The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-04-20
WILLIAM NJ. TWEED


Died at noon Friday, the 18th instant, aged
55 years, in the Ludlow Street Jail, New
York city, from a complication Of diseases of
the heart and kidneys, aggravated by pncu-
monia, the result of cold contracted about
a week ago. Tweed was born in the city of
New York April 5, 1928. His father was
chair-makcr on a small scale, and the son,
after receiving very moderate common
school education, was put to work in his
fathers shop. lie was a poor workman,
and soon left the shop and became a clerk
in saddlery and hardware establishment.
After several years, and many changes of
position, he and his brother, Richard
Tweed, ir., went into partnership and car
ried on the chair-making business success
fully. He soon began to be active in poll
tics, and joined the Americus Engine Com
pany No. G, in the old New York Volunteer
Fire Department.. It was thus he obtained
his well-known soubriquet of Big Six"
In 1851 he was elected Alderman from
the Seventh Ward, serving for two terms.
lie was elected to the Thirty-third Congress,
and served one term, from 1858 to 1855.
In 1857 he was a member of the New York
Supervisor of New York county. In 1861
he ran for Sheriff, but he was defeated. In
1868 he was appointed by Street Commits
sioner Cornell Deputy Commissioner. In
1867 he was elected State Senator, claiming
majority of 10000 votes in his district.
He had early joined the Tammany Society,
and, when John 7. Hoffman became Gov
ernor of New York, Tweed succeeded him
as Sachem of Tammany, position which
gave him enormous political influence and
power. In July, 1871, the New York
Times commenced the exposure of the cor
ruption and dishonesty existing in the New
York municipal government, by means of
which millions of dollars had been stolen
from the city, and on October 81, 1871,
Tweed was first arrested and compelled to
find Sl,0OO,OOO bail to answer a civil suit
for the recovery of the stolen public funds.
On December Is of the same year he was
again arrested on a criminal charge of |
felony, and it was not until JANUARY 6, 1872,
that he succeeded in giving the additional |
bail in $l,OOO,OOO required. After many
delays and much legal mannuvering, |
Tweed was, on November 10, 1873, convict
ed on 2O4 counts of the Indictment against |
him, and on the 22d Judge Noah Davis, ir.,
sentenced him to IS years in the peniten-
-iary and to pay fine Of over twelve thou
sand dollars.
After fighting through all the courts up
% the Court of Appeals, the highest tribunal
Of the State, a decision was rendered in that
court in March, 1875, by which Tweed was
get at liberty. lie was, however, immedi-
ltcly rcarrcsted in the civil suit for six mil
ion dollars, and committed to Ludlow
Street Jail.
On December 4, 1870 he escaped from
he warden of the Jail, and was recaptured
1t Nigo, in Spain, in September, 1876, and
ly the courtesy of the Spanish government
to the officers of the U. S.
rigate Franklin, who brought him to this
country and delivered him to the Sheriff of
New York. lie was returned to his old
quarters, in Ludlow Street Jail, where he
las remained ever since. His recent efforts
o secure his liberty by confessing his part
II the huge frauds and surrendering his
property are fresh in the public memory,
'aving occupied large portion of the space
n the newspapers of New York and else
where for the past two years.