The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-21
TWEED'S TROUBLES.
Contradiction of the Rumor That He
Is Soon To Be Released.
Review OF the Case As It Stands, md
the Law Governing II
New York SUM-

At regular intervals since William NJ.
Tweed was brought to this city from Spain
rumors have prevailed that he was TO be re-
leased from custody. Most of these reports
were indefinite. and bore upon their face in
dications of want of foundation. About
10 days ago a rumor became current that
the ex-boss was to be released on the
5th of March. Spme Seventh warders
who for years followed the leader
ship of the ex-Tammany chief were willing
to bet that the ''thing had been fixed, and
that he would be at liberty on the day of
the Inauguration of Mr.. Hayes. On the 5th
of March the gentlemen WHO were spread
ing the rumor evinced no surprise at the
failure of the realization of their hopes.
They insisted that some trouble about the
papers had caused the delay. They were
confident however, that Mr. Tweed was TO
be released, and every day since then have
been saying. with an air OF wisdom, at is TO
be done to morrow"
Inquiry of the persons who have circu-
lated this rumor showed that it was believed
that Mr. Tweed's release WAS to be affected
under the act commonly called the -Four
teen Day act" This set provides that any
person imprisoned on an execution in
civil suit, the judgment in which exceeds
$500, may at any time after three months of
court from which the execution was
issued, or county court lin this
city the court of common pleas),
for his discharge. The petition must get
forth the cause of the imprisonment, and TO
it there must be attached a true account of
all his real and personal property as they
were at the time of the intarcerationfand at
the time the petition was prepared. Four
teen days prior to the presentation of the
petition notice of the time and place at
which il is to be presented must be served on
the creditors at whose suit he is imprisoned.
When the petitioa is presented the appli-
cant must make an affidavit that be has not
OF any part OF his proper
ty for the benefit of himself or of his family
or with the intent to injure or defraud any
of his creditors. On the receipt of the Pc
tition the court orders the petitioner to be
brought before il. II satisfied. after an ex-
animation that the applicants petition and
account are correct and true, the court will
order an assignment TO be made OF 3 suffi-
cient amount of the petitioners property to
discharge the executions on which he was
imprisoned. The assignment having been
made, and the property having been deliv-
cred TO the assignees appointed by the court,
the prisoner is discharged
A lawyer, who is cogaizant OF the present
condition of the suits against the members
OF the old ring, said: The execution in
the Sc. 900 900 suit is not the only process
under which Mr.. Tweed is confined. There
Is an or,ier of arrest in the 81 ,0OO, 900 suit,
on which he could be held should be be dis
charged froni further prosecution in the
So 600, 900 suit through the II day act He
might possibly settle the 81 900 900 suit, or
give the bail required in the order of arrest.
and thus get olt of Jail. He would, however,
still he liable To be tried o. the criminal in
dictments that were found against him.
In some of these cases he has not given bail.
and he might, therefore, be arrested and
locked up in the Tombs. Another possible
barrier To Mr. Twesd's securing his release
under this law iS that section of IL which
requires that he shall account for all the
property that he had when he xas impris-
oned and when his petition is presented, and
shall MAKE an a6dsvit that he has Hot
disposed Of any of his property for his own
or his fanily's bene6f, or 70 iDjare or de
fraud any Of his creditors. Nov. Mr..
Tweed mag have conveyed property TO
Others since the suit for SO, 600 100 was
begun. He might be able 20 prove that
none OF il Was disposed of for his or his
famiiy's benefit or to injure his creditors.
But failure to make that clear 70 the
court, or to prove, after his assiRnres bad
been appointed, that he had transferred all
his property TO them. would defeat his DIS
charge. I believe continued the grhtie-
man, 'that Mr.. Tweed's counsel is confident
that ne will be able to secure his clients re-
lease. How he expects 10 achieve that result
is best known 20 himself. have h. ard that
Mr.. Tweed might perhaps be- induced tn ties
tify for the prosecution in some of the ring
suits not yet tried. have been led to
believe that Mr.. O'Conor and Mr.. Peckham
are now more DESTROYS of pushing
tbs cases against Peter =. SgseRy and