild for
his examination, are facts of which there is
authentic evidence, and this much was
printed in all the city journals yesterday
morning. One journal also printed what
purported to be synopsis of tho con-
fession, which created quite a sensation by
it's mention of names and recapitulation of
specific charges against individuals impi-
Gated by Tweed as accomplices. Whether
the confession has been read by the person
who prepared the sketch of its contents or
whether he gave as facts what are merely his
own conjectures are questions on which the
public can form no judgment on first read
ing the synopsis, because the public was in
possession of no evidence. 1t seemed i'm
probable that either Mr.. Townsend or the
Attorney General would submit the docu-
ment to the inspection of a newspaper
reporter at this stage Of the transaction, or
that if either of them disclosed that part of
its contents which affects the reputation Of
individuals they would show favoritism to
the reporter of o particular journal. 1t
seemed more likely that some enterprising,
inventive Bohemian had grated on the
ascertained fact of written confession his
own guesses MS to it's contents ; and it is
possible that he had some advantages for
guessing shrewdly in particular instances.
But this is too slender basis for
assailing the regulations of citizens. Not
withstanding many probabilities against
the accuracy of the synopsis the interest it
excited made it our duty to investigate it,
and the result of our inquiries is that it was
deliberate imposition on public credulity,
fabricated out of scraps Of gossip which
have been floating about in certain circles
for several weeks, and some of them for
many months. The concocter of the sy-
nopsis had no knowledge of the contents of
the confession derived either from actual
perusal or from authentic communication
by any person qualified to speak.
Among the men interviewed are a large
number of the accused, and their denials
would be taken with some abatement if the
charges against them were really known to
be made in the confession, although Tweeds
unsupported statements should have no
great weight as evidence. But some of the
most important contradictions are not made
by interested parties. The libellous charge
against Judge Folger is set at rest by Attor-
ney General Fairchild, who states that the
confession contains nothing of the kind.
The charge against Mr.. Prince is refuted by
Tweed himself, who knows better than any,
body else what he has actually written.
Now these denials, coming from such
sources, prove conclusively that the pre-
tended synopsis is mere guesswork and
invention. 1t asserts that things are con-
tanned in the confession which we know by
authentic evidence are not there. We also
know by the statements of Mr.. Townsend
and the Attorney General that they have
been scrupulously careful not to divulge
the contents of the document. 1t is need
less to comment on the depravity of spread
ing such charges and cruelty eliminating
individuals without any other foundation
than mere conjectures respecting the con-
tents Of paper of which the authors of the
fabrication had no real knowledge.