The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1877-04-12
TWeed'S Tale.
HOW IHE BOSS MADE HIS ESCAPE
FROM TIE LUDLOW STREET. JAIL.
He Contracts with q Gang or DespeFa-
does for Els SAFE IeIiTeFy
on spanish Soil.
how the Lawyers BIed Him, and Why
he Is Resolved TO Make 3
Clean Breast or IT.

How the Lawyers BIed Him, and Why
lie Is Resolved TO Make 3
Clean Breast or It.
NEW YORK, April 3.-HuPsr's
Weekly for tomorrow, will publish
an illustrated article describing the
flight and exile of VIM. NJ. Tweed.
The following are the chief points OF
the story:
The approaching trial Of the great
six million dollarsuit against Tweed
threatened a demand on his cash re-
sources for fees, which he plainly saw
he should fail to answer. His re-
msiRing possessions were not avail
able to raise rel dy money and credit,
especially with lawyers, was out Of
the question. His money gone, his
courage broken down also, he re.
solved on flight as q remedy for his
bankruptcy and his hopeless impris-
onment. Having lost the great
Judges and lawyers of the courts he
had created and controlled, he found
himself forced to fall back upon their
clients, his fellow prisoners In jail.
TWEED'S MEsSMATE
In the Ludlow Street Jail was Cksr-
ley Lawrence, the silk smuggler,
whose extraditiOn led to the sbrOgs-
tion OF the treaty with England.
From him Tweed learned all the nee
cessary details of the existing treaties
and the laws on the subject, and hav-
! ing decided upon flight, he resolved
to reach Spain as the most sXpedient
shelter, in view OF the absence OF any
| extradItion treaty with that country.
Another inmate of Ludlow Street
Jail was q person Of many profess
siOnal aliases, who has since been
safely lodged in penitentisry in Yer
mont. He Is best known by the
name of Bliss, and was the engineer
of the extraordinary Northampton
| Bank robbery. He was also profess
sionslly engaged in the famous Wash
ington safe burglary. This person
lodged on the upper floor, and had ap-
preached Tweed with proposal to
avail himself OF the removal Of the
| iron gratings OF his window, which
was on the ground floor, and which
would enable them both to escape,
the whole matter tn be managed from
outside By the associates OF Bliss
The proposition had at first been
laughed at by Tweed, but meeting
HIS PROFESSIONAL NEIGHBOR."
daily in the courtyard OF the Jail,
where they took exercise, the subject
was more definitely discussed, and
outside friends of the professional"
being called in, Tweed was persuaded
OF the practicability OF a plan which
they presented, anu for the execution
OF which he agreed to pay a stipulated
sum. No member Of the bar, nor his
counsel, nor any friends or person
/ whatever of his previous connections
knew OF his proposed flight, or bad
any part In its execution. Neither
did thev know of his whereabouts at
any time until 1t had become neces-
sary for him to communicate with
them after his arrest in Cuba by
the Spanish officials. Tweed under
stood that he was to be taken in
charge by q we'll organized body OF
men distributed throughout the coun-
try, having every facility their con-
nections and method being thorough
ly tested and well established. He
I W d5 uAoLCN WAIh q AOA
| telegraphic communication and one
for postal facility. The latter includ-
ed q system OF Enclosures through five
different envelopes, with addresses
at removed points. He was to hnd
occasion to visit his house,
DELIVER HIMSELF OVER SECRETLY
and unattended at his own door.
Il Of he anrannannf in
cIuded his landing in Spain, or under
the Spanish flag, and on Spanish ter
ritOry, safely aud secretly. He was
given the name of John SecOr, by
which he was to be known TO his new
connections, and his personal inden-
tity and his own name was to be
kept from the moment he passed out
OF his own stOOp. The exact minute
OF departure was fixed at s O'Clock in
the evening, not more than one
minute before to Ons minute after
that hour exactly. The time OF his
| flight was lett undetermined, but he
was to visit his house on certain
days, and when the whole train was
ready, q sign was to be given by a
certain marx upon the stoop, which
ne could see as he sseended the steps.
Accordingly, Tweed took occasion to
obtain from the Sheriff and his keep
ers the usual "privileges OF the jail
yard" to visit his family, and to
transact some business
SEVERAL SUCH VISITS.
having been made to his house at
the usual hour, after dark, he secretly
made some preparation OF personal
matters, and putting his business al
fairs in as good order as possible, fin
ally reached the 4th OF December,
1875, which proved the occasion OF
his departure. On the evening OF
that day he was driven In the custO-
mary hack, attended by two keepers,
to his house. Ascending the stoop he
saw the sign. 1t was about half-past
seven o'clock and dreary December
evening. The signal at once aroused
him with a startling shock, and as he
describes the occurrence "his blood
and bis nerves were filed with an
electrical exeitement,s which thrilled
every fiber of his frame" COntr0ll-
Ing himself with some effort, he led
his attendants to their wOnted and
welcome feast, which on this Occa-
sion was amply provided in the din
ing room. The keepers ate, and
Tweed took care also that they drank.
AT just the right moment one OF the
keepers rose and went to the wash
basin in the room to wash his hands
and get ready for the usual cigar
after dinner.
TWEED TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY,
rose also, and saying he would wash
In the adjoining room, he passed into
the hall, closing the door as he left
the room. He quickly took the first
hat and coat and slipped out OF the
front door. He was q fugitive. He
saw the hack before the door without
q driver, who also took advantage Of
the occasion In the kitchen. Not a
person or sound appeared to respond
to his appointment. It was not quite
one minute past s. He had stolen
forth from his home to place himself
in the hands and guidance OF picked
gang of desperadOes. As he shrank
back under the shadow OF the stoOp,
it soazne ed to him a long period of
doubt and self-examination, until his
attention was attracted by the noise
of wheels, and he saw q common
LraOeSmAu HaROuf suCu dS 10 uocu
by grocers and express drivers. be
saw, also, q mans arm reach out
from the cover, which was the sign
that It was for him. AS he descend
ed the stoOp, he also saw q man pass
ing slowly, which caused him to hesi-
tate, but this person said in a low
tone,
GALL RIGHT; GET IN THE WAGON"
So he scrambled into the covered
wagon, which drove quickly around
the block into Madison avenue, as
they got there, car having run of
the track, some mounted police and
passengers stood in the way, and the
fugitive was stopped for two or three
minutes. The wagon soon started
again, and drove zig-z2g across the
city toward the North river, which
was soon reached, and beside q big
truck on the pier they stopped. The
driver said, "Get out on the river
side.n Tweed got out seeing that
the truck covered him from observa-
ton as he Rlighted. A man stood
near the truck also, who indicated
skaf Turaad uaa 70 Hoaoapd into thu