The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-26

On October 2S, 1871 the Tweed Ring,
one Of the most corrupt political rings
that has ever elected itself into Amer
lean politics, saw the beginning OF It's
end in tho arrest OF. William Marcy
Tweed. it's loader. This ring had be-
come notorious In the frauds 1t had
forts had been made to disrupt II and
to bring Its leaders to the bar of jus
tice.
In tho summer OF 1870 proof was
published OF vast frauds by leading
Now York City officials. and Tweed. in
the language of Judge Noah Davis,
saw ut TO pervert the powers with
which he was clothed, In manner
more infamous. more outrageous than
any instance OF n like character which
the history of the civilized world at
forded."
The multltudinous officials OF New
York were the rings slaves. The thugs
of the city were nicknamed "Tweed's
lambs" and they rendered invaluable
services at caucus and convention.
When thieves could be kept in power
by such means plunder was easy and
brazen. Contractors on public works
were systematically forced to Day
handsome bonuses to tho ring One OF
j
commenced building l asked Tweed
how TO make out the bills. and he said:
! Have 10 por cent over I asked what
! that was for. and he said: Give that
TO mo and l Will take caro- Of your
bills 1 handed him the percentage
after that"
But all the other enterprises Of tho
ring dwindied into insignifcanco
whom compared with the colossal
frauds that were committed In the
building OF the new courthouse for tho
county. When this undertaking was
begun IL was stipulated that it's total
cost should not exceed t25O.000. but
before the ring" was broken up, up
wards OF sS.00U,000 had beou expended
and the work was not completed
The beginning of the end OF the
reign of the ring came In July, 1871.
when copies OF some OF the fraudulent
accounts came into the possession OF n
New York newspaper and were pub
lished. The result OF these exposures
was meeting OF citizens early in Sep
tomber 1t was followed By the form
alton of sort OF peaceful vigilance
committee, under the Imposing title OF
the "Committee OF Seventy" This com
nittee. together with Samuel j. Tilden,
went to work at once and with great
energy to obtain actual proof OF the
frauds and 1t was owing to tho tire
less efforts OF Mr.. Tiiden that this work
WAS successful.
! When Tweed was arrested on octo-
/ Der 2S he was released on bail to the
extent OF 100000. Hia trial began
on November ~ 1873, but the jury dis
agreed on tho first suit, and he was
again arrested on December l6 and on
! this suit he was convicted and SEN
! fenced TO pay fine of S12.500 and to
suffer twelve years Imprisonment
This sentence was set aside by the
Court OF Appeals and Tweed's dis
! Charge was ordered.
| In the meantime other suits had
| been brought. among them ono to re-
cover 100000 Failing to find bail
for 100000. he was sent to the Lud-
/ low Street Jail. Being allowed TO ride
in the park and occasionally to visit
his dwelling. ono day he escaped from
mis- keepers. After hiding for several
months he succeeded In escaping to
Cuba. The American consul procured
! his relcesc-his passports having been
/ given him under an assumed name
! but later found him out
| The discovery was too late, for
Tweed had again escaped and embark
cd for Spain. thinking there TO be at
rest as we then had no extradition
papers with that country. Landing at
Vigo he found the Governor of the
place waiting with police for him, and
he was soon homeward bound on an
American war vessel.
| Caleb Cushing, our minister at Ma
drid. had learned of his departure for
that realm, and had put the authorities
| on their guard. To help them identify
their man he furnished a caricature by
Mast. representing Tweed as q Tam
many policeman gripping two boys by
tho hair. Though everything possible
was done to render him comfortable in
jail. Tweed sighed for liberty. He
promised, IL released, to turn States
evidence and to give up all his prop
erty and effects. Some papers sug-
gested that the public pitied the man
and would be glad to have him set
free. No compromise with him was