New-York tribune., 1878-04-13
LAST HOURS OF THE PRISONER.


TIE SCENE IN THE ROOM AT THE JAIL WHERE
TWEED LAY DYING-HIs FINAL woRDs-TAKING
TUE BODY FROM The NORTHUMBERLAND
FOR TIIE FUNERAL.
The death of William VI. Tweed in Ludlow Street
Jail, at Yesterday was somewhat sudden, al
though not entirely unexpected by bis intimate
friends. BY the public the announcement OF ms
death was dscreditcd at first. The recent reports of
serious illness had been looked upon by many ms
device TO further his application for release from
imprisonment. The confirmation of the report was
therefore, surprise to very many.
One week aga last Thursday Mr. Tweed appeared
TO bc in his usual good health and spirits, and III
the ai ward was among the most active of the pris-
oEers That evening he complained of feeling SICK
aad on Friday morning was confined to
his bed For many years Mr.. Tweed has
suffered from an affection of the heart, and
this has been aggravated recently by severe
cold which gave rise to fears of an attack of pneu-
monia On Saturday and Sunday his old trouble OF
the heart came on, and Sunday evening the symp-
toms became very pronounced his pulse was very r-
regular and there every sign of pencardlts. DTS
J. NJ Carnochan and William Schirmer, his family
physicians were called, and under their treatment
his condition seemed to improve. He appeared
easier until Thursday evening when sudden
change took place, and he experienced great diti-
Guilty in breathing.
His sphysiciaus were with him for q considerable
time on Thursday, only leaving him late In the
evening At that time he was mach easier and suf
feIed less from the bronchitis and pneumonia,
but there was very strong evidence of ehusion
of the pcricardium-a very dangerous symptom.
Still he seemed comfortable, and under the influence
Of medicines slept for about an hour, awakening
about midnight complaining Of excessive pain in the
region OF his heart. During the remainder of the
night he was very restless and at times left his bed
and sat in armchair, attended constantly by his
colored servant, Luke Grant. His suferings became
! more and more severe until abOut o'clock yester-
day morning when he again slept for about
half an hour awakng as before in great pain, with
a more feeble and irregular pulse. Dr. Carno'' an
arrived at the Jail yesterday morning about o'clock
and By that time Mr.. Tweeds coun-
tenance had undergone n decided change, and
the previous symptoms were greatly aggravated.
From this time he became gradually weaker, but
retained consciousness until about half-past IL
o'clock, when he went into a stupOr and breathed
his last as the Jail bell ringing the hour of noon
Before this time il was evident that the end was
near, and DR.. Carnochan 30 informed the dying
man. Claspug the doctors hands in feeble voice
Tweed replied that he was not afraid TO die, and
continued:
IL have tried to do some good if have not had
good luck am not afraid TO die; believe the
guardian angels will protect me-
At this time there present in the bedroom DIR.
Carnochan, S. Foster Dewey, William Edelsten, Mrs.
Fitzsimmons and daughter, Deputy Warden Bernard
Titzsimmons. aud Luke Grant Tweed's faithful
servant. Mrs. Tweed and her children except one
daughter Mrs Douglass, are at present i'll Europe.
Charles Devn and Mr.. Douglass, Mr. Tweeds SON
in-law, were present earlier in the morning. OBJ
serving the symptoms of approaching death they left
the give notice 10 Twceds friends and relatives,
and when they returned all was over. To use the
words of one Of those present: 1--WE were watching
for the end, but did not suppose it so near Nh
| Tweed lay with his hands outside of the bed
| coverings and seemed to pass into sleep, and
all were surprised when DR.. Carnochan said that he
was dead" Mrs. Douglass, bringing with her
ouantity of beef tea, which had been the desire of
her father the evening before. arrived at the jail
! just after his death.
Sheriff Reilly was Immediately informed of Mr.
Tweeds death by Deputy Warden Fitzsimmons, and
with Under Sheriff Cunning soon arrived at the JAIL
! Coroner Woltman was sent for, and a
formal inouest was held, and permit
granted for the removal of the body
These legal proceedings were huTiedly passed over
and little before o'clock the wagon Of A. J. Case
the undertaken of Grand-st., drew up before the
main entrance to the Jail, in Ludlow-st. By this
time n large crowd had collected in the street.
! Nuch sympathy was expressed with the dead man.
Prominent among those the outside was a
tall gaunt colored man, who seemed es-
pecially interested, and at o'clock, when
the body of Mr.. Tweed was brought
from the Jail and placed in the wagon, he was fore
most in pressing against the box as if stranng to
! get glimpse of the remains. Failing, he turned
| away with tears in his eyes Ihis man was
William Dorr, formerly servant in the family OF
the father of Mr.. Tweed, and afterward with Mr..
Tweed and his brother Richard. or late he has
been n recipient of William NJ. Tweed's bounty.
With the removal of the body, the excitement at
the jail was over. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass had pre-
viously left the building Richard Tweed, the
dead mans brother took charge of his effects,
and trunk after trunk quickly packed
and removed, and by 5 o'clock his rooms, which
| had been handsomely furnished, had again resumed
their prison appearance.
The rooms occupied by Mr. Tweed were upon the
ground floor of the building his bedroom racing
upon Ludlow-st. This was large, well ventilated
room opening into the main entrance to the JAIL and
was furnished with every comfort that could be de-
| sired. The walls were almost covered WIN plc-
tures and notices, and among the former there
were many Photographic scenes taken upon
| Tweed,s farm in Connecticut. There was a
| large nDrafy OF MISCELLANEOUS "'ihH'
sideboard, tables. ETC., and these, with the Drght
upbolsteripg Of the furniture, and the many arti-
cles of ornament, gave to the whole an appearance
far from that of prison. 1t was in this room that
| Mr. Tweed passed most of his time, and
in this room he died. Adjoining this
room leading into it, and also facing upon Lud-
low-st., is the room of Warden Watson. third
room, opening into the warden's room and facing
upon the courtyard, was used by Tweed as
q dining g-room. This had more the appearance
of a parlor. The windows were bright with hot