Evening journal., 1911-06-26
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Five Million DeIIars
That Boss Tweed Of
fered in Vain
BY sHoIland.S

One hot day in the midsummer of
1871 George Jones, at that time pro-
prietor Of the New York Times, took
his accustomed seat in a little billiard
saloon which occupied part of the
basement of the old Times building in
Printing House Square. Mr.. Jones was
very fond of the game Of billiards, al
though he did not play it himself, and
it was his habit to spend half hour at
noon each day, If he had leisure,
watching the billiard experts, some OF
whom we're almost always to be found
playing at the tables in the Times
building.
On the day in question Mr.. Jones
was suddenly called from his place
by a messenger who had evidently
been sent from Mr.. Jones private Of
fee on the main floor Of the Times
building. In that office he found a law
yer and a man OF business, both Of
whom he recognized at once as per-
sonal friends of William NJ. Tweed,
who was the boss of New York City
my father received the two gentle
men very politely" said Gilbert II.
Jones, who inherited the Times from
his father and afterwards sold the
newspaper, retaining the building, a
few months before his death about the
first Of the year. "He knew perfectly
well what they had called for. He had
only a day or two before gone over
with Mr.. Lewis ]. Jennings. then the
managing editor of the Times and af-
terward a member Of the English par
lament, all OF the proof sheets Of the
first exposure Of the Tweed ring. II
was through Mr. Jennings that the
bargain was first made by which the
Times came into possession of the in
eliminating documents copied from the
books of the comptroller of New York
city, Connolly, who was a member OF
the Tweed ring
After the formal greetings were
over, one of the gentlemen said to my
| father that he had heard that the
Times newspaper property was for
sale. Father replied that he had not
said to anyone that he was willing OF
/ 4
lawyer said to my father;
i suppose you would sell ths
Times, Mr.. Jones, provided you got th'
right kind of an offer for it.
4 don't know about that replied
my father. That might depend upon
who wanted TO buy it,
We'll we are prepared. Mr. Jones,
the lawyer continued, TO make you al
offer Of FIVE million dollars for the
Times newspaper, and If you would
sell the paper, but wanted to keep the
building, then the bargain could be
made with that in view.
" Who wants to buy?' my father
asked.
" we represent the parties; I dom
see that Il should make any difference
to you who they are was the answer
We are willing to give a million dol
lars in cash and the rest in Al Sc
curities
Well said my father 1T makes
all the difference in the world whl
the parties are | might sell the Time
for FIVE million dollars to man whom
/ know would maintain its good repu
tation; but, for example, l will say L
you that | would not sell the Times T.
DOSS IWttu uOI any VI nlo AdH6 IL
were TO be offered ten times five mil
lion
Why not?' the lawyer asked
Because, said my father. If
were to take any money from Twee'
or his ring then 7 would become a par
ticipator in their iniquities and tn
Times would receive its share of thei
stealings; and so / think ! have SAT-
to you, gentlemen. all that is necessar
to say in order that you may inform
those whom you represent that tn
Times newspaper is not for sale {
them at any price
"A day or two later" continued tn
son, "the Times published its first ex
posure of the Tweed ring, and fror
then on until Tweed and his gang wer
driven out of public life and public OF
flee my father kept up his fight agains
them"
Copyright. 1911, by f. J. Edwards. A
rights reseryed.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell {
"The SailOrman's Speech That Capt
waited a Great Orator"