The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-04-24
TWEED TELLS.
He Sends Full Con fessiOn ID
New YOrk's Attorney
General.

NEW York. April l7.-Wm. NJ
Tweed, from his quarters in Ludlow
Street Jail, sends the Attorney General
proposition reciting that, in return
for the favor of liberty and rest, he
will yield mp all his property and be a
faithful witness on behalf OF the pee
pie.
He says he has suffered much, and
suffered long in silence, and has borne
the burden of what others should have
shared. Afflicted with disease. feeble
from age and confinement, aud IN at
ease in mind, lac seeks for the rest and
relief he 80 much aud so sorely needs.
He adds that the only basis upon
which he has right to apply for len
iency and pardon, is that he will make
complete surrender Of his property,
and full disclosure OF his criminal com.
panions. f.rs.
The proposition is long and ex-
haustiye document. IL assumes the
nature Of confession which goes
back as far as 1867, when the ring first
began TO assume form. IL gives in de-
tail the story OF the various conieren.
ces between the writer, Peter B. Swee-
ny, Richard Connolly, Henry Genee,
A. Oakley Hall, and others, by which
Tweed was elected to the State Senate,
Connolly Comptroller in 1867, and Hall
Mayor, Jan. l. 1870.
Tweed, according 10 the story, trans.
| ferred TO State Senator winslow, in
person, 5000, 900 90 secure for the char
ter Of 1870, which gave To the ring the
control Of the city, the support OF sew
eral influential Republican members OF
the Legislature. 10 was Tweed's un-
derstanding with Winslow ut the time
that the money was to he divided be-
tween Woodin, Samnel III. Frost, An
gust II. Ellwood, Wm. III. Brand, Nor
ris Winslow. James Wood, Isaiah
Blood and George Morgan. all OF the
Senate, and also with Van Pelton. Will
liam Crowley, Merriam and Beaman
for their influence in the Legislature.
The confession gives the circumstan-
ces OF the division OF spoils between
himself aud Swoeny, Hall, Connolly,
and Woodward. 1t duplicates Garyey,
Ingersoll. Dawson. Watson, aud a ma
lority OF the Board of Supervisors.
Mayor Halls proportion was ten per
cent. lie shared throughout in all the
profits, was in full collusion with the
various details OF fraud. and was fully
aware of the fraudulent nature of the
contracts presented for his signature
A document purportIng 10 be the
record OF proceeding of Board OF Aud
Il OF May 3. 1870, by which Mr. Hall
on his trial received his acquittal on
the ground that he acted only in
ministerial character. Tweed says was
manufactured after the exposure.
Hugh Hastings, OF the Commercial
Advertiser, is mentioned as having re-
ceiyed a check for twenty thousand
dollars, and checks for smaller amounts
at various times. Mr.. Hastings is also
credited with the diplomatic achieve
ment Of having brought Jay Gould aud
Tweed together. by which alliance the
Tammany aud Erie rings were operat-
ed TO their mutual advantage.
The confession also, according TO the
World, says that all the paintings aud
bookcases in Recorder Hsckett's house
were paid for by the city.
He gives the names of five persons
who. he promises. IL immunity Is given
them, will swear to the truth of all his
statements.
He has preserved all checks and kept
memoranda OF all his transactions, all
which will be placed at the disposal of
the State.
OF the five persons named four are
T. ID. Barber, an ex-senator, James
Pierce, Alexander Frear. and William
King, Tweed's former Deputy Commis-
sioner Of Public Works
Shortly after publication of the "Se-
cret Accounts" in July II, Tweed says
Francis y. Bixby and ex-Sheriff (then
State SENATOR James O'Bnen came 10
him aud offered to secure him against
any further investigation of his bank
accounts, his relations with the city,
OF. indeed, from any further trouble,
IL lie would pay SlJ0,0OD towards
UBrien's claim against the city for
S296, OJ0.
The two represented To him that
they had snch influence OF Mr.. Tilden,
Judge Barrett and WIN. c. Barrett as
to Immediately quash any further steps
ia the pending investigation. Tweed
says he paid them so, 900 in cash aud
mortgages, which they afterwards col.
lected, for the rest; and he understands
they afterwards secured the same
amount from Connolly upon the same
representations. lie says he does not
consider O'Brien's claim has any real
merits.
Hugh Smith. Sweeny's particular
friend. attended to all the trans actions
with Judge Cardeza, 10y which judicial
action was taken in behalf of the ring
Tweed says the Navarro claim OF
81 ,OOO.O0D against the city. for water
meters. is n fraud.
He mentions Thurlow Weed by
name, but does not connect him with
any equivocal transaction.
He mentions Judge Folger, OF the
Court OF Appeals, aud George II. Pur.
ser, of New York, rs persons TO whom
he paid money.
Tie confession concludes with the
promise that the writer will he wit.
ness for the city in any suit brought
against the city for recovery OF mon
eys from any OF the persons mentioned
He does not ask that the suits against
him be quashed, but that he be releas-
ed from confinement without bail
Tweed's counsel says that since his
trouble most OF those whom he had
looked upon as his friends IN his paimy
days, had held themselyes aloof from
him, while many of them had been
lOudest in their denunciation Of him.
He asks nothing further from them. and
does not pr pose 10 recognize any fur
ther claim upon him for silence.
Mr.. Townsend further says that il
the Attorney General accepts Tweed A.
witness for the people, lao viii aud
him MS faithful 10 the prosecution ~
he la hitherto been 90 his associates
and confsderates in ring frauds.