The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-21

knows If they only let him 60.
New YORK, June 20.
John d. Townsend has written an open
letter to Attorney General Fsirchild re-
garding the negotiations for Tweed's re-
lease. He freely critcses Fairchild's con-
duct in the premises, relates various steps
taken preparatory to Tweeds statement
being placed in the hands of the attorney
general, and alludes to the results attained
in the cases of other members Of the ring.
He thus describes the commencent of me-
gotiations On the 23d of February you
and Mr.. Peckham in my company, called
in the evening to see Tweed at Ludlow
street Jail. The object Of this visit was
that you might give Tweed to understand
that nothing short of a complete confes-
sion of his crimes and accomplices would
be accepted by you. In contrast with
your subsequent actions that interview
stands out most creditably to you. Mr..
Tweed, l remember, endeavored to induce
you to give him an idea on what sub
jects you desired special informa.
tion. Nearly six years had elapsed
since he had been associated with ring mat
ters and his memory of some things con-
nected with them had become somewhat
indistinct. You declined to suggest any
special matter and said that you desired
that he should consult with me and have
me make propositions to you, thus intima-
ting that in your position as prosecutor you
did not think it proper to hold direct CON-
munication with him. In accordance with
this understanding l prepared brief state
ment in letter form on the 26.h of Febru-
ary and addressed it to you. 1t contained
the names of members of the legislature
with whom Tweed had corrupt dealings,
and the names of others who had benefited
by ring practices and was intended only as
summary of what he could do and to
show his good faith. This letter addressed
to you l handed to Mr. Peckham who said
he was going to Albany the next day, on
the 27th or 2Sth of February, and was
not little astonished to learn from you on
the 5.h of March that you had not up to
that time received it. From about this
time believe never heard from nor saw
anything Of you till about the 4th Of April.
You with your friend Carolyn O'Bryan Bry-
ant seemed to work matters to suit yourself.
Your confidence in him induced Tweed
to believe that he was your mouthpiece,
and / was In consequence to great extent
ignored, 30 much 80 that l seriously
considered the propriety Of Withdrawing
from all connection with the matter. The
only information could receive as to how
matters stood was through Bryant, and I
was informed by him that you did not de-
sire Peckham to have any further to do in
the matter. Bryant, from my earliest con-
necton with Tweed's affairs, had mora or
less interested himself in them by pretend
ing to convey information to Tweed from
Mr.. O'Conor, who in fact had had no con-
nection, as he afterwards stated to me,
with the ring cases since December 18th.
He gained to a considerable degree my
confidence and the absolute confidence of
Tweed. As early as February received a
letter from him, of which the following is
copy.
FEBRUARY 21sT.
MY DEAR TOWNSEND II presume you
able hearing with the attorney general. ]
oapd NON tho apnlnaa1 lettaYo I 4tll moi
be in town tomorrow. Mr.. O'C. having
read them desired me to have them placed
in Peckham's hands with suggestion that
"the iron was now hot and 1t was time to
stiike." i shall see you tomorrow evening,
and send you letter, in case you should
meet Peckham tomorrow and should have
the exact opportunity to use them with
him and the attorney general.
Yours truly,
@. o. b. BRYANT.
Tweed has since informed me, while
was impressing upon him the absolute ne
cessity of making clean breast of his mis-.
deeds IN conformity with the tenor and
spirit of his letter to OConor, and what
then believed to be your wishes, that Bry
ant was advising him that it was not youl
desire that he should do 30, and that my
persistence was only the result of Johr
Kelly's wish to make political capital out Of
it. This. Tweed informs me, was thu
cause of his temporary estrargement from
me. This will explain the cause why
Tweed's full statement was not submitted
until the 17th Of April. Tweed knew tina
he must conform TO your wishes Il
he expected to be liberated. Under hi
proposition he felt that was an unimpor
tant feature in his case, and be was impress
ed for long time that Bryant really repre-
sented you, and during March he hat
abundant reasons for thinking so, and O.
being confirmed In such belief. For rea
sons which 1 never knew, my interview
with Peckham were suspended, and whel
at tie Buckingham hotel one morning
prior to the 18th Of April, asked you, II
order To make myself certain on the point
whether II II was your desire that / shoul,
not consult with Peckham. you said 20,
wished me to bring all information to yo
personally. The following letter fron
Bryant is the first letter l received sine
his association with you.
NEW YoRK, March IL.
MY DEAR TOWNSEND have just 20
In on the night train, having left Albany a
one o'clock. A deferred appointment wit
Fairchild was made for seven o'clock las
evening at bis Office with closed doors.