New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-06


Sci. TELL THE STORY
AS He GAVE IT
TO THEM.
General Stewart L. Woodford was the Repuolcah
candidate for Governor of New-York In lAo. his
Democratic competitor John T. Honman, was
declared elected by a plurality OF between "oVV anu
1900 1t was openly charged and generaHy oe-
Neved that General Woodford was frauduienuy
counted out Confessions made by the late william
NJ Tweed which have been locked In the breasts
Of two or three men for twenty-odd years ana
which are now made public for the first time prove
beyond doubt that General Woodford was at that
time elected Governor by plurality or ZoOn. ana
was robbed OF this high office by the notorious
Tweed ring.
1t was not until after his Incarceration for the
gigantic steals that made his name synonymous
with political corruption that Tweed acknowledged
the crime committed against General Woodford ana
the Republican party. This he did. so far as Is
known only 10 the lawyers who were interested IN
securing his liberation. Two OF these lawyers nave
written 10 General Woodford within the last week
concerning the secret that they have carried SO
many years They are William Edelsten VINO was
Tweed's managing counsel. and Stilman f. Knee
land Judge Advocate-General on Governor Blacks
STAFF Both Of these men DESTROYS Of doing Cen
eral Woodford the Justice OF making public the fact
that he was the choice OF the people for Governor
in 1870 1t is a coincidence that both were reminded
appeared in a Brooklyn paper.
William Edelsten was brought into near relation
ship with Tweed because he was the legal partner
of Tweed's son. William NJ Tweed tr. Although
he was a young Mt the ;p1e of Tweeds arrest
the management OF the long legal struggle TO free
the arch-boss fell largely on his shoulders. He
found by Tribune reporter in his home. at No
276 West Jersey-ave.. Elizabeth. y. j., last night,
and spoke with freedom. He said;
During Mr.. Twced's Incarceration in Ludlow
frequently. After mis- trial and conviction he often
told how much he had to regret and he was
wont 10 complain that many men whom he had
trusted had betrayed him. Among others he fire.
quently mentioned how ungratefu Hoffman. whom
thcy had counted in.
THEY HAD TO DEFEAT WOODFORD
General Woodford had been Leutenant-Gov
error during Hoffman's first term Governor, in
1850. Mr. Tweed told me that they had not been
able TO use General Woodford Lieutenant Gov
ernor and they satisfied they could
him Governor For that reason. he said. they
decided that they had TO defeat him, and they did
by counting him
'Mr. Tweed told me that he greatly regretted
counting General Woodford out. General Woodford
and had been in the same Office together and Mr..
Tweed knew that was his warm friend. lie said
10 me one day when called on MIN Your Trend
General Woodford. is an honorable man saes-
These things make me regret an the more me
wGng WG dd nm RE mad m@de strong night and
TELEGRAPHED CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE
did ne tell YOU the method used in changing tho
result" Mr.. Edelsten asked.
"Oh politicians. and indeed. the public were all
familiar at that time with the practices at elections
The so-calei Tweed ring had control of all the
election machinery from the Police Board down.
In order to keep the country from reaching
the public before the NeT-York vote dOctored
offices ana keep The wires busy with other matters
graphed in order to hold the wires
GENERAL KNEELAND'S STORY
General Kneeand was visited at his home No.
10 Berkeley Place, by Tribune reporter. lie sad
The confession made by Tweed 10 me and more
fully 10 Charles ;. Carter, with whom was asso-
cated in the law mt that time and who was after
ward my partner. had passed out of my mind for
many years when last week | editorial in a
Brooklyn paper that again called II TO mind This
editorial in coupling General Woodfords name with
the portfolio Of the Navy stated that 1t generally
believed at the c.ose Of the Woodford Hoffman race
that Hoffman fraudulenily elected through the
fundamentally Of Tammany Hall After reading
ms at once called upon General Woodford and
told him what remembered about his race for Gov
error and Twccds connection with it. Ii Is singll-
lar coincidence that as entered he said ne wanted
10 show remarkable letter and replied that be-
] was through he read me Mi Ede:siens Letter.
which was corroboratve OF what had just told him.
TWEED COMPLAINED OF INGRATITUDE.
After his arrest Tweed was placed under heavy
bail and Steel & Boyed were employed to get bonds
men. Mr. Garter was retained to aid them in getting
bail One day after visiting Tweed In his sumptu-
Gus apartments in Ludlow Street Jail Mr.. Garter re-
turned and related TO series Of unconplmentary
T2nenjs II n%f TO him by Tweed concerning his
his assistance. II referring to John T.. Hoffman Mr.
There's Hoffman. made him Governor Wood
ford had majority of Over 25o9. This was turned
that was handled in New-York City. made him
Governor. and now he has deserted me
Il myself Tweed the daV he eafd
:" 7 made Mr. Hoffman Governor and he would
Il had several talks with him and he seemed
10 his assistance Nj Carter IS now living in V Chi
cago. While this confession made public
] think Il has been known 10 William a. Bowed
and possibly several Others besides myself and Mr..
THE -WOODFORD CONTEST.
General Woodford was only thirty-fve years Old
when he was nominated by the Republican State
Convention at Saratoga in 1870 the candidate for
Governor. He was nominated by the efforts of the
young men ana soldiers a compromise candidate
between Horace Greeley and George William Cur
convention. DE Witt {. Littleiohn. of Oswego who
was veteran in politics and who had been several
times Speaker Of the Assembly was chosen as
candidate Tor Lieutenant Governor on the ticket
ing a.u ny issue oil Sae ana county bonds for the
construction OF the Midland Railroad. which was
Fenton and Governor Morgan had vetoed bills
granting STATE aid. Mr. Ltlejohn's friends asked
FOR General NooofOrds assurance that ii elected he
would approve legislation granting aid and Mir |
Woodford declined TO give such assurance His
conservatism and wisdom justified by the bank
IuptCy Of the road when il had been built and by
the fact that the towns and counties which did
bond themselves aid the road received little prac
teal advantage and incurred large debt. Mr. Lit
tlejOhn withdrew from the ticket, and on the re-
assembling of the convention next morning Sgis-
inund Kaufman. a leading German LAWYER who |
is now dead was nominated for Lieutenant Gov /
ernor. Both General Woodford and Mr. Kaufman
lived in Brooklyn. and the anomaly was presented |
OF State ticket both Of whose candidates lived in
the same city.
General Woodford accepted the nomination and |
a vigorous personal canvass OF the entire
State Horace Greeley loyalty accepted the action
Of the convention. published signed editorial In |
The Tribune calling his friends support the |
ticket and after OF the hardest fights in the |
history Of the State John T. Hoffman The Demo |
10 WAS declared eli ed hN