The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-14
THE DEAD BOSS"
Wfat His Counsel Said in His Last
Appeal tor Mercy.
"WILLING 10 SUBMIT TO ANY TERMS
Tweed's Funeral To Take Place on WedneS-
day and To Be Strictly Private.

The following is the letter which sent to Attor.
ncy General Scnoon maker the early part OF Feb
fuary last, by Mr. John D. Townsend, Tweeds coun-
sell setting forth the grounds upon which he applied
for rweed's release -
To Hon. AUGUSTUS ScHooSMAKER. JE, Attorney Cen
crai OF the state oil New York.
sIR-As counsel for Wnilam N. Tweed apply to
you tor his release from further confinement. The
which cuI in his present i'm prison
ment being. as tar as | know, in all respects IN ac-
cordance with law, u 10 emnentiy proper that you
should expect me TO acquaint you wh the reasons
why think with you lies The power OF restoring HIM
to liberty and why you would be Justified IN
exertins such power in his behalf To enaoie mo 10
lay the matter fairly before you is essential That
review in general way what has occurred since
first BECAME connected with Mr. Tweeds affairs, and
order his position throughout may be fairly de-
fined II will be necessary that speak urst OF myself
alude 10 the circumstances which brought me IN
contact with him, and which probably induced tho
HE Of conduct winch he then adopted, ana to
which, up to the present time, he has honestly adj
hercd. The details OF my connection with Mr.. Tweeds
affairs including his letter to Mr. o'Conor on Dc.
cember g. 1876, Will be iourd IN two letters winch l
published in the editions OF the New YosK HERALD Of
June Il and july Z. Tho Attorney Generals
version OF his connection win Mr. weeds
Anars Will be found IN MS letter 10 Gov
srnor Robinson, dated June ~. 1877, copy
of which is probably ilc IN Office Mr.. Tweed's
Generals hands the 17th OF April, 1877. and
the 18Th OF June, 1877. was published
IN full In NEW York HERALD of October TO- 1877
THESE papers. believe. Will contain all matters which
are material since my connection with Mr.. Tweed's
AFFAIRS, and If not in your possession WIN supply
them nd at time ask you TO consider the "a
In connection With This letter.
CONNECTED WITH THE RING FRAUDS.
Mr.. Tweed returned 10 Sheriff OF this county
by United States authority the 23d OF November,
ls76. AT this lime was counsel tor f. A. oodward,
wno, Il special clerk or attacbe OF Ar Tweed, WAS
mixed Up the Ring frauds, and consequence had
been sued aud also indicted had ADVISED Mr..
titution, and be had concluded 10 do SO, and The
offer conditional upon his release from jail
at the time OF Mr.. Tweeds return under con-
sideration by Mr. OConor. AT that time Mr.. O'Conor
virtually the Attorney General, far as proceed.
the is conceded by Mr., FaTcnid in
his letter 10 the Governor, above referred
10. had several interviews with Mr.
O'Conor such reference Woodwards
affairs prior TO Mr.. Tweeds return, and thought
understood, to certain extent AZ least, the high mo-
lives which acuated him IN his efforts 10 mako his
services State valuable possible. In the
mere collection OF dollars aud cents Mr.. o'Conor took
active interest; whatever 10 be done IN that
why turned over 10 Mr.. teckham, his assistant
When made application tor tue discharge OF Mr..
Woodward rom Imprisonment, upon the basis
of confession and restitution, no referred
10 Mr. feckham Mr. o'Conor SAID that
he looked upon Woodward as mere
clerk ana tool OF DINERS, who, In obey ing
orders had done what large proportion OF persons
his path OF lie, placed 10 his position would have
done, and that restitution as tar as nc could make it,
together with the evidence he could supply, sui
Gent punlsnment am satisfied that u Mr. O'Conor
had really been untrammelled Ia his purposes, the
history OF the Ring suits, when read by poslerity,
would have answered as tue greatest warming 10
prosecutor hai ever presented
10 the world, rather than they now appear,
n lust subject OF dersion and contempt. Tho al
lusions have made to my connection with Wood
wards case anu 70 my understanding OF Mr. OConor's
views in reference 10 THESE cases. may
sary at hrst, but they bear upon the proper
be gwen In my opinion 70 this application. lew
days PRIOR 10 Mr. Tweed's return TO TINS cny which,
slated, was GU November 70, 1876, Wood
ward devoted in hi friendship To Mr.. Tweed.
expressed desire that would act tor him upon
arrival here, ii he should desire to make proer OF
confession aud restitution 10 consideration or ns dis
Ne mad
interviews with Doth Dir. O'Conor aud Mr. Peckham.
No actual assurance was gwen me tnat
be accepted, but from the conversations
had with Mr. o'conor ! think was authorized
10 conclude that mis- Intentions at that time 10
impose the greatest penalties upon those persons VINO
had thrven under Ring influences whose intellectual
attachments aud social position should hayc made
them examples OF virtue rather than vice. Without
pretending 20 give his language, have heard Mr.
oConor express himself ia regard to Mr. Tweed very
mucn as u he considered that ne dd not exactly Tall
among those whose punish meDt should be heaviest.
ain sure cannot De mistaken II say that when sug
gested to Mr.. OConor the idea mat Mr. Tweed might
be induced 10 MIKE u iuIl confession, he intinated
that sucn an exhibition, IA his opinion, would do
more good ms great moral effect, ihan the restora
ton oil ali the money no had taken. would not
UPON any cons Iteration mlssiate anytniag Mr.
O'Conor has SAID 10 me, 40 say any thng which
believe ne wold prefer should not allude 10. Mr.
1weed's present position conipcs 10 express fully
hal conclusions derived IRON my interviews with
Mr. 0'Conor at that lime, 10 order that IL may DO
viewed by rather III the brilliant liz mt created
Inc nigh and expanded views Of NJ O',onor lban by
the feeble glimmcr winch has seemed to the
purpose since he retired from charge OF the case
Brst spoke to Mr. o'Conor upon the matter Of Mr..
Ia TACT, Immediately after Mr. WOODWARD had nrst
broached the SUBJECT. aud saw Mr.. tweed upon the
gay after ms arrival-,o wat, on the 24tD OF Novcm-
brr ID the iignt u subsequent events lair
iner, unless " be denied Mr.. O'Conor that had he
would nave been used ~ witness against Mr.
sweenyr Mr. OiConor does not hesitate 10
Bay lhal ne Lot only expected 70 try,
bit he expected to OBTAIN Judgment against
sweeny BY tue hgh ol tue letter written
Ny McssrA Pecknsm Nash 10 the Attorney
General Oh the 9TH OF june 1877. explanatory OF the
course thcy adopted ~ settling with Sweepy, and
whlcn ~ set fortn IN Mr. fairchiias letter 10 the
Goveru,r, " would appear that evidence
winch Justinco tDom IN proceeding to trial. 1 vas
and am under the impression that Mr. O'COnor con-
suffered Mr. sweony 4 man mu Gu lore dangerous 10
socieLy than Mr. Tweed, aud that judgment against
him would be OF much greater Importance than
against Mr. fwced. When y ls considered mat just
PRIOR TO the return OF Air. Iweed efforts
bring swreny TO trial, thai Tweed was returned
the 23d OF November, 1876: that IL mad been sug-
gcsted PRIOR 10 his return thai he might, and
Rgain aIerwara that be would coafess his nisdecds
und inform against any anu AL OF his former as
fociates That the Gu OF December thereafter Mr..
Tweed wrote bis letter 10 Mr. O'Concr making the
promise signature; that Oh the 1yth OF
December, lew days later, the stipulation was gwen
by the prosecution, under winch swoeny was induced
10 return 10 TINS country these Things say, taken
with tne letter referred W OF Peckham n Mash 10 tne
Attorney General that they feared ~ proceed TO trial
from lack OF evidence and therefore settled with
swesny, leaves f'ar presumption tnat hr. u'conor
Tweed Upon the trial OF sweepy.v
Mr.. oCoSoR RErREs
just about this lme Mr.. OConor tor some reason
retired from all participation "a The King cases. Inn
pressed, as IRON the conversation referred 10,
WIN thc belief that Mr.. O'Conor looked with isvor
upon the intination that Tweed would confess aud
make such restitution as he could, have DOUBT
mat Impressed Mr. Tweed vita the same views, and
that mrs ettor TO Mr. O'yonor OF Dece mbcr was
questionably influenced by what 4 and othe,s VINO
bad beid interviews WITH Air. o'Conor on the subject
had told him
Uninlaenced by politics or preiudices and un.
busssd W hopes oil pecuHiary aavsu,age other
fcrment, Mr. O'Conor was VI all tho ONE a mat
time whom Mr.. fweed's proposition could safety
be presented and nis retirenicnt from case was
tie scvefest blow Mr.. Tweed has received since hrs
imprisonment should you deem your duty
90 advise with Mr.. O'Conor upon the subject
Of this application, tfust you will be aple 10 in
duce him what was, At that 50 important
era TO Mr. Tweed. that compelled him 10 rcirc. IL
was months however alter Mr.. U'Conor's actual re.
troment before learned that he had ceased TO take
part with the prosecution. GA February ~ 1911,
Carolin O'Brysn bryant, Who pretended TO
certain extent 10 be the mouibpiecc
oi Air. U'ConOr IN THIS affair, ana VINO kept
Dir Iwscd, by pretending 10 bring messages
from Mr. O'tonvr 10 min tor several weeks, unuer