, 1877-04-23

atora gave their votes for such Law as p.r. Of
the consideration for their votes On the charter.
Q.-Why MAS the other called the "Whortie-
berry clartcrW Alt wsa come Joke Of there
smart fellows up In Albany. Rerious matters
hapfHntnR aimee then have driven 1t from my
AitcE consideration, however, Tweed said:
Ierau:c It came in late and went out early.
IN reply 70 further questions Tweed said on
hls ssriTat he sent Tor Townsend and told him
that he was going to give up ali iii effects.
MI. Townsend advised him to pursue that
course. Then he wrote to Mr.. O'Conor and
~ rs Tisitsa BY Attorney General ratrchl md
he iafl to say, and he did 20 With the dAtlnct
understanding that no one outa!le should see II,
IT WAS 10 B1 RETURNED
II not approved by tho Attorney General. Uo
promises eorroborat'ye evidence snl in!orma-
lion n4 10 the suits against the city. and told
Them he knew persona who could corr0borate
him. Ills communication TO the Attorney Cen
erai would not Affect 1eudIug legislation In
Albany, but was made to
KfFEcr nls RELEAsE.
He was long enough protecting other peoples
reputation and positions, and had got ali he
ness b., the Attoruey.General, be Is To be dis
charged.
He was aston.lled at tho statement published
10 the World: There might be few facts In 1t,
what his statement contained unless It waa used
by the Attorney -Ucnerai. Ifc was 10 readiness
70 be witness tn court OF law to give crl-
dcnce. Tie takes no Interest ia politics. or any
expects to take part Ia politics again. Ills un.,
dcrstaudinR L. be Is 10 he discharged II used a.
witness.
!. D. roursEsD EXAMINED.
Said he held Tweed's statement In the conf
dental relation Of counsel. It Was statement
of evidence which Tweed wos prepared To give.
He gave It personally to the Attorney General,
aud never showed It Or told it, contents 10 any
one Gave no Information about Il to the
Attorney General and whatever ~ eentletnscn s he he
might be under the necessity Of calling IN, un-
less II Is used. He consulted with one promi-
nent gentleman as to whether thu points on
% .a b. ~ se.4 q e. sf sses ssfsse @ .as ta
the conversation was htrfctl5 trivatc.
TwKKD's sTATEMEST.
~ did not gi's. . n9F a,d authorize aDy one to
ss sess Il n IT, eo%a. sa ths os s se%d1 @ ns m II
Iisown al responsibility for II. desire 10 show
my respect tor you, anu to treat FOUR honorable
Cominittcc With at courtesy and consideration,
1n nae n !a.slss to myself must decline to re-
tfc1e. its assertions, any part Of them, or any
newspaper article not furnished By mc, and 10
wh!cl, ny name has not been attached by me,
mud beg leave while respectfully declining
aud Forwarded On tic 1o:h Inst, BY ny
counsel, John D. Townsend, Esq, to mem
ber 9f sour Committee In reply to q telegram to
Mr. Townsend, Of prior date, and which covers
declining to answer the questions In reference
to the matters referred for examination TO your
honorah1s i Gemmttteo By the honorabls Senate.
: 7owNsxHp's LETTKn
Tho letter Of Mr. Townsend referred to in
Afr. Twced's statement, and addressed TO tho
Chairman II the Commlttee Ia q followa:
New Yonx, April 19.-Mr DEAR Sit: In
es5t, H. Tsesl vii 1 sabm't II 7o'untartiy st 70 y
be examined by the Committee Of which you
nrc member, appointed to take testimony 10 tho
matter Of the alleged bribery Of Senator
pulsory process, have to say that .have con-
suited with ny client on the subject, and by
my advice he will decline tn give any testimony
before your Committee relating to the subject
Trecd b: not eonndel the statement 70 any
one which, under certain circumstances, he Is
willing should become matter Of publication.
hare dccrnct! It advisable fol. Ills interests
tho oi ths State ate for lis con. n
s(deraton, and bellerc he IL now engaged In
determining upon course in regard to 1t which
VIII beat su0:erye the tnterests Of the people.
his assurance that 1t would bc returned 70 ma
and !ts contents rHtnaiu undivided. Should he
decline to aeccde to my cltcrt's release from I'M
prlsonment, ran conceive of no possible nd-
vantage that this proposition could be to the
public, beyond tho moral effect OF the full
publication Of It, unless It could cf-
feet the punishment Of offenders md tho
recovery Of money. Believing that these examin.
attons Of Tweed before the Attorney: General
was prepared 10 more in the matter might seri-
ously affect the public interest by giving an op-
portutttty to escape or make away With theIs
property, fell compelled to ndylsc Tweed to
decline to be wltncas at this time: but beyond
this, mad ~ = matter especially affecting him
personally, have advised Tweed to decline tx.
animation at this Tins upon the gr,und Viat tis
ansTcrs might tend to crlm!nats him.
It WINS admitted by Senator Woodin Ia his
speech before the Senate on the 18th Inst.
that Tweed had testified In 1879 before tho
Senate Committee appointed to investigate tho
charges against Senator Jamca Woodfnt III
elect "Thai he had never, directlyor indirectly,
paid Or offered to pay money to any member OF
ihe Legislature to secure tho passage Of any
law" II thsa be 40, a.ld | hare no rcaaou 10
doubt the correctness Of Senator Woodln's ill.,
yestigatlon Of tho subject, feel Impressed with
tue propricty OF such alvlce at this tlnle.
Assuring you that nothing would give me
position where he could safely testify on this
and kindred matters, arp, with Rrrat RESPECT,
your obedicnt servant, JoltH D. TOWNSEND.
HASTINGS.
"punELr BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS"
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