The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25
AN OLD FRIEND OF TWEED.
The End of IA steadfust Adherent of
New lori<'s Most Famous Boss

| tFrom the Utica observer)
| Edward Pittenger who died on Monday
last. at the Westchester county aImsho,Ise
was distinguished once as being the most
intimate friend of William NJ Tweed He
| was siXty-seven years old.
| Pittenger was New Yorker by birth
and came of family who were well en-
lowed with this worlds goods He was
| carefully educated being graduated at
| Harvard and then sent abroad to finish his
| learning. Returning to New York he soon
| embarked in the real estate business. and
was presently appointed sheriff's auction
eer-a place which, although il sounds
| humble. nevertheless yielded several hun
| dred thousands of dollars to the man lucky
enough to hold it. II was through the
favor of the Boss that he got this place,
ard his gratitude was great
He liked Tweed for favors received and
Tweed liked him because the quick eye of
the Boss" discovered in him a man of
excellent education, supplemented by mod
est manners, and crowned withai by
gracious bearing to which faultless cloth
ing was only an adjunct. So this strange
ly assorted pair became more and more in
innate. Pittenger accompanied Tweed to
Greenwich. Conn, when the Boss de-
sired to rest He also rode with him up
to the famous dinner and dance which
Cornelius Carson gave at Fleetwood thirty
years ago. Five hundred dollars a plate is
said 10 have been the cost of that dinner
Tweed drove thither drawn by six white
horses and accompanied by Pittenger That
was the acme OF the Tammany politicians
ambition; and the fact that he permitted
Pittenger to share his honors speaks vol
umes as to how much he liked him.
The end OF Tweed's glory came suddenly.
The enormously rich political pirate of one
became he Of nf ha
and was convicted on the day following.
Old friends stood aloof. old followers re-
traced their footsteps to get out of the
mire: and even old retainers held their
breath. All but Pittenger turned from
him. But Edward Pittenger-the rich
man son. the educated fellow. the reel es.
tate auctioneer. the faultless dresser
stood by Tweed when he was a convict at
Blaekwell's Island: when he was a prison
er at the Ludlow Street Jail; when he broke
Jail and made his futile journey to Spain:
and up to the time OF his death.
In the heyday of Tweed's success PitteR>
ger had chosen for his wife the daughter
of Dr. Murphy. the former Health Officer
of the Port OF New York. After he had
spent all his own money and all of hers
that he could reach, she left him ten years
ago.
He went-after sucking his New York
orange dry-to East Chester. which is To-
Gated In Nestchester county. where he was
elected town clerk for two terms. Then
he began TO go down-visibly and openly.
tie had contracted great thirst for liquor
during the evils days of his prosperity. to
which was allied love of gambling With
these two vices the road to ruin was opened
before him, and he walked IL to the end.
After his finances were exhausted he went
TO the Doorhouse voluntarily There he
died OIL March l.. His wife sent for his
body and will give it decent burial So
ends another OF Tweeds friends