Evening star., 1927-04-24
Fifty Years Ago
I'm The Star

While William NJ. Tweed one,time
boss of New York, was in Ludlow
street Jail In default of
CONCESSION bail. awaiting trial )"
Of Tweed. civil i.,.s suits 1T, b Sroliset olnsrt
ago, there was much speculation as
to whether he would eventually
acknowledge his guilt of bribery and
corruption and disclose the names of
those with whom he had operated I'm
manipulating municipal contracts and
Jobs" at enormous pront to himself
and his associates. In The Star Of
April II, 1877, is printed a dispatch
from New York to the effect that
Tweed's lawyer had reached Albany
with g proposition from his client to
the attorney general. Tweed, 1t was
stated, offered to make surrender
of all his property and a fun confes-
sion of his connection with ring mat
ters. Tweed. it was said, felt much
depressed at the way his old COM
panions had deserted him in his
trouble. An outline of the confession
was printed in the New York World
and created a tremendous sensation.
The names of many prominent peo-
pie, including municipal officials.
were involved. Tweed acknowledged
that he had purchased the votes Of
sufficient members of the common
council to secure a majority of any OF
his measures.and the names Of those
whom he had thus bribed were given
in the confession, together with the
amount paid to each.
~
In The Star of April Is, 1877, was
printed an announcement that had
been issued by the
treasury Treasury Department
Dismissals. to : the effect that a
hundred in the force of the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing would be
made on that day, this reduction be-
ing necessitated. in part, by the de-
crease. of the work in the bureau
growing out OF the discontinuancs OF
the fractional currency. In the issue
of April 19. 1877, appears the follow
ing description of the scene at the
Treasury when the dismissals were
made: ..,.
AT 20 minutes past o'clock
yesterday afternoon the doorkeeper
of the Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing received orders to allow
no one to enter, and then prepara-
tions for the impending executions
began in earnest. The death lists
were produced and all employees
were required to remain until, the
sad work was finished. The head of
each division was presented with the
names of the victims under his
charge, and also with the money nee
essary to settle their claims for
salaries up to date. The scene was q
very affecting one as the roll was
called and each unfortunate signed
his or her name with trembling hand.
The sights presented were varied.
however; the impending danger had
steeled the hearts of some TO meet
whatever fate awaited them, but
others broke down completely; some
received their dismisSals with sort
of stony despair. while others with
loud cries and sobs bewailed their
fate. Some few put on a defiant
manner and vowed to have revenge
for the injustice done them. One
cried deflantIy: You don't
know who / am; / am President
Hayes cousin. and l will make you
suffer for this unjust act! A poor
widow, who had lost husband, father
and brother in the late war, signed
ner name bravely, but as she passed
down the room her pent-up grief be-
came uncontrolla BILE, and, with tears
streaming down her face. she wrung
aer hands and cried, This then, II
ny reward for all have sacrificed
Strong men, too, gave way to their
feelings as they thought of the dear
mes at home. whom they would
% unable to assist. One lady took
he pen to sign her name. but nearly
ainted and had to get a few mfnutess
est and composure before she could
accomplish the act. But 1t was not
hose who met their fate with hys-
erical sobs that suffered most. Many
poor woman whose scanty earnings
we're the only barrier from starvation
or her family passed out without
aging word, but the heart was al
1ost broken" - rs