The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-22
THE WOODlN COMMITTEE
Examination of the "B0ss" at Lud-
low Street Jail.
Il WANT TO GET OUT
The Alleged Confession "A
Fiction.

CATION Of the charges against senator woodin Nss
I'll halipast ten, however. did the four vcnersbs sena
tors mako their appearance, and then stunning the
pArlor apart for their the Fh Avenue
they gathered In small room up aud had con-
ference for half hour with closed doors IAe1 they
proceeded In hacks TO Ludlow Street Ja accompanied
By their stenogrnpher and the Of The
Senate. Reaching tho jail the committee met by
Tweed's counsel, Mr.. John ID. Townsend, who once
ed them through the iron barred outer door. across
the turkeys room and along narrow passage into
small apartment adjoining that oi the Imprisoned
"Boss." somewhat worn Brussels carpet tho
hoor, two lounges. lot al cnars covered with hol-
lands, small looking glass upon the wall plano IN
one corner, small centre table covered with
oilcoth a. asage with u chirping canary suspended
In one Of tho two grated windows that looked
the yard made up the tout ensemble OF the apartment
pair Of gymnastc rings attached oy elastic cords
tho easement Of the door limited OF tho BOSS I"
recreations. The committee aud the reporters CON-
pletely filed tho little ROOM Tho Scrgcant-at-Arms
found his services in little demand, as ono OF the
ailers guarded tho means OF exit In a moment the
committee had seated themselves around the table,
ana were ready for work. They had bu. time TO
glance around the and note tho particu-
lars mentioned when Mr.. Townsend, who had
gone into the inner room, emerged and with
q "Gentlemen Mr.. Tweed" presented tho cx-Tam.
many chief. who followed him. Tho Senators roso
from their seats and bowed politely response to tho
cordial saluiation of Mr.. Tweed. who followed his
counsel into the and took a seat In tho circle
around tho table. Mr. Townsend, calm and confident,
seated himself upon sofa his client, ready 10
prompt him occasion might require, and bowing as
he did so to Mr. ). Thomas sprggs, OF Utica, who
present in the capacity OF counsel for tho accused
Senator Woodin.
now Mr. TWEED LOOKED
Tho Boss was keeny eyed by the gentlemen present,
many Of whom had not seen him for many years He
scemed in excellent health ana would hardly DO
recognized the pale, thin. sca-sick captive who
descended from the deck OF the Franklin five
ago. He was nttired yesterday in q suit OF dark
chcviot aud wore black neck-te. His Taco was iull
and rudy, almost as In tho old days before his
'troubles' began, and hts beard has grown to the
proportions SO familiar through the portraits pub
lished at the time of the Ring exposures Mr.
Tweed seemed TO be little baider than Of
yore and HIS for m is a ttlo less rotund. As he sa
down he pushed up pair OF silver framed spectaclos
across his forehead and glanced around at the TO-
porters present CLEAN OF pleasure or excitement
swept across his features he did probably caused
by their faces recalling tho old times when he man.
aged the affairs OF the county and was tho most con-
epcu0us man in New YORK.
'sr0 WHAT THIS HoxoRn
opened the proceedings by informing Mr. Tweed OF she
circumstances under which the committee had been
appointed Tho BOSS" replied that ne was well IN
formed on the SUBJECT and had read the rcsolu zion
under which the committee acting, as it was
printed upon The subpoena served upon him the
preceding day. He expressed his willingness testify
and seemed tO ENJOY tho AFFAIR a welcome episode in
his dreary and monotonous Senator Carpsn-
administered The usual % tn which Mr. Tweed
took with upiiie hand. In reply the questions OF
Senator Carpenter he then said that he nifty
years od had been State Senator IN 1865, 10. 10
nd wuQ nj nj with Spna I
Wo0din, whom he met In the Senate IN 1870. Ho
stated that he had the article in the World Of the
made by him. Senator Carpenter asked whether Mr..
Tweed mud furnished the whole or any part
would no, answer the question f0p0d an na form ne
but would answer with written statement
which he had prepared and which he thereupon
handed TO tho committee. After some consultation
with the other members senator Carpenter sad that
as Mr. Tweed had consented TO testify he had better
do 50 orally Mr. Tweed replied that he must decline
TO otherwise than by the statement prepared
Mr. Townsend declared the statement TO be gcrnane
to the Questions aud that he must docno to permit
bis client 10 make any other answer. Thercupon Mr..
Tweed read aloud rapidly and In clcar voice the
MR.. rwRED's DENIAL
did not give did authorize any to give the
HcrL the statement which appeared IN its columns Of
TO snow respect for and treat honorable
must decline to respond any questions which refer
10 that article. its assertions ANY part Of .hem
ne and which my name %s not 'a'ni Sssn az az
n1s answer to hand letter wrssn .n ss
the 18th by my counsel John D. Townsend
Mr. aase and which ss ag
IN to % ns
zion 80 your honorable COMMITTEES BY the HONORABLE
APRIL21, 1877.
Mr.. Tweed then read for the committee the letter of
Mr. Townsend referred to-
A LErrRR Mr. TOWNSEND.
NKw YORK. April 10. 1877.
Ny DEAR Mr. srnAcuE-ln reply 70 your telegram asking
examined by the which You are mem.
Ss 81 20 n . in Hs !.
sompulsory process have TO say that have consulted
dine to give any testimony this line before your com.
Hs Y ~ s"s ss, no. sIs s ass.
shch under certain considerations. he willing should
Tor his interests TO in form ANA summit /, 20 The
Attorney General o. this state Tor his and
regard which will best subservc the interests Of the
Bis assurance that would returned and lis con.
undivuged should he decline accedc
clients release from Imprisonment. can conceive OF
possible that this proposition could
Dc mo- soos hs
offenders and the Of money Relieving that
prepared in the might seriously affect the
on by . s . TO
pellet TO decLe 10 ADVISE Mr. iweod to DO witness At
But beyond this and matter especially affecting him
have advised MT rws'd Ito to decline ~
tcnd 20 crimnate him. asserted by wcodin
Mr.. Tweed had testified In 1872 before senate
mittee appointed 10 investigate charges against
senator James wood. In effect, THAT no had
never. directly or Indirectly paid or offered 10 pay
money to any member OF the Legislature secure tho
passage Of any law IL this be have
doLbt the correctness OF senator Woodns invest OF
We subject cel impressed with the proprety VI such
vice AZ this time.
Assuring you that nothing give me greater pleas
ure than 10 client position where he could saeiy
testify on this and kindred matters am. wit great
spect. your obedent servant, JOHN -. TOWNSEND.
Mr. TWEED MANNED
MI Tweed's examination was then continued. MIR.
Carpenter asked whether he furnished the statement
which appeared IN the World to any person Whatever
aud by the advice OF his counsel Mr.. Tweed declined
TO answer tho question IN that form. After another
vain attempt 10 get an answer 10 the question that
shape Nj. Carpenter passed on to another subject
DECLINE TO ANSWER.
Y. Were you personally acquainted with Mr.. Woodin
In the Senator A. was, sr
T. There were two political parties represented In
the Senate al that timc, sirY A. There were TWO ana
one-half parties; belonged TO the democratic and
Mr.. Woodin to the republican party; don't know
whether was what you call Intimately acquainted