The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-12-31
YHEN Bill Tweed was the
AN/ boss of New York and A.
v Oakley Hall was its mayor


licenses to practice law
were issued to the political henchmen
who applied for them. An examina-
tion was not required and for num-
ber of years many persons were per-
mitted to write Counselor after their
names who had very little, if any, legal
education. Hundreds of men were
admitted to practice and some of them
obtained their sheepskins as far back
as the days of Fernando Wood as
mayor. The licenses issued were known
as "Tweed sheepskins" and besides the
subject of this sketch:were such we'll
known Tweed .sheepskin lawyers as
the late ex-COngressman Tim Camp
bell and the late Counselor Nolan,
York.
Tim Campbell is the man who went
to the late Grover Cleveland while
Governor of New York and asked him
to sign a bill which Campbell had
pushed thru the legislature.
Governor Cleveland said: s'Tim,
can't sign that bill. In my opinion it
is unconstitutional"
"Ah, Governor" repliediTim quicker
than wink, "what's the constitution
tetween friends ?"
This rejoinder became famous all
over the world and,as a.result Tim was
sent to Congress.
Judge Egan-everybody called him
Judge he was bright and
smart, never went Into politics, but
having obtained q Tweed sheepskin
studied law. as he went along aud his
business grew apace until he became
one of the best known men in New
York; He was well-built, quite tall
and good looking with the single ex-
ception of large. red nose. The Judge
was immaculate in attire. He always
wore the latest style clothes and was at
all times MISUNDERSTANDING new
silk hat every seast n and in tie sum-
mer time Invariably topping off with a
white Greeley plug. The Judges brogue
was rich and mellifluous and his man.
ners were those of Lord Chesterfield.
No wonder his business grew until
he commanded large practice. Until
the downfall of Tweed he was power
in New York. He knew some law
about as much as the average well-in-
formed justice of the peace-but he
gained in legal lore, knowledge and
customs as he went along.
used to sit and listen to Judge
Egan by the hour AMI was charmed
with the stories of his peculiar expert
ences. In fact believe enjoyed his
"reminiscences especially moIe than
those of any man l ever met. Every
yarn "pointed moral and adorned a
TAIL" as Shake speaIe says.
"Yes," said the Judge, "Pve handled
some large deals, even if am only q
Tweed sheepskin practitioner. Jurin'
the war received many commissions
to buy gold for private investors. You
know the gOver'mint frequently Wint
Into the market to buy gold jurin' the
war. Jay Gould and some of his frinds
had the inside track and we're corner.
ing all the gold that wuZ imported
from Europe. A syndicate of gintle.
men intrusted me wild the juty OF
cleanin' Gould up on the next sale OF
gold at the Sub Treasury in Wal
Street, but how to do it they did not
know-but finally hit upon a scheme
A million dollars in gold had Teen i'm
ported and the sale was to come off al
the Sub Treasury at 8 q. m. on certain
Chuesday mornin'. Gould stood in wid
the gover'mint and none but his trus
ties could get thru the lines as the Sui
Treasury was guarded by Fedora
troops. l wint to my frinds and TOLD
them to get me 100000 in treasury
notes and would try to get that mil
lion in gold-as gold was then at pre-
mium of 97-that is e ach dollar in gold
wux worth $197 in greenbacks. MY
frinds produced the money in large
carpetbag and it wuz taken over to my
Office and locked In safe guarded by
several of my trusted clerks. ther
wint out and bought an army tent ani