The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-14

SIMPLY because no could no. pay the money. In bis
letter 10 Mr. 0'conor Mr. Tweed regretted bis Ina
b.lisy 10 make such ution, aud Ia hs atatemon
10 Mr. Fairchild he detailed present resources
offered TO submit the fullest Investigation 70 mis-
rom being underslood IL IL can be suspected
that l ask for his discharge uptii no has
raudulsu.iy Obtained IRON thus city believe that
has but hitle properly lett but u only Tor my own
SAKE should regret MS discharge Will No mas SUBJ
lion. No investigation upon tbas point has ever
beon made. Why should y not BE- done az
oncef Ii IL Is conclusivey proven that he has
no property what Is The use Of holding h,m
IN the deb,or's PRISON. II IT should De shown upon
sucn an examination that he has property conceaed,
aud that has appeal to M O'Conor has been made
bad faith, you might then be aole 70 recover the
property, certainly no one thereafter would waste
i par,icic Of sympathy on him. | have impressed
these views upon Mr.. Tweed, aud bis re-
spouse is ~ have nothing but what have
disclosed and am willing TO surrender, and do not
tear the closest scrutiny and investigation" have
tried 10 impress you thus lar with tns IDEA that ar.
is another matter whicn should not DO overlooked.
know that Mr.. Tweed can give important evidence
IN several suits which this ciH Is interested,
growing out OF the Ring frauds in which about
81. 900 900 Involved, and Should SUCH actions DO
called as witness, tho people OF this CITY VIII have
right 10 ask whether, upon tho principle on which
settlements with other members 81 the Ring have
been made hs CUSTODY dsbtors prison Is copsld-
greater value than the saving 10 this city oil
recently, IN your oiice at Albany. you asked mo
II had considered whether, under The
act OF 1875 you had the power TO conseDt 70 the dis
charge Of Mr. Tweed. Since then have carefully
amined chapter 40 Of the Laws OF 1875, which
believe was the only law passed that year having
reference your control Of actions growing out Of
the Ring frauds, and lind the ony reference made
the Governor secton or Inc aci, and then only
the Attorney General shall Institute and
any action special proceeding IN the cases men
ousd IN .Ga. ac. ny ma. seo"n ac1ons can -
own motion or by the direction OF the Governor.
xor AT MR. riLDEXs REQUEST.
nulH MT hA
rules for Interpretation OF statutes to say tlat
action in either Of these ways tho gen.
mode Of conducting trials were limited by
this section. YET II such interpretation was
sssn 10 bs,rnr ason aeous oner Thar ese
Instituted at the request OF the Govornor 10 ms
there 10 . definite reply. Inc action against Nc.
Tweed commenced on the motion 81 the Attorney
General and not At the request OF Mr. rlden, who
then Governor. In The S6,o0o,ooO SUIT against Mr.
Tweed IN which he now Imprisoned. MI Tiiden was
. witness, ana Inc following questions were pnt 10
him by Mr. Field ana answered by MIN -
Q. In 1875 law passed TO enable the people oil
this state 10 bring MAINTAIN certain actions for
the recovery OF money and property. You remember
the fourth section Of which Is as follows. he
Attorney General on his own motion, whsnever ho
shall deem it necessary or expcdient TO enioree the
rixhts OF the people, may, aud at tho request OF the
Governor shall institute any or proceeding IN tins
acLu Now, nave you requested or directed the prose-
except the defendant Tweedf A. / never requested
him 10 prosecute Tweed gave no direction to prose-
cute any oil them.
This. rust with the precedent established by Mr.
O'Conor the Gaze OF Woodward and by your imme-
oate predecessor other Cases, viii be considered Wy
you su1icisn upon the question Of your power 10
act In the premises
But Mr.. Tweed asks nothing but hts liberty. He Ia
old and seriously Ill and 10 constantly attended by his
phy slc,ans, Carno3nan and achrmor. He Is willing
10 submit TO any terms you may choose to
prescribe. He asks that you Will Accept
as was done W0odward's Cause.-The lit
tie properly he restore and apply
1t US part pay upon the judgment. Prior to That
he viii submit the jail elsewhere, to the closest
investigation as TO his properly. snail be 10th 10
commence any proceedings tor tho discharge OF Mr..
Tweed without feeling that you arc at least kindly
disposed toward our application Although you arc
the Attorney General Of the State. In these civil
suits you in reality the representative OF the
interests OF city. Whatever OF benefit IS derived
the prosecutions OF the actions eventually comes
in regard TINS application with persons 10 this city
whose Intelligence aud position enable them to Judge
with discretion and wisdom? mean 10 such per-
as the gentlemen who have heretofore repre-
scented the Attorney General IN the prosecution
OF Sir. Tweed, 10 the Judges who have sat
In jui gment his case TO the counsel who Is defend
ing interests OF the city against the fraudulent
act IONS arising out OF the Ring frauds, which have
been commenced against It, 70 tie Mayor and financial
head of the city, and TO tho Aldermen who are the
immediate representatives Of The people You have
had no political social rotations with Mr.. Tweed
his friends the past, and have reason TO believe
upon this application viii be influenced by pohti-
cal or personal preJudices. ask nothing more.
am, respectfully, your obedicnt servant,
John ID. TOWNSEND